Lubing for a cleaner barrel
I have been searching the forum about lubing pellets for the Cricket. I think that the consensus is just go dry. I think that’s fair, the gun shoots so well with pellets right out of the tin, but my barrel get’s so dirty so fast I thought I’d try an experiment. I thoroughly cleaned the barrel then pulled two Krytech wet patches followed by three dry patches down the barrel. Then I lubed about 100 pellets with Krytech and shot 24 over the Prochrono to season the barrel and check speeds. I went ahead and set the velocity to 910. Twenty-four shots and the Extreme Spread was 16 and the standard Deviation was something like 3…very very good.
Then I shot 6 targets with 5-shot groups each and got very tight groups. But when I went in and pulled a patch it came out very clean…like a quarter of the crud than without lube. Barely anything on it, and certainly no lead flakes. I’m hoping that this isn’t a fluke, which is how a lot of things are when testing air rifles, at least for me…so will shoot some more and recheck the patches. Hoping this will help keep the barrel clean until i send it to Ernest at the end of the season.
Wondering if anyone else has tried this?
KPinNC
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Thanks GKU,
Half inch at 75 is phenomenal.
I have re torqued the screws on the .22, not on .25 yet. I’ll try the method described above.
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Yes larger cals are harder to shoot well, especially in a BP configuration.
I’ve shot my friends Cricket 25 cal and 9 milly let me tell ya ,,,,, , , , that thing kicks like a mule !
For KP it seems to be his trigger technique with that one left flier that he has shown in his target pic.
Other then that his 25 cal grouping is very completive from the ones posted here on tag.
If it’s only one shot that is to blame it’s usually trigger technique related.
If it’s and entire group moving off to the left then it usually shoulder(s) position and or pressure and also NPOA related.
Assuming that it’s not POI shifting related with an improper gun setup/tune.
It hard for me to say without a target picture and full chrony work.
~ GKU
I took mine through the hoops again couple days ago. What I found was when I fired the shot, the scope cross hair was almost axactly where pellet hit. But problem is it was off target. So this tells me I need to figure out a way to shoot the gun. Its very accurate when I keep it from going left on me. Because the 25 has recoil it’s harder to group. Its night and day difference between my Cricket 22.
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Greg, first off…nice digs, man. Paradise times 2….first it’s Hawaii, second, no wind…wow, what a coup!
Thanks for this info. This will be filed away in the airgun folder for future reference. Thanks for all the help from you and everyone else.
KPinNC
Okay ,,,, ,,, , I found it, this is for KP and Asad,
KP note that your gun doesn’t need this adjustment by the looks of your groupings, but I’m posting this for your future reference if needed.
You need to watch this video first https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sw_-iZVG8I
BARREL PULL FOR MINIMIZING POI SHIFTING:
The barrel should be .5mm off of the receiver assembly barrel hole.
From Ernest,
“With action in the stock and AT at 160-180 bar, loosen all 4 hex bolts till loose, turn down all bolt to it bottoms out on it’s shoulders. Pull barrel off the action about 2″ and slowly insert back, a properly aligned barrel will have an even clearance entering the action with an even O-ring compression. If miss aligned the barrel will hit the lip of the action then you force the barrel in, now the barrel has more metal contact on one side and is more subject to POI change.”
From me,
Place alignment screw in place making sure it bottoms out into the shallow hole on the barrel.
Back out the alignment screw by 3/4 turn CCW.
Pull barrel forward and lightly tighten the hex bolt closest to the receiver first, this will give you that .5mm clearance needed.
I applied a small amount of Moly lube on the shoulders of the hex screws to help in an even torque session with no binding.
Remove alignment screw and apply a criss-cross tighten sequence to about 10-12 in-Lb.
The adjustments has helped to minimize POI shifting in both of my Crickets.
Note that it took 1-2 shooting season to notice a difference it made.
~ GKU
The trigger has been and always will be an on going challenge for me to master.
With my very sensitive trigger finger that hates a heavy, bad and rough/gritty feeling one.
I’m always looking into a new PCP the has a good one, before even thinking of owning it.
I leave my trigger finger on the same trigger position, then cocking is done with my left hand reaching over the receiver.
Ya, and it can be dangerous with a light trigger pull setting.
I’m in Hawaii, and YES the weather here is magnificent all year long !
We have days when the wind changes in the opposing direction,we call “Kona Wind”.
At this time there is a moment, sometime lasting hours and hours that there is absolute no wind at all !
You could release a helium balloon and it will go straight up 1,000 feet or more without moving off sideways.
180 degree view of my home range where I zero and chrony test all my Airguns.
Looks like you and your Cricket is good to go and well on its way KP !
Take it slow don’t over adjust it, I’ve seen to many that do and ending up ruining a perfectly functioning gun.
~ ATVB and Aloha ~ GKU ~ Greg
Questions, do you leave your trigger finger on the same trigger position when cocking is done with your left hand ?
Or do you cock with your right and have to reposition your trigger finger position with each shot taken ?
It seems like your trigger finger is to far into or out of the trigger, try placing/pulling it out a bit to the right or left.
The pad on your trigger finger should be on center with the trigger contact point.
Pull straight back a pond its slow pull to break between heart beats.
Other than that your tape test looks good, no need for adjustments !
To check if the flies are gun related set up target shooting with a crony in place.
Use a high count target, may be 50 on one sheet, shoot one shot per bull .
Wait for good weather.
Crony and shoot at the same time and keep tract of the crony speeds with each shot taken.
If the speed changes with the flier you’ll know if it’s gun or pellet related.
If the speed doesn’t change with the flier you’ll know if it’s you or pellet related.
Those weather apps suck, place this every 10 yards or so down range.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_548878-46697-2318OG-402_0__?productId=50066715&Ntt=red+marking+flags&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dred%2Bmarking%2Bflags&facetInfo=
The it seem your gun needs more shooting by the looks of the crony stat numbers.
When your time permits you to, do a full crony string from top fill down past the regulator fall off point and post curve graph.
~ GKU
Interesting you should ask but I have been trying to focus on better trigger technique…trying to find something good to learn from on Youtube …so I would be the first to look at that when i shoot.
I’m right-eyed and right handed so the only way I know to cock the cricket is to take my eye away and cock the gun and reposition…that’s a feature I like about the Vulcan, the cocking is further forward and swappable L to R.
I try to center the finger on the first pad, a hair closer to the first joint. be experimenting with pulls,,,still working at it.
I was thinking about using plastic ribbon on sticks to wind readings ….maybe swipe some Police Do Not Cross tape :biggrinn:
I try some of the things you suggested when the weather clears. Thanks for all the input. I’ll post when I get something. GKU where are you located?
KP
From looking at your target.
Questions, do you leave your trigger finger on the same trigger position when cocking is done with your left hand ?
Or do you cock with your right and have to reposition your trigger finger position with each shot taken ?
It seems like your trigger finger is to far into or out of the trigger, try placing/pulling it out a bit to the right or left.
The pad on your trigger finger should be on center with the trigger contact point.
Pull straight back a pond its slow pull to break between heart beats.
Other than that your tape test looks good, no need for adjustments !
To check if the flies are gun related set up target shooting with a crony in place.
Use a high count target, may be 50 on one sheet, shoot one shot per bull .
Wait for good weather.
Crony and shoot at the same time and keep tract of the crony speeds with each shot taken.
If the speed changes with the flier you’ll know if it’s gun or pellet related.
If the speed doesn’t change with the flier you’ll know if it’s you or pellet related.
Those weather apps suck, place this every 10 yards or so down range.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_548878-46697-2318OG-402_0__?productId=50066715&Ntt=red+marking+flags&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNtt%3Dred%2Bmarking%2Bflags&facetInfo=
The it seem your gun needs more shooting by the looks of the crony stat numbers.
When your time permits you to, do a full crony string from top fill down past the regulator fall off point and post curve graph.
~ GKU
Impressive shooting there GKU. You shoulda been at the Olympics for sure.
luckily the rain held off (not usually the case) just long enough for me to run out of light and pellets last night. Unfortunately, I changed two variables ( I know better than this) but things improved from the weekend. Not as much wind but a steady light breeze out of the SW and I was shouting due S (couldn’t shoot SW owing to homes). I didn’t have enough time to reset my speed so shot with the last speed from the weekend which was around 887. What I did differently was go back to the two Caldwell bag system I’ve been using.This weekend I used a shooters rest front-end and large bag butt end). What you said about fighting the rear bag made me change. I’m used to a small bag at the stock.
50 yds_JSBKINGS Light wind. All targets 5-shot groups
I only had some lightweight Kings (25.2) for the first row then had to switch to heavier (25.5-6) for the second third row
This target is night and day from the weekend. Not sure if I could blame the bench set up, bag or slightly heavier pellets, but the last target on row three had no fliers and measured roughly 3/8″ CTC. The last two on row 2 would have been 1/4 had it not been for the fliers. Finally, a target with no fliers. 99% of my targets have that one flier :confusedn:
OK I would never complain about these targets! Interesting how they tighten up with the heavier pellets.
I did the Center Test….couldn’t find any Masking tape so had to use duct tape…not the best but one can see that the hole is off center and it’s within 1mm from one side.
Could this be setting up some kind of turbulence causing fliers?
Something right is happening and I’m sorry to yell “fire” about this gun so quickly…but it really went south and was shooting all over. I didn’t think that the wind was all that bad. The weather apps were saying 4.5mph….I’ve shot better in worse….My bad…. didn’t mean to waste y’all’s time. I’ll be staying with the 2 bags.
SO …should I try to loosen and re-align and re-torque the barrel/bolts? How does one get that thing centered?
Oh, rechecked the Chrony@220bar…13 shots, AV.: 900 (when I had it set for 900) ES: 16; SD:3.
The Bullpup is a totally different bird for sure. I might go back to two bags from a new setup….a front adjustable shooting rest and rear bag. Lots of variables for sure.
I did do a Chrony check when I set the gun at 900 fps and was very impressed. I think those are still on the chrony I’ll check tonight.
If it’s not too windy I’ll shoot and post over the past three days. i always try to shoot into the wind but lately it’s been rather shifty.
I do have one target from Saturday with me here it is.
50 yards, start pressure 220Bar. JSB Kings, 5-shot groups.
I’ll post a comparison of speeds from Sunday and theyre calling for rain but doesn’t look like it so if it holds i’ll get one more in.
Appreciate the input.
KP
Yes Sir,
That doesn’t look bad at all, just to gusty windy conditions I’m thinking.
Also the gun does need sometime to break-in ALL the parts and springs, maybe some 800-2000 pellets or so.
Leave it at 900 fps for now and give it more time, enjoy the journey man !!
When it starts to show tighter groups, then try and increase the speed to 920 fps.
My Cricket 22 cal standard did about a 1/2″ group at only 30 yards the first couple hundred shots or so.
Now after about 15,000 shots it’s accuracy has improved to about 1/2″ at 75 yards on a good day.
~ GKU , p.s. will be waiting on your chrony stats ………..
How bad are the groups? Both of my Crickets (.22 and .25) have a POI shift problem but they shoot reasonably well in between the shifts, between 1/2″ and 1″ at 50 yards, although I had expected an average of 1/2″ at that distance when I ordered them. I expected them to be capable of shooting a pigeon sized bird in the vitals fairly consistently at 100 yards.
GKU, you were lucky to have a giant like Nygord as your mentor. Did you go to Olympics? I did my training all alone. There was a time when I spent several hours a day practising with my air pistol but never had the opportunity to compete. I visited the Pilk Guns forum then. Later went into competitive trap shooting.
Hi Asad,
Did you try to re-torque the 4 frame hex bolts ?
If so, try the barrel pull I done it to both of my Crickets with good to better results in each.
No, I haven’t attended the Olympics,,,, ,,, , , all most,,,,, ,, , I missed by that much.
~ GKU
Will do GKU/Asad
The Bullpup is a totally different bird for sure. I might go back to two bags from a new setup….a front adjustable shooting rest and rear bag. Lots of variables for sure.
I did do a Chrony check when I set the gun at 900 fps and was very impressed. I think those are still on the chrony I’ll check tonight.
If it’s not too windy I’ll shoot and post over the past three days. i always try to shoot into the wind but lately it’s been rather shifty.
I do have one target from Saturday with me here it is.
50 yards, start pressure 220Bar. JSB Kings, 5-shot groups.
I’ll post a comparison of speeds from Sunday and theyre calling for rain but doesn’t look like it so if it holds i’ll get one more in.
Appreciate the input.
KP
I tried lubed pellets in both my Crickets but found them to be of no benefit.
Hi Drumsguns,
How bad are the groups? Both of my Crickets (.22 and .25) have a POI shift problem but they shoot reasonably well in between the shifts, between 1/2″ and 1″ at 50 yards, although I had expected an average of 1/2″ at that distance when I ordered them. I expected them to be capable of shooting a pigeon sized bird in the vitals fairly consistently at 100 yards.
GKU, you were lucky to have a giant like Nygord as your mentor. Did you go to Olympics? I did my training all alone. There was a time when I spent several hours a day practising with my air pistol but never had the opportunity to compete. I visited the Pilk Guns forum then. Later went into competitive trap shooting.
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Socked in with rain and wind right now..continuous for 3 days straight. Hope this weekend it’ll clear and I’ll be able to get out and collect a little chrony data, and work on tightening up groups with trigger work.
Thanks GKU
I’ll be posting something as soon as I can.
KP