Predator GTO .22 Cal, 11.75 Grains, Domed, Lead-Free Pellets

[Gear_Junkie]

These pellets shoot great out of my .22cal Skyhawk. Granted, I had to do a LOT of work on the Skyhawk barrel to make it accurate with pretty much any pellets. These GTO's shoot better than any of the H&N, JSB, and Air Arms pellets that I've tried. I can get 5-shot groups less than 3/4" CTC when shooting at 50 yards [when there is NO wind and the barrel is clean ]. These are shooting at about 850fps for about 19fpe. Also, these pellets are very hard so none of the tins have had a single deformed pellet in them.

I've only experienced a few minor negatives.  These pellets seem to foul the Skyhawk barrel after only about 60 shots and noticeably affect accuracy.  You will likely get more shots with a higher quality barrel.  Another issue is that these pellets are very sensitive to the wind.  I have to be much more on the ball and can't discount a minor 3mph wind.  The only other issue is the price - these pellets cost more than 2X what quality lead pellets cost.  I wish they would sell these in larger quantities at a lower price.

Overall, I'm really happy with these pellets.

[JungleShooter]

Overall, I'm really happy with these pellets.

Zack,
that is extraordinary! 😄

Few people find precision with non-lead pellets.
In fact, some people are required (by law, or the shooting environment) to use non-lead pellets — and they would kill to have a gun like yours!
(Well, maybe not "kill" — but pay a premium price for it....)


Like you discovered, the GTO Lead Free are more affected by wind — their BC was measured at 0.023 — compare that to a JSB domed lead pellet at 0.031....


Matthias

[Gear_Junkie]

Overall, I'm really happy with these pellets.

Zack,
that is extraordinary! 😄

Few people find precision with non-lead pellets.
In fact, some people are required (by law, or the shooting environment) to use non-lead pellets — and they would kill to have a gun like yours!
(Well, maybe not "kill" — but pay a premium price for it....)


Like you discovered, the GTO Lead Free are more affected by wind — their BC was measured at 0.023 — compare that to a JSB domed lead pellet at 0.031....


Matthias

Actually, I do like that I don't have to worry about where the pellets land when shooting at my house.  With lead, I usually shoot into a trap.  I've shot another tin since this post and I am just so impressed by the quality and consistency of these pellets.

[Monkeydad1969]

I'm glad to see the GTO pellets shooting great for you, but I don't see how they're fouling your barrel.  Can you pm me pics of the cleaning patches used? 

Joe

[rdtricks]

Hey Zack, I feel your pain.  Living here in California, our hunting regulations require the use of "non-lead" ammunition in all hunting situations.  Not something conducive to the best of accuracy with just any hunting arm.  Luckily there are a number of vendors beginning to offer non-lead alternatives.   All of my hunting air rifles have been sighted in using either the Predator GTO or the H&N Green Lead-Free pellets.  Cost is a factor that has me looking at many of the upcoming alternatives: Hatsan had offered their ECO line, Gamo has the Blue Flame, Daisy's HP and there are others.  All hobbies are expensive but the joy I get from shooting an accurate gun/ ammo combination tends to outway the somewhat minor increase in cost of lead-free pellets that will hit where I aim and put the game down.  My guns not intended for hunting get whatever pellet goes down the barrel with the best accuracy.   

[Gear_Junkie]

I'm glad to see the GTO pellets shooting great for you, but I don't see how they're fouling your barrel.  Can you pm me pics of the cleaning patches used? 

Joe

I was actually going to do this the last time that I cleaned the barrel, but got lazy.  The barrel is clean right now.  I hope to do some shooting next weekend to get ready for a FT match the following week.  I'll try to take pics of the patches (it usually takes about 10 patches with Ballistol) the next time I clean the barrel.  Basically, whenever I fill the gun, I also need to clean the barrel.  Right now I'm filling the gun to 150 bar and shooting down to about 80 bar.  This gives me 60 shots on the reg, and also just enough shots before accuracy starts to decline.

[Gear_Junkie]

Hey Zack, I feel your pain.  Living here in California, our hunting regulations require the use of "non-lead" ammunition in all hunting situations.  Not something conducive to the best of accuracy with just any hunting arm.  Luckily there are a number of vendors beginning to offer non-lead alternatives.   All of my hunting air rifles have been sighted in using either the Predator GTO or the H&N Green Lead-Free pellets.  Cost is a factor that has me looking at many of the upcoming alternatives: Hatsan had offered their ECO line, Gamo has the Blue Flame, Daisy's HP and there are others.  All hobbies are expensive but the joy I get from shooting an accurate gun/ ammo combination tends to outway the somewhat minor increase in cost of lead-free pellets that will hit where I aim and put the game down.  My guns not intended for hunting get whatever pellet goes down the barrel with the best accuracy.

Man, I'm with you on the cost of these pellets.  I don't understand why they cost so much more than lead???  I'd like to try the Baracuda Greens, mainly because they are a bit heavier, but I can't bring myself to spend even MORE per tin for these lead-free pellets!

[Gear_Junkie]

I'm glad to see the GTO pellets shooting great for you, but I don't see how they're fouling your barrel.  Can you pm me pics of the cleaning patches used? 

Joe

Attached is an image of 6 patches pulled after about 60 shots.  The patches were lightly lubed with Ballistol.

[Monkeydad1969]

First...Zack thanks for the pics.  Why are you having to lube the GTO pellets?

Second...tin is a lot more pricey than lead.

Third...rdtricks, as I understand it from friends in California, hunting with lead pellets or slugs in an air rifle is still permitted "unless" in Condor country or where it is marked prohibited.

Joe

[rdtricks]

Joe, unless I have misread the hunting regulations for California, this year all hunting with firearms and airguns is to be done with non-lead ammunition.  California has been moving in this direction for several years now through a phasing in process.  I will look at my reg pamphlets again and verify what are the most current requirements for airgun hunting in the various parts of California.  It sure would be nice to still be able to shoot ground squirrels and other pest critters with the pellets my rifles prefer, lead or otherwise.

[Mossonarock]

I don't need the law to encourage me to hunt game or shoot pests with lead free pellets. Every now and then I'll find the pellet with my teeth when I'm eating and every time I'm grateful it wasn't a lead pellet. Sometimes pellets can take a weird route through the animal and end up in places you just don't expect it.

I get good accuracy from Predator GTO's too. I use them in .177, .22 and .25 cal. In fact, my .25 cal Hastsan 200 shoots the GTO's most accurately of any pellet I've tried (which is kind of annoying but it is what it is).

I've heard that National Park Rangers at least in some places prefer to use lead free pellets for dispatching pest animals. That way, whatever scavenger that ends up eating the shot pest won't develop lead poisoning from eating it. Sounds very considerate to me.

[Archdesigner03]

I bought the GTO for my prod and 1322 based on positive reviews for these particular guns,  sad to say they perform  terribly. Wasted 20 bucks.

[Rico14]

Hey Zack, I feel your pain.  Living here in California, our hunting regulations require the use of "non-lead" ammunition in all hunting situations.  Not something conducive to the best of accuracy with just any hunting arm.  Luckily there are a number of vendors beginning to offer non-lead alternatives.   All of my hunting air rifles have been sighted in using either the Predator GTO or the H&N Green Lead-Free pellets.  Cost is a factor that has me looking at many of the upcoming alternatives: Hatsan had offered their ECO line, Gamo has the Blue Flame, Daisy's HP and there are others.  All hobbies are expensive but the joy I get from shooting an accurate gun/ ammo combination tends to outway the somewhat minor increase in cost of lead-free pellets that will hit where I aim and put the game down.  My guns not intended for hunting get whatever pellet goes down the barrel with the best accuracy.   

I suggest you go online and review the CA hunting laws. You CAN hunt with an air gun using lead pellets

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition#25046251-are-pellet-rifles-included-in-the-lead-ammunition-ban