Do .177 H&N Baracuda Hunters expand well at a MV of 880 fos?

[Fred J]

I tried out a number of hollow point pellets in the 10.5gr weight range. The most accurate were the H&N Baracuda Hunters (10.49 gr). They seem to shoot well in my MRod at 880 fps. At this MV, can I expect to get good expansion? I will be using these for pesting (Mostly tree rats) at 15-30 yards, so both accuracy and expansion are important to me.

If these don't expand, I will go back to Air Arms 10.34 gr domes, and restrict my pesting to head shots.

Thank you for your help

[jason miller]

Can’t comment on the Hunters, but I recovered a .177 Hunter Extreme from a squirrel that didn’t appear to expand. If I recall correctly, that shot was around 10 yards and MV was around 900 FPS- so you’d think if it were going to expand, it would have on that shot. However, 4 squirrels shot through the ribs were quite dead in a timely manner, so I’m not sure it matters too much...

Even if the Hunters didn’t expand and you wanted to stick to head shots, why would you switch to a different pellet if the Hunters were the most accurate in your rifle?

[wolverine]

This is a .22 H&N Hunter I shot into some hamburger at 20 yards with a 15 fpe rifle.

[JungleShooter]

Check out Sage Hector Medinas testing of the Baracuda Hunter Extreme (.177).

I would estimate this pellet is less prone to expand than the non-Extreme Hunter, yet Hector is full of praise for it, including its expansion.

The terminal ballistics comes at the end of his test report, where he tests expansion at 50y, including hitting wing, bone, etc.

Link:
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-universal-pellet-is-here


Happy pesting!  😄
Matthias

[wolverine]

i just reread the title.  .177 Hunters.  i have some on order and they should be here monday.  i'll look for a medium to test them in.

[wolverine]

i haven't tested them yet, however i can say they are devastating on small game.  i've been squirrel and rabbit hunting with them and they perform very well.  nickel size groups at 40 yards.  my gun is putting out about 17fpe and although i have had pass throughs, the exit holes are impressive.  i just posted a pic of a hosp hit at 41 yards today in the hunting gate under Patience paid a dividend. 

[Back_Roads]

 Minimal expansion but they hit hard enough to stop a raging squirrel