Best pellet for HW30

[lizzie]

I am due west or SW of DFW in Granbury.

Just recent took a new job position,  but I worked down there fir the oast couple of years. Really seems to be still growing!

Well if you ever want to meet a bunch of people in the TX air gun community come to my next field target match on the second Saturday of July.  I am the match director and we have a great group.  Our last match we had 30 people.  Since you say you live due west of DFW then grab Tom Gaylord and bring him with you.  He hasn't been down here in a while.

Heck- I had no idea he was anywhere around here- hah!
Unfortunately, I work every weekend, don't get off until between 6&7 pm, so if you guys are still around at that time, I might try to swing by. Thanks!

[Oldgringo]

This afternoon, both 30S' preferred the AA 7.33 pellets OR that was what my tired old eyes saw best?  None of my rifles seem to have a hankerin' for the JSB pellets.  I wonder why that is?

[lizzie]

This afternoon, both 30S' preferred the AA 7.33 pellets OR that was what my tired old eyes saw best?  None of my rifles seem to have a hankerin' for the JSB pellets.  I wonder why that is?

JSB Exact 8.44 is what I've used in my FWB since I have had it- they've always been excellent for accuracy with that particular gun.

[Grover]

Just one number to remember:  7.33

 But my stainless has a generous leade and it LOVES Sniper mediums.

[.]

This afternoon, both 30S' preferred the AA 7.33 pellets OR that was what my tired old eyes saw best?  None of my rifles seem to have a hankerin' for the JSB pellets.  I wonder why that is?

JSB Exact 8.44 is what I've used in my FWB since I have had it- they've always been excellent for accuracy with that particular gun.

I find the 8.44s to be better than both the 7.33s and 7.9s at distance, or in the wind, in almost any HW springer below 15 fpe. At 20 yards, the lighter pellets often group fractionally better, but stretch an HW 30 out to 30-35 yards, and beyond, and the 8.44s always shine. They also hit harder, especially at low power, and retain more energy downrange.

Just my experiences, though, who knows with your gun.

I can't wait to get some of my new guns into accuracy testing mode. We can speculate forever about what will 'probably' work best or a gun, but until we test 'em stringently, we are merely guessing..

[Smaug2]

For pesting, I got a couple gray squirrels and also wounded a couple. Needs a few more FPE to be reliable on nutters, I think. I've never failed to put down a sparrow or starling though!

We have very large fox squirrels here, over 3 pounds sometimes, and thick-furred and big-boned. Buut, put a pellet directly in between the eyes, straight into the brain, and even the biggest ones drop in place. With glass that is worthy of this gun, it is a surgical instrument, they are amazing when scoped, especially, imo..

Yeah, my non-killing shots were due to bad placement. But they were not HORRIBLE placement. They were jaw shots; back of the jaw. I've missed low with other guns with just a little more power, like my TX200 when it was shooting at 9 FPE, and they were lethal. More shock or something. So it DOES have enough power, but requires perfect placement. No room for error.


Lizzie, I sent you home from the Fun Shoot with some 7.33 gr. JSB or Air Arms pellets in a little ziploc baggy for your HW30. Did you try them yet? How'd they pan out?

By the way, I did try JSB 7.9 and 8.4. They shoot equally well as the 7.3 out to 20-25 yards. But since the HW30 is already velocity-limited (mine shoots the 7.3s at 650-670 fps) I don't like to slow it down more with heavier pellets. I haven't done any penetration tests with the different pellet weights; I only ever shot the 7.3s at game. Those jaw shots went in one jaw, knocked out some teeth, through the other jaw, then stopped just inside the skin on the far side, so they DID do a fair bit of damage and had respectable penetration, for only 6 FPE or so.

Crosman 7.9s fit tighter in the breech and don't fly as fast as JSB 7.9s.

[lizzie]

For pesting, I got a couple gray squirrels and also wounded a couple. Needs a few more FPE to be reliable on nutters, I think. I've never failed to put down a sparrow or starling though!

We have very large fox squirrels here, over 3 pounds sometimes, and thick-furred and big-boned. Buut, put a pellet directly in between the eyes, straight into the brain, and even the biggest ones drop in place. With glass that is worthy of this gun, it is a surgical instrument, they are amazing when scoped, especially, imo..

Yeah, my non-killing shots were due to bad placement. But they were not HORRIBLE placement. They were jaw shots; back of the jaw. I've missed low with other guns with just a little more power, like my TX200 when it was shooting at 9 FPE, and they were lethal. More shock or something. So it DOES have enough power, but requires perfect placement. No room for error.


Lizzie, I sent you home from the Fun Shoot with some 7.33 gr. JSB or Air Arms pellets in a little ziploc baggy for your HW30. Did you try them yet? How'd they pan out?

By the way, I did try JSB 7.9 and 8.4. They shoot equally well as the 7.3 out to 20-25 yards. But since the HW30 is already velocity-limited (mine shoots the 7.3s at 650-670 fps) I don't like to slow it down more with heavier pellets. I haven't done any penetration tests with the different pellet weights; I only ever shot the 7.3s at game. Those jaw shots went in one jaw, knocked out some teeth, through the other jaw, then stopped just inside the skin on the far side, so they DID do a fair bit of damage and had respectable penetration, for only 6 FPE or so.

Crosman 7.9s fit tighter in the breech and don't fly as fast as JSB 7.9s.

Yes, and thanks!
Haven't tried them yet, and the reason I have not, is because I haven't got the sighting issue down to what I want just yet.
I had considered just using the diopter sight that came with the gun, and I put the sight on, and tried using it, but thinking that my eyes are just getting too picky at this age, to shoot accurately at 25 yards with any type of sights that has no mag.
I am probably going to buy a new scope for the gun in the next week or two, and once I get that in place, and sighted in well, I will be trying your pack- thanks again!