H&N Green pellets in an R7

[Marc]

OK - so I'm leaning heavy towards an R7 for the next purchase.

In the past I mostly shot H&N Greens in my other guns to keep the lead out of the back yard, but then read they are for PCP's??

Are these OK to shoot in a stock R7 do you think?  Probably Baracuda's at 6.48 grains if they shoot well, possibly the GTO Predators at 6.79 grains. 

[Korak-again]

  I have been using the JSB Exact 7.33 pellets in mine. However the green pellets as a whole seem to work well in several guns. I have the H&N and GTO pellets. I just have not spent much time at the bench this summer. It's been too hot for me to sit and concentrate.

[Josan]

Non-lead makes a springer shoot differently from lead. You'll notice the shot cycle is different. My HW30S shoots very wel with JSB Express or JSB RS. The shot cycle is harsher with the H&N Baracuda Greens. Because the HW30S/R7 are 30yard-guns, precision is not so much of a problem. My experience with leadfree is that beyond 30-35 yards they are generally less accurate.

In a PCP there is not so much influence on the shot cycle, but again, accuracy at distances beyond 30-35 yards is less.

[Sneaky Fox]

I知 wondering what people think about this too. I bought a Diana 240 specifically to use with green pellets thinking it was so low powered it would work ok as a non lead springer, but I had some dieseling even after thoroughly cleaning it and then after several shooting sessions the gun stopped working and would not reliably cock upon opening the barrel. Have to send it in for repairs, and I知 still not sure if it was because of the light pellets, or just a lemon.

[DanD]

I shoot Baracuda Greens in my HW30 and Diana 27 with no problems so far. I think the tight bore fit and hard composition might create resistance to initial motion that offsets their low weight and preserves back-pressure. Heck, I've even put them through my R9, and despite 980 fps mv, they group as tight as lead at 25 yards. HW30S are super easy to work on, so even if a spring breaks, it's easily replaced.
Have fun!

[DanD]

I知 wondering what people think about this too. I bought a Diana 240 specifically to use with green pellets thinking it was so low powered it would work ok as a non lead springer, but I had some dieseling even after thoroughly cleaning it and then after several shooting sessions the gun stopped working and would not reliably cock upon opening the barrel. Have to send it in for repairs, and I知 still not sure if it was because of the light pellets, or just a lemon.

I'm thinking you got a lemon. If it was dieseling continuously out of the box , the piston seal was likely damaged during factory installation. IMHO, too light pellets might cause a harsh shot cycle, but wouldn't cause dieseling.
Good luck with the 240!

[Marc In Iowa]

[Lead-free in stock R7?]

Shooting lead-free in a spring rifle does have its challenges. The pellets are lighter. This means when the spring piston flies forward, as the air begins to compress, it also starts moving the light pellet out of the barrel sooner than a heavy pellet. Normally, in a spring piston gun, the slower moving, heavier pellet provides some air cushioning at the end of the compression cycle helping to keep the piston from slamming at the end of it's travel.

The more it slams, the more stress on the piston seal and the spring itself. I've heard people on this forum say their main spring got broken by shooting light, lead-free pellets. I've never been able to verify this myself.

I've shot them out of a Walther Terrus and a HW30S (R7). I only had the HW30S for about 3 weeks and it seemed fine shooting lead-free (5.56 grain). The Terrus shot both 5.56 and 6.8 grain lead-free. My Terrus developed a kind of hitch in the cocking cycle which I thought might be a broken spring. When I got it apart, the spring was not broken and I couldn't find anything wrong. So ... not quite sure what that means. I've still got it apart to put in a lighter spring.

As far as accuracy of lead-free, the attached photo is from a 13 shot group from the Terrus shooting H&N Field Target Trophy Green (FTTG) 5.56 grain pellets at 65 yds, rested on a bean bag. I just kept shooting until I missed. When I walked out to the target, I was astounded to see this 2" group at 65 yds.

I've never repeated that group but it gives some indication of the accuracy possible from a spring rifle shooting lead-free.

This was with a Bug Buster 3-9x 32mm scope (not exactly a precise scope picture at 65 yds).

[Marc In Iowa]

... HW30S ... shot cycle is harsher with the H&N Baracuda Greens.

That sounds right. When I was shooting FTTG 5.56 grain in the Terrus it did sound harsh. Lately I've been shooting the GTO 6.8 grain and I don't notice the harshness.

[Sneaky Fox]

Thanks Dan. I値l most likely try lead free pellets again after getting it fixed, and see if there痴 any issue.

[Korak-again]

Thanks Dan. I値l most likely try lead free pellets again after getting it fixed, and see if there痴 any issue.

   Try the GTO pellets.  I've shot a few through my 240. They seem to work OK. I have not spent much time with them because my 240 ( one of my favorite guns) shoots the JSB Exact 7.33 so well.

[Josan]

............
As far as accuracy of lead-free, the attached photo is from a 13 shot group from the Terrus shooting H&N Field Target Trophy Green (FTTG) 5.56 grain pellets at 65 yds, rested on a bean bag. I just kept shooting until I missed. When I walked out to the target, I was astounded to see this 2" group at 65 yds.

I've never repeated that group but it gives some indication of the accuracy possible from a spring rifle shooting lead-free.

This was with a Bug Buster 3-9x 32mm scope (not exactly a precise scope picture at 65 yds).

That's quite impressive for leadfree. My experience is it depends very much on the specific gun but in general they shoot less accurate than lead pellets. None of my 0.177 PCP's or springers grouped well with leadfree, but i have shooting buddies with HW50 en HW97k that shot cloverleaf groups at 30m with the Baracuda Greens. Also people say you have to thoroughly clean the barrel of lead before leadfree will shoot accurately.