GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => European/Asian Air Gun Gates => German AirGun Gate => Topic started by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 02:16:50 PM

Title: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 02:16:50 PM
What are the heaviest pellets you comfortably send through your stock 34 in .22 (no Vor. or Mac. kits)?

I've read to not go over 15gr, and also to not go over 16gr, at the risk of damaging the rifle (not just the spring). I'd like to know what your mixed real-world experience with a stock 34 has been. Do you look for specific chrony numbers to tell you when to stop increasing weight? A certain noise or feeling during the firing cycle?

The heaviest pellets I've tried are 14.66gr, and I'm wondering if I should go over 15gr (or even 16gr) to even see what happens... (this rifle is strictly for hunting, by the way)
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: thekid on February 26, 2013, 02:19:10 PM
Mine loved the Predator polymags, never thought twice, about feeding them to it.
Yours has been tuned as well, so it is nicely polished up, it will handle the slightly heavier weight.
I will not venture past 16gr though..that is my limit.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Motorhead on February 26, 2013, 02:33:49 PM
16gr would be my limit personally ... Go much heavier spring starts getting pretty beat up and pellet trajectory become ever more artillery in profile.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 03:37:09 PM
Thanks, you two. I assumed some of the GTA family would have pulled an, "I wonder...", at some point, and I could learn from that. I figured I could try something between 15 and 16gr, and if my gun didn't like them, I could always see if my dad's QB would like them (or I can let them all go on the Pellet Exchange).
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Plekto on February 26, 2013, 03:56:48 PM
H&N Field Target Trophy.  14.66gr.  These are the most accurate of the heavier pellets that will shoot in your gun, almost guaranteed.  Note - they come in 500 pellet tins and three diameters.   
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 04:12:31 PM
H&N Field Target Trophy.  14.66gr.  These are the most accurate of the heavier pellets that will shoot in your gun, almost guaranteed.  Note - they come in 500 pellet tins and three diameters.   

I have a tin of them in 5.54, and there are still some loose fits/flyers. They're definitely better than the RWS Superdomes (close 2nd) and the JSB Exact 14.35s (horrible in this rifle... horr-ib-ull). I wanted to try a few more, just to be sure... haha
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: thekid on February 26, 2013, 04:43:47 PM
Have you tried any of the crosman pellets.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 05:50:58 PM
Only the tinned CPHPs (I could get them locally). I was hoping someone on the Pellet Exchange would have some of the boxed domes in .22 to try, as I don't want to get a whole box and have them perform under the H&Ns...
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: triggerfest on February 26, 2013, 05:56:13 PM
H&N Field Target Trophy.  14.66gr.  These are the most accurate of the heavier pellets that will shoot in your gun, almost guaranteed.  Note - they come in 500 pellet tins and three diameters.   

I have a tin of them in 5.54, and there are still some loose fits/flyers. They're definitely better than the RWS Superdomes (close 2nd) and the JSB Exact 14.35s (horrible in this rifle... horr-ib-ull). I wanted to try a few more, just to be sure... haha

Yes, the JSB Exacts are in my D34 horrible too ! She prefers, strange enough, the 11gr RWS Hobbies... Although I want to try the JSB Exact Jumbo's too (18gr), they did well in my BSA Lightning - and would be for me the limit from a grain perspective as well...
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 26, 2013, 06:04:42 PM
She prefers, strange enough, the 11gr RWS Hobbies...

Eleven?!? Wow... hm... maybe I'm limiting myself, and I should also look at lower weights, too...
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Mark 611 on February 26, 2013, 09:21:20 PM
also try the Crosman Copper head pointed hunting pellets! :P
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: lillysdad621 on February 26, 2013, 11:37:20 PM
mine stacks the 14.3 gr Crosmans at 675 fps avg. the hobbies do very well, but drop drastically pass 30 yards. And i have used the 18 gr. JSB. they also go into a neta 1 inch group at 45 yards, and they leave more of an impression on squirrels out to 30 yards. as in pushes the squirrel off its perch, 100 percent of the times. but it is shooting at 592 fps... so short to medium range is all i get.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 27, 2013, 12:15:44 AM
mine stacks the 14.3 gr Crosmans at 675 fps avg.

The boxed domes? I need to find someone with a few... none posted in the Pellet Exchange, yet.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: GunnerAl on February 27, 2013, 12:32:27 AM
The boxed domes? I need to find someone with a few...

These pellets might just be the good ones for many Diana's. I'm heading into the airgun shop in the next few days to get a couple of boxes of the Premiers,, 625 in a box. No-one seems to say anything bad about them in many Diana's, even if they are a bit light @ 14.3gr.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: triggerfest on February 27, 2013, 02:29:30 PM
She prefers, strange enough, the 11gr RWS Hobbies...

Eleven?!? Wow... hm... maybe I'm limiting myself, and I should also look at lower weights, too...

Well, I don't think that there are any lower weighted pellets in .22. But this is what works best for my D34 now. I personally think that 18gr is the maximum weight it can handle with a decent performance. Still on my planning are the Superdomes from RWS as well, but hey, as for now I'm glad that I have found a pellet with the RWS Hobby that performs well ! Both plinking and paper btw...
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: lillysdad621 on February 27, 2013, 10:52:48 PM
The crosman pellets I use are the HP .22 from the tin... 9 bucks a tin of 500... the boxed stuff is way too expensive. and i am lucky that my diana likes the HPs.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: tjk on February 27, 2013, 11:11:07 PM
I stick with 14.5 RWS Super-Domes in my Diana 34. They shooot the most consistant of any pellet I've tried. But once in a while I will toss a few JSB Exacts (15.9 ?!?!) to thin the comp tube lubes down a bit,..... not that it's needed,...but it sounds like a good excuse anyways ;) They group very well in my 34 too. But as we all know,...each gun shoots one pellet or another best. 16 grains is about the heaviest I would go with a .22 Diana 34. 
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Calmark on February 28, 2013, 01:52:17 AM
Drew, I've got an assortment of high-quality .22 pellets such as Crosman boxed domed, FTT, JSB 14.3, 15.9, and 18.1.  I think I have some Superdomes too and maybe a few more types.  I'm likely going to the Fresno show, so I can bring some along for you to try out.  I never tried out most of them in my 34, but I do remember it didn't like the 15.9 JSBs but did pretty well with the Crosman Premier Hollow Points.  Those were the only two pellets I had at the time. 
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 28, 2013, 02:49:14 AM
Drew, I've got an assortment of high-quality .22 pellets such as Crosman boxed domed, FTT, JSB 14.3, 15.9, and 18.1.  I think I have some Superdomes too and maybe a few more types.  I'm likely going to the Fresno show, so I can bring some along for you to try out.  I never tried out most of them in my 34, but I do remember it didn't like the 15.9 JSBs but did pretty well with the Crosman Premier Hollow Points.  Those were the only two pellets I had at the time.

Oh, wow... that would be great! I currently have CPHPs, RWS Superdomes, H&N FTT w/5.54 head, and JSB Exact Jumbo Express (14.35). The FTTs are currently #1 (especially when Niko shot them... haha), but I want to make sure. I'd love to try a few of the Crosman boxed domed, and the 15.9s. I'd only use the 18s in my dad's new gun that I need to assemble (QB79 HPA), so I'll let him experience the joy of finding the right pellet... heh.

Regardless, I hope you make it to the show! I'm really excited.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Nod on February 28, 2013, 11:10:04 AM
I notice that most of you like the 14/15 gr pellets the best for your 34. After going through the StaightShooters sampler (18 different pellets, 15 different weights) I found that the RWS Super Point 14.50gr, Beemans FTS Dbl gold 14.72gr and the Napier Hunter 15.42gr gave me the best results overall.  But the JBS Exact 15.90gr and the Beeman Silver Arrow 17.13gr were VERY close. And with the Beeman Kodiak & H&N Baracuda @ 21.14gr, I can cut the bullseye out of the target at 20 yds. I like the knock-down power of the heavy pellets and I've zeroed my rifle in with those to use on the rabbits in my yard. I don't sit down and shoot a lot of these at one time, if I just want to target practice, I'll use the lighter stuff. If the spring breaks, it breaks, I'll replace it.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Calmark on February 28, 2013, 01:08:05 PM
I'm also looking forward to the show in Fresno. 

I realize I also have some H&N Barracuda 21 grain pellets and some kind of Gamo domed I think.  I'll see if I have any others too.  When we next meet I'll bring you some to try out.  I wouldn't worry about at least trying the heavier ones in your XS-25.  (Maybe Niko should do the testing and would if you twist his arm, haha!)  If it turns out it LOVES one of the heavier pellets, I'd stick with those.  I personally always hope my rifles like mid-range pellet weights so the trajectory is flatter, but I shoot whatever they like best.  I don't worry about springs possibly wearing out faster either.  Once you know how to replace springs, it really stops becoming a worry. 
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on February 28, 2013, 01:41:53 PM
Don and Mark: You two are joining the folks that have told me to simply accept any pellet my gun likes, and to prepare myself for replacing springs, if need be. The numbers are speaking for themselves, so I should at least open myself to the possibility. Haha.

I need to build a compressor, anyway, if I get a .25, as I'll have two springers; I should have at least the minimum amount of tools needed to properly service my guns, and I consider that a "minimum", if I'm serious about taking care of them.

As an aside, I got a call from one of the Fresno organizers, and I had no idea the show will be as big as it's going to be! The range will be there for people to bring in their own guns, and to also try guns that they buy on-site (and possible sample guns, too, I'm assuming). I'm looking forward to seeing everything, as I'm still way too new to this.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Calmark on March 01, 2013, 04:10:05 AM
A spring compressor would definitely be handy in the future for doing your own maintenance.  It really acts as a third hand so you can use your two to take things apart or realign them or whatever.  Once you know how to replace your own springs and seals, it makes you worry a lot less about anything breaking or wearing out inside. 

Yep, that Fresno show is going to knock your socks off.  I went to the one in Roseville in 2011 and this one is shaping up to be much larger.  Too bad its not closer for us in Roseville again, but it will still be worth the drive.  ;D
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: cnjl3 on March 01, 2013, 12:46:52 PM
I forgot which GTA member posted that he would always stick with the pellet that produced the highest FPE because if the energy doesn't exit the barrel it would most likely stay in your AG in the form of either additional vibration or scope busting blues. So since I bought a Master Chrony I select the tightest grouping pellet from those which yield the highest FPE.
For my FWB124 I have tried 10 different pellets but only four of them yield 12+FPE and the tightest grouping pellet is either
CPHP 7.9gr 12.70fpe
JSB 8.4gr 12.877fpe
I found it interesting that my third most accurate pellet the Beeman Kodiak 10.5gr yields only 10.65fpe -- so the lighter pellets have become my "favorites." I wouldn't have known if I hadn't of bought my Master Chrony. So-- Yes, you are able to shoot a heavier pellet and Yes, you can always change out the spring if it breaks or velocity drops off BUT you might also be hurting your optics.
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: drewciferpike on March 01, 2013, 01:44:52 PM
I wouldn't have known if I hadn't of bought my Master Chrony.

Oh, yeah... that reminds me that I really need a chrony, too... haha
Title: Re: Heaviest pellets for D34 .22?
Post by: Booger on March 02, 2013, 03:22:33 PM
H&N FTT are real good in both my D34 & TX200, but to tell the truth I really love the AA 16 grain pellet, even over JSB 15..89 grain. It has become my go to pellet. I nail targets @ 80 yards with my TX, and when my D34 gets back from the tuner I will report back. Before the tune it was a top 4 pellet in windy conditions.