Pellets matter

[leadskirt]

I got my order of pellets today.  I ordered an RWS sample pack, JSB sample pack, RWS R10 match, and H&N Baracudas.

I started with the RWS R10's and was shocked at how poorly they shot from my gun.  They were easily the worst groups my gun had printed to that point in it's short life.

Next I went through all for weights of the JSB's.  The first weight was OK.  Second weight was great.  Third weight was back to OK.  The fourth group was the JSB Straton and that pellet is so wildly inaccurate in my gun that it reminds me of the scene from Bull Durham where Cosner tells the rookie pitcher to bean the mascot. 

The Baracuda's are a known factor in my gun…they shoot great…so everything I'm doing is compared to them.  They will easily shoot under half an inch at 26 yards.  The JSB Stratons…I kid you not…were shooting 4.5 inch  to 5 inch groups at the same distance.  For whatever reason my gun just doesn't like them.   

i have a few more pellets to try tomorrow but thought I'd share the results so far.   I certainly didn't expect the choice of pellet, especially when choosing among good pellets, to make that big a difference in accuracy.

[Phire Phite]

I had been dying to try the polymag predators as a hunting application.  I've gotten a couple chippers with the cphp's standing at 30 yards.  Yesterday I tried at a grey squirrel from maybe 15-18 yards.  He let me try 3 times.....strikeout.  Gonna have to do some actual testing, but first shot was not positive.

[ray1377]

You didn't mention it in your post, but what caliber are your pellets you tested?
And also, what brand / model airgun are you testing them in?
Thanks
Ray

[nervoustrigger]

Nice going, that's part of the fun.  A pellet sampler is like a box of chocolates.

Let's see those groups!

Here's how my son's QB79 HPA conversion looked on the first round of testing for example:

[leadskirt]

Sorry…I'm shooting a .177 caliber Marauder (new version). 

I'm shooting it as it came from the factory…I've not made any adjustments.  I fill to 3,000 PSI and shoot down to about 2,000. 

My target is at 26 yards because that's the most convenient spot based on my shooting location…the laundry room window.  I have a rock solid rest there and it's air conditioned…so I like it.

[leadskirt]

Let's see those groups!

I'm going to have to step-up my tech game to post pics of groups…I'll see what I can do tomorrow.  I used to shoot at night by training a flashlight on the target but it's to buggy now.  I'd have a million mosquitos in the house if I tried it today. 

[Tater]

Nice going, that's part of the fun.  A pellet sampler is like a box of chocolates.

Let's see those groups!

Here's how my son's QB79 HPA conversion looked on the first round of testing for example:

Wow! Crosman pellets and Gamo Rockets shooting the best through it. Nice! Not hard to find or order those.

[Railbuggy]

I save my empty tins. I have fired over 3000 CPHP since last summer when I got back into air guns. I mostly shoot at birds and paper from my window out to about 50 yards now that I have a .22 Disco. I'm happy with the cphp.

[leadskirt]

Maruader .177, 26 yards, solid rest, 5.5 inch target. 

Four shot group with JSB Stratons:

Untitled by scarfam, on Flickr

Same setup, but this group is 5 shots of H&N Baracudas:

Untitled by scarfam, on Flickr

[AmBraCol]

I wasn't familiar with the JSB Straton so had to look it up.  Pointed pellets don't have a very good rep for accuracy with some folk, it would appear you've had the same experience.  Years ago I shot some Daisy Speedmax pointed pellets through my Crosman 1377 and got the best groups ever from the factory barrel and breech.  But once I swapped the breech for a Crooked Barn unit they wouldn't shoot for sour apples anymore.  The pellet will make or break your experience with a pellet gun.  If it ain't the right pellet then you just as well be slinging shard rocks.

[c2k5]

  If it ain't the right pellet then you just as well be slinging shard rocks.

This is why I wonder how Gamo can stay in business. They sell you a paper weight scope with the rifle and the gamo brand ammo is garbage. If your just a random dude who knows nothing about air rifles and you think it's going to shoot like a regular rifle you're gonna be perturbed. I'm not knocking Gamo they make great rifles, but if you shoot one with the stuff they give you out of the box you're gonna have a bad time. Atleast Crosman's cheap guns actually shoot their pellets that you will find next to the rifle pretty good most of the time.

[AmBraCol]

  If it ain't the right pellet then you just as well be slinging shard rocks.

This is why I wonder how Gamo can stay in business. They sell you a paper weight scope with the rifle and the gamo brand ammo is garbage. If your just a random dude who knows nothing about air rifles and you think it's going to shoot like a regular rifle you're gonna be perturbed. I'm not knocking Gamo they make great rifles, but if you shoot one with the stuff they give you out of the box you're gonna have a bad time. Atleast Crosman's cheap guns actually shoot their pellets that you will find next to the rifle pretty good most of the time.

My conclusion is that most folks can't shoot and don't know the difference.   :-D