Jason....Anschutz less accurate than a Daisy? Who are you kidding. If it was that bad, why are they in professional tournaments all over the world? Back in the day was what, 1988? Do you even rememberthe FN C1A1? Probably not. Have you ever shot CFSAC or competed for Bisley? No don‘t answer. I have the lists from the past 15 years.
Oh brother. I‘m a civilian smallbore shooter, Franko, and I started shooting in air cadets 15 years ago. I‘m not CIC because I‘m a V6/CV3 and so the CF doesn‘t want me. No, I‘ve never shot the FN C1A1. Never been to CFSAC or Bisley either. I hold an SFC Expert prone rating, and until my son was born in 2000 was averaging 582 at 20 yds and 50 m. I‘ve gotten a little rusty since then but have been able to hold my own. Until my son is a little older, I‘m focusing on coaching. If you want pound chests, PM me.
But I have put more than a few thousand rounds downrange through a C No. 7, ditto for the previously-issued Anschutz 1403, and am in the process of trying to wring the most usefulness out of the 853C. So far, and despite everything I‘d heard about the rifle, I‘m finding the 853C to be a success. With the current issue Crosman pellets, the dozen or so 853Cs that I‘ve shot have all been capable of punching 10 mm (edge to edge) groups at 10 m, which is more than adequate for training and competition purposes.
Cadets were never issued world-class Anschutz rifles, they were issued the Match 64 action 1403, an accurate but only beginner to intermediate level rifle. When fired with issue CIL or T22 ammo, and in the hands of a competent shooter, it was consistently capable of 96-98 on the old DND 20 yd target. If you got a batch of ammo that was especially good, you might‘ve been able to shoot the odd century, but they were few and far in between. When shot with Tenex -- as they were at the cadet smallbore nationals from 1990-92 (when I was there) -- then scores in the 97-99 range were common among the top five shooters, and several 100s were shot each year. This won‘t hold a candle to my Anschutz 1413 with its heavy Match 54 action, barrel and 200 g trigger, which at 30 years of age will still punch little-bitty holes at 50 m all day.
Finally, there‘s always an adjustment to be made when moving from one rifle to another. I have a cadet who just started shooting the 853C in September and who transitioned to a 1403 for biathlon with no problems whatsoever. Her position is good, focus is excellent and accuracy consistent with very few flyers. Now, if she‘d just shoot -- and ski -- a little faster, she might be a threat. Smallbore to fullbore is another matter altogether, and one that I‘m not qualified to comment on. However, I certainly wouldn‘t let one of my cadets go from an air rifle to a C7 -- and especially not an FN -- without first learning how to properly and accurately shoot a .22 LR (even if it was just the No. 7).
But the 853C is still better than nothing, and I‘m going to squeeze every last drop out of every single one that comes my way.
