Option B — Air Rifle

Req 2bi — First Grouping Exercise

2bi.
Using a BB gun or pellet rifle and shooting from a benchrest or supported prone position at 15 feet for BB guns or 33 feet for pellet rifles, fire five groups (three shots per group) that can be touched by a quarter.

This is your first live-fire grouping exercise for Option B. The distance is shorter than Option A, but the quarter standard is identical. Your goal: five three-shot groups, each tight enough that a standard quarter can touch all three holes.

Distances

Position

Shoot from a benchrest (rifle resting on a front bag, you seated at a bench) or supported prone (lying flat, rifle supported by a bipod or bags). For spring-piston pellet rifles, use the artillery hold described in Req 2bd—rest the forestock on an open, relaxed hand rather than clamping it down.

What to Focus On

The shorter distances of Option B mean that trigger control and sight alignment errors show up clearly on the target—which is a useful feedback tool. If your groups are stringing vertically, suspect breath control. If they are stringing horizontally, suspect trigger control (likely flinching or pushing). If groups are centered but larger than expected, suspect inconsistent cheekweld.

The Quarter Standard

A U.S. quarter has a diameter of approximately 0.955 inches (about 24mm). Three holes made by .177 pellets or 4.5mm BBs are very small individually—your goal is that all three are so close together that the quarter, placed anywhere touching one hole, can simultaneously touch the other two. This is achievable with consistent application of the fundamentals.

After Each Group

Between groups, examine the target and call the group: where was your sight picture when each shot broke? If you are calling shots correctly and the holes land where you called, your fundamentals are solid. If holes land somewhere other than where you called them, investigate your sight alignment.