Beeman Crow Magnum vs. Predator Polymag .177

[jefunjsh]

What do you guys think of these pellets within 30 yards at 600-650 fps?  I bought the Crow Magnums to try them out, but not having cleaned my barrel yet they can't even hold a 6" group at 25 yards so I haven't been able to try them on any pest yet.

I'm thinking about just sticking to the predators in this gun instead of cleaning the barrel, trying the Crow Magnums, and then seeing how much difference there is, because I'm not really sure there is going to be much difference at all.  I'll probably just save the Crow Magnums for the next AG I get.

In any case, I was just wondering what you guys thought of them compared against each other.  The Predators seem good for penetration at longer ranges, but from what I've seen they both seem to get the same amount of penetration so I'm not really sure what it is the Crow Magnum is better at.

[JimL911]

The Crow Mags will expand nicely but not so much at those speeds. Unfortunately due to the design they rarely group well enough to hunt with past 20 yards. Stick to the Preds. Their aerodynamic design allows them to group well at 30+ yds.

[only1harry]

The CrowMags can be devestating at 20-25yds but at 30 the groups start opening up.  The Preds are better for longer distances but you need to shoot whichever is most accurate in your gun.

Like Jim said, at 600-650fps, either pellet will not expand much.  You need higher velocities to get the full effect of a hollow-point pellet.  I am not sure if the 6" groups with the CM's are due to the bore being dirty.  That is just too large of a group.  Your gun most likely does not like CM's, and it won't shoot much better after you clean the bore.  CM's typically like 700-850fps velocities a lot better.

[jefunjsh]

The CrowMags can be devestating at 20-25yds but at 30 the groups start opening up.  The Preds are better for longer distances but you need to shoot whichever is most accurate in your gun.

Like Jim said, at 600-650fps, either pellet will not expand much.  You need higher velocities to get the full effect of a hollow-point pellet.  I am not sure if the 6" groups with the CM's are due to the bore being dirty.  That is just too large of a group.  Your gun most likely does not like CM's, and it won't shoot much better after you clean the bore.  CM's typically like 700-850fps velocities a lot better.

Okay, that's pretty good info.  I suppose if that's the case I could probably save some money getting a regular domed pellet?  Though the Crosman Premier Hollow Points have been working really great for me so I'll probably use them.

One thing I did do with the Predators though was shoot them into a few different kinds of soap and I did see them expand up to .20 or more, but that was at 15 feet and who knows how close soap is to flesh.

Anyway, the one thing about the Crow Magnums being inaccurate out of my gun that seems odd to me is that others seem to have good luck with this gun and Crow Magnums.  Oh well, I've already got plans to get another air gun that should be in the velocity ranges spoken of, hopefully it will be accurate with the Crow Mags so I can give them a shot too.

[big a]

My disco shoots crow mags great at 30,but its sending them over 800fps in .177.I love preds also,they get the job done fast.

[Bullit]

Sorry you haven't had good luck with the Crow Mags.

 I'd clean my A/G thoroughly before I made a final decision on any pellets.
 I forgot what you're using, but I think it was a Crosman pumper....yeah, I'd be shopping for a hunter A/G.  That Crosman is a fine plinker and will love the cheap CPHPs from Wally's.
 Hang onto them and use them in your next A/G.  They are a great hunter out to 25 yards.

[jefunjsh]

Sorry you haven't had good luck with the Crow Mags.

 I'd clean my A/G thoroughly before I made a final decision on any pellets.
 I forgot what you're using, but I think it was a Crosman pumper....yeah, I'd be shopping for a hunter A/G.  That Crosman is a fine plinker and will love the cheap CPHPs from Wally's.
 Hang onto them and use them in your next A/G.  They are a great hunter out to 25 yards.

Yep, 2100 loves the CPHP... It even does well for small pests (crows and ground squirrels are the biggest I've taken ), but I'm definitely holding onto the Crow Mags since I'm going to be getting a springer eventually.

Anyway, yeah, I'll have to remember out this thread and report back when I've tried them in a clean barrel.