Don't know if you've paid attention, but my little Hamlet here,(Newman Ca.) has made the National News, but not for "good reasons though! Local Rivers are at Flood Stage, Levees are in a similar deteriorated state to New Orleans, and some are overflowing their banks from the punishing Rains out here in the West! The convergence of two overflowing Major Rivers are within about 4 miles and maybe 6 ft elevation from my home as I type this! Our Govenor Arnold "The Terminator", has declared this area and several other Countys a disaster area. Hopefully the levees will hold and rains will stop soon!Luckilly, my favorite shooting area is still dry (2 milesand 3 feet above from the river) and I hope to have at least one day to do some testing and get my mind off the "possibilitys"!
I have been trying to choose inexpensive Scopes for two Magnums, One, a worked-over RWS Model-40 and the other, my new R-11. Last Saturday, the R-11 shook a Leapers Sniper Scope's Lenses completelly loose, and the RWS-40 did not appear to be happy with it's Powerline Variable (Maybe mis-set Parralax?).
I contacted Pyrmid Air and told them of the Leapers demise and they immediatelly offered to have a free FedEx pick-up of the defective scope for warranty repair/replacement. GOOD friendlly and quick Warranty Service so far...
I've just recieved and mounted a 3x12x40 BARSKA A/O, Mil Dot on the Model-40, and a BSA 3x12x40 A/O on the R-11. Both are Airgun Models and "Magnum Rated". I feel that these both will bring out the probable high-preformance that both of these rifles are capable of! Both scopes have impressive features, however the BSA appears to be the most bright and has a micrometer-like finger adjustment on it's turrents. The BARSKA has a very fine Mil-Dot Crosshair, with very precise and small aimpoints. Both were bought at a very good price, from a current "Sportsmans Guide" internet sale. If all goes well and the Rivers don't rise, tomorrow mornings, shooting ought to be fun and intresting!
While rained-out, I took advantage and added a soft, red rubber, Honey-Comb buttpad to the RWS Model 40. Test shots in the Garage proved out a huge reduction in felt recoil! Even with a "soft" JM GSI mainspring and JM lubes, the slender Model 40 stockwork still transmitted a sharp mainspring recoil to the sholder! The "stock", hard rubber buttpad did little to soften the kick and after 40 or so shots, you KNEW you'd been shooting a "kicker"!
I suspect that the "felt recoil" disturbed my concentration on Hold, and I know that I was constantlly searching out a comfortable spots. Thumb position on the trigger hand varied group shifts, as did forearm positioning. I got my best grouping with the trigger hand's thumb alongside the pistolgrip, and the forearm held FAR forward, supporting the sides of the forestalk. I have read that "proper" Forearm rest is best done close to the triggerguard, and open palm. My "old" hold, was anything but that! Perhaps my ameatur instillation of the Honey-Comb buttpad will now allow better concentrtion to consistancy with the Model-40? The stockwork of the Model-40 was shaped for a light carrying, quick sholdering "Sporter" but with it's powerfull mainspring, long Steel reciever, long barrel, and added-on heavy steel Muzzle Weight , the rifle becomes a handfull!
I had trouble with my Model- 40's Muzzle Weight loostening. "Lock Titeing" the small setscrew did not work. I tried JB Weld to Epoxy the Weight in place, along with more "Lock Tite" on the setscrew. Saturday, it shot loose AGAIN! Quick heating with a propane Torch loosened the "JB" Weld, and the weight will remain OFF! The pretty blue finish of the barrel was damaged by the small setscrew, and I do not wish further gouging of the metal. "IF" (?) the Model 40's heavy steel weight did anything, all it did, was unbalance the Rifle into a very muzzle heavy, short (13 1/2" Pull), difficult to hold arm. Without the Muzzleweight, and with the thicker buttpad (lengthning the Pull too), the rifle's long weight now "feels" much more balanced! I wonder, was the weight added merelly for Customer Appeal? Probablly...
The questioin now is will the harmonics of the un-weighted Model-40 barrel change the rifles accuracy? Will it change it's pellet preference? Well, other Models within this RWS/Diana "Base Family Group" do not use muzzle weights and the Factory claims good Close and Long Range accuracy within the "Family Group". Barrels are rifled and choked alike and lengths are the same. There is but ONE way to find out? Shoot it!
The R-11? It's stock shape mimics the hand filling, HW-55 "Match Style", and easilly lends itself to the forementioned "proper" hold, plus just about any configuration that seems comfortble to the shooter! A light, slender forestock is much more difficult to "hold".There is no substitute for broad, rounded, hand filling, wood.
Nothin like airgunnin to keep a fellas mind off Water Levels, Snow Melt, Resevoir Discharges, and more Rain, eh?
Be safe,
ZVP
.Please what model # is the BSA Airgun 3x12 Scope?Thanks.