Strange Behavior
Hi all, I have experienced something very odd while shooting my Condor .22. I am using Eunjin 32.4 gr. pellets. Currently I am shooting too fast (1080 fps at muzzle) and realize this effects accuracy. Two days ago, I fired three pellets at my trap which is unfortunately only about 12 yards away. One of the pellets never hit the target. I thought maybe one went through the same hole but found that after only 20 feet from muzzle, the pellet made a hard left to the tune of 30 inches and up about 20 inches! I thought I must be losing my mind after trying to figure if this really happened. I concluded that it must have been a ricochet. Two days later, The exact same thing happened again! Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I know about “fliers” but this is crazy. It might as well have been a boomerang! Thanks.
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I think I may have found a potential cause for my strange problem. I removed the barrel and bushings to find that the bushings were not properly aligned with the “set” hole in the barrel. I had an outfit (I will not name names) do some “tuning” work for me about 8 years ago before I knew every inch of my rifle inside and out and the “tuning” included drilling holes in the front barrel bushing for venting when using a shroud which means the bushings (at least one of them) were removed. Both were out of alignment. I am going to try to include a picture with this post which plainly shows the misalignment.
OK, my picture files are too large. I will try to post smaller version later. I am not sure yet if this is the cause of my problem but it certainly is a problem in itself if the barrel bushings are not properly aligned. I always wondered why the shroud (replaces the factory delrin barrel end piece) was difficult to install. With the barrel bushings aligned properly, the shroud simply drops in place.
It does group well usually although I am shooting at only about 12 yards. It has been awhile since I actually took it out to shoot at a decent distance. Initially, I was just looking to get some readings from my chronograph and then started “sanitizing” some old hard disk drives by blasting holes in them! When I ran out of drives, I started shooting at paper targets. So far, this “anomaly” has only occurred two times recently and with the same pellet. I have removed the shroud but have not yet fired any pellets without it.
I had once this similar but it was. .22 shroud on a .25 :rofl:
Maybe you just clipped something like a window frame or something if you are shooting from inside out or something similar.
With high mounted scopes you can shoot off your toes close range there is so much holdover if you are not very careful lol
Will it group at all? With bare barrel and that pellet?
Hi kris, so far , the only pellet with which I have had an issue is the Euinjin 32.4 gr. I have not been good about inspecting a tin of pellets before using. I have shot many tins of these pellets without issue however the last tin (used with both of my mishaps) I found some pellets that were malformed and would not fit in the barrel. I tossed those, of course, and had not considered inspecting the rest. Maybe some strange shape of a pellet that I had not noticed? Upon further inspection of the barrel crown and ldc, I see nothing but a bit of lead build up in the rifling of the barrel just below the crown. I will be cleaning the barrel tomorrow and I suppose I will have to go the range to test as I am not going to shoot indoor anymore for fear of the same thing happening. I much appreciate your input as well as others. Thank you!
Mods are not easy to align even if there is a threaded barrel end, the threading may not be parallel with the bore, you align the end cap it clips a baffle close to the muzzle, you align that it starts clipping the end cap. Complete madness. Maybe you can try one size larger ldc.
Maybe you could stick a tight fitting Straight knitting needle or similar deep down the barrel and see which way pellets come out if they do lol
Try to rotate the barrel until it stops clipping. Maybe you could turn the mod or the barrel or both.
I had 3 gun power stealths at some point, smashed them all up. Big mistake should have kept one for the kids to shoot darts out from :rofl: still have some 12inch barrels lying around
The tallons/condors are very good, you learn to mess around on them :8:
Are you not shooting some strange shape pellet, some non domed design can exit in weird and wonderful directions. later down the path they may stabilise though…
I do have ‘ldc’ from Talontunes. It makes a lot of sense that the pellet may have clipped something inside although I have not yet seen any evidence. I will certainly take a closer look and I have removed it for now. Thanks again guys (or gals!) A thorough barrel cleaning is next.
you won’t hurt the barrel using a brass brush. If it’s real bad I’d take the barrel out and remove the breech O-ring so you don’t damage it. Run a good solvent down the bore and let it sit over night to loosen the fouling up. I’ve been doing this for over 50 years
Have you got a ldc or similar may be clipping the end cap, if that is what is happening pellets can ping pong like crazy any direction really very dangerous
If not than may I suggest you ask on airgun nation. :biggrinn:
Upon closer inspection, I do see lead in the rifling very close to the crown. I am tempted to use a brass brush…
Hi Zonk, thank you for the reply. Looking at crown, I do not see anything obvious but my eyes are not what they used to be! I have used cleaning patches tied to some twine and a bit of solvent recently to clean the barrel. I have gun cleaning stuff for powder burners and everywhere I read says to not use brass brushes. Maybe a nylon brush? I am open to suggestions. Thank you again-I thought I was going nuts!
Have you checked your crown? I may have a nick or maybe some lead buildup. I’ve had this happen on Powder Burners and it’s always been some type of lead causing the problem.
Just a thought. :8:
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That may just be your problem. A real test of accuracy for me is 50 yards.