Yes, Redvtr1000 is correct in his statement. Also, yes on about 40% for off the ground flight. I have been flying mine for a little over a month now and I am still yet to go much over 60 - 70 % throttle. I am up to about waist / head level and if I go much higher I lose orientation. One of the tricks is to go slow and take your time. You will know when you outfly your abilities - generally a crash follows pretty quickly. I know of what I speak. But take yor time and keep it low and gradually work up to 2 - 3 feet off of ground and you will see it smooth out some. Be easy on the sticks because slight movements will create a reaction. I think your birds are both ok and working as should be. I fly about every day on 2 packs (batteries not beer) except for down times waiting on parts. If interested here is a list of parts to order: 4 or 5 packs of main rotor grips, 1 set of flybar paddles, an extra flybar, a pack of flybar weights - put them on the the flybar next to the paddles - this will "calm" the heli down some so it is easier to control - you can move them in closer as your skill improves, 1 or 2 main gears, glue, blue loctite, stabilizer control hub, seasaw, tail vertical fin and bracket, flybar links, lipo batteries and charger and balancer, 2 mm nuts. I have replaced all of the above and even the swashplate assembly and tailbooms. Be sure to do the heatsink modification also to help cool the motor. I have just switched to the plastic training blades also. I hope you don't need the parts as much as I did but it is nice to have them if and when you crash and break something. Generally, for me, I usually break a main grip the most. make sure you balance the blades and level the paddles. The tailboom can be straightened most of the time if bent. make sure the tail motor is level with the frame. I also got some extra washers and fuel tubing for the landing gear and glued the sticks on each side of the clips efter centering each one so that they did not slide around as much.
You may know all of this already and I don't mean to insult your intelligence. I just know that these are some of the issues, parts etc that I have and thought I could pass on some of my experiences to others. This is a great site and be sure to read the Axe thread for other great advice and insights. Happy flying and don't forget to duck or move when necessary - I put two cuts on my leg with the main blades before I figured this part out.