This page preserves a discussion thread from the original AirgunOne.com community forum, active from 2008 until the site went offline. It's republished here for reference, in full, including the community banter. If you're a contributor to this thread and would like something removed or credited differently, contact info@airgunguide.com.
The Question
drhank wrote: "I'm new to airguns and hope I made a good choice. After checking around I decided to purchase a Hammerli Titan Air Rifle With Scope. I figured that for under $100 it might be a good way to find out if I'll enjoy air rifles. Ironically, I never had one when I was young. Now that I'm a senior citizen, I guess I'm old enough."
"I'm hoping that you folks may be able to help out an old dog learn some new tricks. Any suggestions you might be able provide would be appreciated. Thanks. Doc"
Community Discussion
Majorhavoc wrote: "We'll make you a card carrying AG1 member just as soon as we figger out your initiation. That's a handsome rifle, Doc. I don't know that we have Hammerli much represented here, but they seem to be nice air guns. Naturally, we'll expect you to report on your impressions, out of the box and on the range."
"Never as a kid, huh? Well, that's one of the benefits of having made it this far in life: you can sample some of the pleasures that were denied to you in your youth. So do you have the Titan yet, or is it on order?"
drhank wrote: "Just put the order in today. It was kind of a toss up between that and the Ruger Air Hawk. I'll be happy to report and can hardly wait to see how it (or I) shoot."
Majorhavoc wrote: "I'm glad you ordered the Hammerli, because I'm already familiar with the Air Hawk. You ordered some pellets with that, right? Because if you didn't, go out and buy some now. You don't want that beautiful gun to arrive and not have any pellets. You'll be tempted to dry fire it, which is a definite no-no for spring piston guns."
"My other two pieces of advice to the new spring gun owner are: 1) Google 'artillery hold' and learn exactly what it means. You can't get the most accuracy out of a spring piston air gun until you master the artillery hold. 2) Don't ever store your gun with the spring compressed (ie cocked). That's a sure fire way to permanently 'detune' you gun."
drhank wrote: "Thanks! I've already checked out the artillery hold and it does make a lot of sense. I don't dry fire anything. I use snap caps in my other weapons and it looks like no cocking after I've fired my last pellet is the way to go here."
"Some great tips. Thanks Major! I'm a true neophyte when it comes to air guns. fortunately, I'm old enough to have given up 'know it all' a long time ago. It's great to hear from those that are here to help."
diarmadhim wrote: "Looks like a nice gun. Hammerli is definitely under represented here, probably in the States in general. Welcome to the site, I look forward to hearing your impressions of the gun!"
WestTexas FarmBoy wrote (quoting drhank's original post): "You are definately going to fit in here just fine Doc!! We have a lot of 'senior citizens' here -- at least some of our bodies are even if we're not quite there in age. And it seems all of our eyesight is way 'over the hill'. Personally, I have trifocals and a second pair for use at the computer -- but some of our youngsters only have to wear bifocals."
"Even though you never had an air rifle when you were young, you've obviously spent some years shooting powder burners. It seems that we are all kinda coming full circle. I spend very little time with magnum handguns and high powered rifles any more. I just can't get enough of pushing small bits of lead through the atmosphere with plain old air. Welcome!!!"
DRIFTER wrote: "Just know Doc that this thing's will drive you crazy they are so hold sensetive an you will not get really good acc. till you have ran about a tin or two thru them. Give it a good cleaning on arrival (no bronze brush's) an after that treat them like a old cast iron skillet meaning don't clean the barrel till acc. start's to fall off then only lightly, there is alot more but just stay on board here an you will get all the help you need. AN BY THE WAY WELCOME!!!"
drhank wrote: "Thanks folks. Must be well into my second childhood because I just can't wait for my rifle to get here so I can punch some holes in paper. I hear you all about eyes. I've been into progressive lens for so long that I can't remember. Boy those air rifle targets look really small. Fortunately that's what scopes are for. Hope that I don't have too much trouble zeroing it in."
"I'll have a couple of tins ready before the gun gets here and I've got a day at the range planned (weather permitting) in a week or so. I'll let you know how I do after I get back. If I can't shoot well, I doubt it will be the gun's fault. It will be fun learning how to use it."
Majorhavoc wrote (quoting WestTexas FarmBoy's post above): "WHAT? WHAT-I SAY WHAT? SPEAK UP SONNY, I CAN'T HEAR YA!. Sumthin' about some of us bein' hotties, even if we're not quite the rage????"
headhunter wrote: "Be patient, sometimes figuring out a springer can be very frustrating. Contrary to the artillery hold advice, supporting the gun directly in front of the trigger guard isn't always needed. I hold my Quest and Trail XL (very hold sensitive) right by the stock screws and get my tightest groups like that."
"Welcome aboard! Start doing some window shopping now cause you're gonna want another gun once you get good with that one."
WestTexas FarmBoy wrote (quoting DRIFTER's post above): "Tom Gaylord, the Arigun World's equivalent of Elmer Keith or Jack O'Conner, has a slightly different take on this -- doesn't mean he's right, of course. I would be interested in what you other experienced Arigunners think on this subject."
"Major -- you just kill me. Thanks, I really needed that today..."
shoot356 wrote: "A great big AG1 welcome to you Doc. Being one of the old farts around here it is always good to have more company as we try to steady shaky arms and focus the old eyes. BTW - remember that all those flyers on the target aren't always your fault. All these springer guns need a break-in - some more, some less, but expect at least one tin of pellets before she settles down."
"Browse through the threads here on AG1 - they go back a long time - and you'll find answers to a lot of questions about guns, scopes and shooting. Can't find an answer? Just ask on the forum. Don't forget, pictures are appreciated."
First Range Session
drhank wrote: "Well I finally got a chance to get the gun out in the back yard and see what it would do. I have to admit that it shoots much better than I do. I decided to bring the scope in the old fashion way (keep shooting and making adjustments till it's in). About 35 shots and the gun wore me out. I'll bet my left arm lets me know tomorrow. I'll try to get some pictures up later."
"Just for grins I picked up one of those BB & pellet foam blocks from WalMart. Don't anyone waste their money. I'm glad that I set up the target on a metal lawn chair in front of a 4X4 post. Several of the shots from 30' went through the foam block and embedded in the fence post."
"Woke up one of my neighbors who was wondering what was going on. She and her husband seemed cool when I showed her the rifle with the barrel cocked and open and told her what I was doing. Fortunately I live in a county which has no ordinance against air gun practice in your back yard. I have to admit that even I was a bit surprised at the report. It would be hard to distinguish it from a .22 for someone not used to hearing both."
"Anyway I hate to admit it but the gun got the best of me in only about 35 shots. I didn't even get the scope fully zeroed but that will give me something else to work on next time. I'm surprised by the power and am pretty sure that even being a .177 a better shot than me would have no problem taking squirrels and rabbits with a well placed shot."
Majorhavoc wrote: "Hey Doc, don't sweat it that the gun wore you out. It was the same for me (and yes, you will be sore tomorrow). But without even trying, greatly improved cocking technique just seems to develop naturally. After about three shooting sessions, it was a night and day difference in terms of effort required."
"I'm a right-hander and for me, it works better to stand the gun on my right thigh, hold it around the pistol grip area with my right hand, and cock with my left. Yeah, non-dominant hand does the harder work. Can't explain it, but for me it's *much* easier that way."
"Wondered about those target blocks. Thanks for taking a bullet for the team and confirming what I suspected about them. Oh, and I had a similar visit from my neighbor as well."
WestTexas FarmBoy wrote (quoting drhank's range report): "The Major's right Doc, you will unconsciously, or consciously, try slight variations until you come up with the easiest and most efficient cocking motion for you. Then your muscles will develop tone for the task and it will seem a lot easier. But I don't think that cocking a High Powered Spring Piston Air Rifle like the Hammerli Titan 'only' 35 times is anything to be ashamed of -- sounds like a pretty good shooting session to me."
"You will also find that as you get more shots through your gun the report will diminish greatly. That is because new springers still have lubricant from the assembly process in the chamber, and the sudden and tremendous pressure increase when the piston is released causes the air in the chamber to heat up suddenly and some of the left over lubricant vaporized and ignites. This is called Dieseling and it goes away after enough of the excess lube gets expunged."
"And check out the Airgun Hunting Forum for plenty of proof of what a High Powered .177 can do!"
WestTexas FarmBoy wrote (quoting headhunter's hold advice above): "You are not the first person that I have read say that HH -- and not just about those rifles either. I've also read some say that they get the best results out of certain rifles by holding them firmly against their shoulder."
"So you see Doc, we may play with our airguns for different reasons than we did as kids, but we have to play with them even more to get the best out of them. And by play, I mean lots of trial and error."
"But that also gives us lots of excuses to shoot: 'Yes honey, I know I've spent every afternoon this week shooting my rifle, but I really need to find out how she -- I mean IT -- likes to be held...'"
headhunter wrote: "Funny you should say that, the Trail is only accurate when it's pressed firmly (not tightly) against the shoulder. Hand cupped gently around the stock and trigger hand barely touching the grip. Same with the Quest but not so much pressed against the shoulder as just rested snugly. Take that Tom Gaylord!!"
"What works for someone might not for another, lots of variables can come into play. Remember that any pressure placed on the gun from any angle is going to be magnified once that piston starts it's travel. Like if your trigger hand was pressing on the side of the gun, once the trigger is pulled the gun 'jumps' a little bit and will move in the direction your hand is pressing. Maybe it's just me but I've noticed that on all my springers. WTFB said it best, figuring out a gun is just another reason to get out and shoot."
drhank wrote: "Thanks for all your input. I have to admit that the gun is humbling. It's also nice to know that I'm not alone. I'm also glad that I have a big (for a housing development) back yard."
"To me it's ironic that I could shoot expert marksman with an M16 without batting an eye and that my springer makes me feel like a real amateur. Have to admit though that I do like the gun and I'm amazed at the amount of power it has."
"Guess I'll try to find the time and carpet and build a real trap over the weekend. Till then I'll put a nice scrap of heavy plywood behind my foam block. I bought it so I might as well burn it up."
WestTexas FarmBoy wrote (quoting drhank's post above): "You are certainly not alone there Doc!!! I may not be an expert marksman with any of my powder burners -- but I'm not afraid of embarrassing myself anytime I shoot any of them. And even though it won't bother me at all to embarrass myself on The Shooting Gallery forum -- I have a long way to go before I'll even have something to post that will be that good..."
Majorhavoc wrote: "How's the arm today, Doc? As I recall it was actually my elbow that sore for the first couple of days."
A Second Data Point
joshheat25 wrote: "That gun is a hog to cock! Congrats on your purchase and be careful what you backstop is... 2x material is good but not forever. in time it'll wear through that!"
"I just bought my brother a hammerli titan from umarexusa.com. I was very suprised in this rifle. I cleaned the barrel right when I got it. It was actually filthy dirty ran probobly 10-15 patches through it before it was clean. I also had to clean a glob of grease off of the ball at the pivot. it was all over the breech seal... I was cusing at that one."
"Anyway my brother shot it the other day it chrony'd 1050 with cphp's at 7.9 grain. That was for the first 50 shots or so then it stopped dieseling and mellowed out at 1000 fps. Which is cruizin.... My airhawk only touches 950 and thats after a tune and new seal."
"Accuracy at 35 yards it was consistently getting 1" groups after about 200 rounds. Great buy! Congrats on your purchase."
Tags
hammerli titan · artillery hold · spring piston · dieseling · new owner · chronograph