I recently got a Beeman R1 rifle used in .177 to control arboreal rats.

I'm surprised by how inaccurate it has been for me so far, about 6 inch 25 yard "groups" off the bench in calm conditions. I tried a couple different hunting pellets.

Are there any accurizing steps I might try with it? I'm not real keen on gut-shooting Fox squirrels around here (if I hit them at all!)!

You can’t shoot an air gun off a bench like you do a rifle. It won’t shoot. Too much vibration. Hold it very loosely on the shoulder and place your other hand under the forend between the forend and the bag but do not grip the forend.

Google up “artillery hold”.

6” groups seem off even for a non-ideal hold though.

Interesting. I'll try a looser hold, and pull off the scope to give the iron sights a try.
The rifle is fitted with a Beeman 4X32, properly mounted. Is there a better scope I should try? Assuming this is a 1990's package and I'm not the original owner, I'm guessing Beeman doesn't warranty their scopes if that is my issue?

The R1 is a seriously powerful springer. Tons of vibration there. Spring piston airguns take technique and practice to learn how to shoot well.

Not if it is bouncing off the bench.

Maybe different pellets, maybe clean barrel, maybe scope is bad, maybe change recoil spring to something milder.

Properly mounted? Takes some very good mounts to keep scopes from slipping on a springer. Take a pencil and draw a line around the scope at the mount and where the bases mate up to the receiver and see if it is staying put. I have the R9 version (a little less powerful) but any shot that would not hit a quarter at 25 yards was shooter error. I use a Nikon EFR 3-9x40 with Beeman mounts (make sure pin in in hole on receiver) on my rifle.

One other thing you may want to check is the stock bolts and screws on the forend.

If the scope is not holding zero, you may have found out why the rifle was for sale. The previous owner has given up too soon.

Invest in a scope that'll hold up to the unique recoil a hard kicking springer air rifle delivers and you'll be fine.

My preference is a Hawke Airmax 4-12 x 40. Doug at Cameraland has sold 3 to me. Of course there's others that work well too.

A solid rifle, a solid optic properly mounted and a quality pellet (heavy for caliber).

Let us know what you figure out!

I disagree slightly with the folks about shooting off the bench. I've gotten great groups off sandbags with my spring guns. The problem is that the point of impact is often several inches off where the rifle shoots offhanded due to the way it jumps on bags vs your hands. So zeroing a spring gun off the sandbags is pretty much a waste of time unless you're using it only for shooting off sandbags.

I'd suspect a bad scope or loose rings as others have pointed out. I've had good luck with Bushnell Elites or Leupolds on magnum spring guns. Check the screws holding the action to the stock as well. They can vibrate loose!

Keep trying different pellets until you find one it "likes".
I have a Stoeger X10 that won't hit an 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper at 25 yards with some pellets, but will group Crosman's into "minute of squirrel head" at that distance.

I removed the scope and found that the iron sights shot much better, and that the old Beeman scope "rattled". So I'm in the process of trying another pellet gun designed scope. I'll let you know how that goes.
Original seller refunded me $25 for the bad scope.

Call Tim at Mac1 airguns and he will fix you up.

Order up some of these and get a strong air gun rated scope. Hawke Airmax or something similar.

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/p/JSB_Match_Diabolo_Exact_177_Cal_8_4_Grains_Domed_500ct_4_52mm/261

Tim at MAC1 X 2. He will assist you as suggested above. I have always wanted a Beeman R-1 but didn't have the money when I saw one available. Be Well. Rusty

Relatively new to air guns (Beeman R9), but one suggestion. Vibration is capable of unwinding every screw attached to those units. Literally check every one before beginning a session.

The R1 is one of the best spring guns on the market.

Look up the "artillery hold" for spring guns.

I have several springers, including a couple of Beemans. They all shoot great, altho I can't say I have ever benched one. I would try the following:
Make sure all the screws mounting the rifle to the stock are tight. I can tell when they start to loosen on some of my rifles, as the accuracy suddenly goes south.
Make sure the scope is secure in the rings, and tight against the recoil stop if there is one.
Make sure the scope is working - if the rifle still has iron sights, pull the scope off and see how it shoot with the irons.
Shoot some groups at 7 to 10 yards. My rifles will all shoot 1/4" groups or less at 8 yards, off hand.....
Try cleaning the bore.
Inspect the muzzle to make sure someone didn't jack it up cleaning it.

exactly. this is what happened to my R1. i loctited everything down real good and it broke through that too. my problem was always a wandering zero. either the OP has a bum scope or screws are loose on the gun itself or the mounts.

It is my R1 now and everything will be checked out by an experienced air gun man. I'm looking at it from across the table and she is experienced but still handsome. The scope is marked for airguns so the reticle should be supported for the piston's "both-ways" recoil. That's a technical term! I've read of some legendary exploits utilizing R-1s. Be Well. Rusty

She is a square jawed Montana woman. Of course she is handsome! May you have many good years together!

And made in W Germany. Thanks man. Be Well. Rusty

The Weaver 2.5-7 RF I mounted on my RWS 54 is airgun rated too, but it "two grouped" on me. Works fine on my 10/22. The 54 is "recoiless" with opposing pistons, but vibrates pretty good. Put the Sparc2 back on and groups returned to normal.

A Bushnell Trophy XLT 4-12 AO went at least 1000 rounds on that 54 before I pulled it off to kill a deer on a .243. Now sits on a CZ 455 SS.