Slugs for Slayers (and other .357 rifles?)

[Kinetic45^]

I've got a couple of containers of Harbor Freight red powder coat left over, might be an interesting experiment to wash the Hornadys in solvent (to remove the lube that's on them) then set them on their bases on a metal plate and use the electrogun to spray coat them which done right can add an even thousandths to the diameter.
The Hi-tek coating is much thinner and would not work that way.
I had some good results with the NSA 140gr coated with the HiTek, no targets I'm going to post pics of yet but several very thin coats (like three) is looking like the right path.

[triggertreat]

Here are the results of my new and first  NOE (359-174-FN-CE2 RG4) mould cast.  Mostly at 50 yards, but some at 100 yards.  Look closely at the descriptions because some pages have different slug groups on a couple of them.  Also, many different head sizes.

I was quite happy with seeing my first cast slugs group fairly well and wasn't a complete disaster.  I'll be tweaking the cast more going forward.

50 yards:











100 yards:

[triggertreat]

Here are the 50 yard average group sizes broken down by diameters:

.356

• x4, 5 shot groups avg. 1.150 c-t-c

.357

• x2, 5 shot groups avg. 1.192 c-t-c
• x2, 4 shot groups avg. 0.607 c-t-c

.358

• x4, 5 shot groups avg. 1.186 c-t-c
• x4, 4 shot groups avg. 0.763 c-t-c

.359

• x3, 5 shot groups avg. 1.167 c-t-c
• x3, 3-4 shot groups avg. 0.723 c-t-c

I am favoring the .358 diameter results being the average is similar with more groups shot , but they are all fairly close.  What do you say?

[Kinetic45^]

@ShakeySarge
@TriggerTreat
@Shamu25

Want to try some of these next?
I have 77gr "38 Inceptor's" and 86gr "357 Magnum Inceptor's"
They mike .358 and the 77gr are .680 long, the 86gr are .720

They shoot in my Pitbull but I want to see how they shoot in your air rifles.

[triggertreat]

They seem a little light for the Slayer, but I would be willing to give the heavier ones a try.

[shamu25]

Thanks for the offer Carl but I have found nothing under 120 grains groups in my Slayer.   I would have to dial it down to get better results and that seems self defeating. Plus I hate to mess with the settings as it shoots so well with the heavier stuff. The tiny screw that adjusts air flow on these guns is very touchy.

BTW my Accurate 36-168J mold came yesterday.   I plan to cast a bunch before having it hollow pointed to see how they group.

[Kinetic45^]

That's what this is all about, sharing what works and what does not.  I am learning from your experience. Knowing others have not had good luck under 120gr is useful.

These slugs are interesting in that they are copper dust in a plastic so they are long like a heavier bullet so should act in the rifling like a heavier bullet but are light and get higher velocities.  I was getting just under supersonic and 1/2" at 50 yards with the non-Slayer I tried them in, although I did have to back the hammer spring off a full turn.

[Kinetic45^]

And here is an example of using a bipod whose feet slide around on the shooting bench - see the top group?
Switched to a forend bag and got the usual bottom group (although I switched bullets too).

[The range had 6" of water on it, had to wade out to the target stands hahahahah... dedicated shooter? Or just crazy for airguns?]

Also: I spoke with Al at NOE today and he told me he had 8 cherrys ground, another 13 to grind (one of which is mine) and then he has to start milling the molds so it's not coming to the catalog for buys for for at least another month.

[triggertreat]

Those are some tight groups Carl!

[Kinetic45^]

Yah, I had thought I'd sell off the Pitbull after the Slayer got here (already got rid of the .357 Ataman M2R Tact) but the more I shoot it the more I realize it has a place, it's actually a pretty good gun with 115/130gr range of weight slugs. Slayer for heavy slugs and Pitbull for lighter, the FLEX+ is actually a 130 FPE .250 rifle I just happen to have a .357 barrel for too.

Can't decide whether to dump the .357 Texan or use it to re-barrel to 7mm.  The .357 would take a lot more parts change/mods than a .308 would so selling it and buying another .308 Texan just needs a barrel to do the 7mm project. (.357 valve would not work but the .308 valve works unchanged/unmodified for 7mm)

   I had a whole handfull of even better targets but slipped in the mud on the way back from collecting them (crossing a small ditch {1 foot x 3 foot} that runs across the range so you have to jump...and it was under the 6" of water [6" + 12"] so I misjudged the far side) and that was the only one that survived   

[triggertreat]

I wouldn't sell any until I got the Slayer to compare with.  I seen someone with a 300+ FPE Pitbull.  He probably bought the gun two or three times with all the upgrades to it though.

[ShakySarge]

@ShakeySarge
@TriggerTreat
@Shamu25

Want to try some of these next?
I have 77gr "38 Inceptor's" and 86gr "357 Magnum Inceptor's"
They mike .358 and the 77gr are .680 long, the 86gr are .720

They shoot in my Pitbull but I want to see how they shoot in your air rifles.

Very interesting indeed. Unfortunately, with home makeovers/remodeling, my shooting time has been null and void for some time. Still have to get some good trigger time with the last slugs you sent. Now that it is light longer, I may be able to sneak some groups in in the evening. I have a couple weights you may want to try as well from the Lee molds. They do excellent in the bully at .358 and am going to see how they perform in .357 now that the other sizer finally arrived. They may do quite well in a slayer.

[Kinetic45^]

Just got off the phone with Al at NOE again and he just sent me this drawing.  I've requested a couple of changes: A. Shorten the gas shank .005 and add it to the bore ride section of the nose (.060 becomes .065).  B.  Make all the bands lengths .049 as it just seems strange to have three different band lengths??? {all grooves were changed from .046 to .049 previously} C.  The .351 bore ride becomes .352 as slugging several barrels with my cast slugs showed it needed this for proper 'contact' across several manufacturers bore sizes.
Note this bullet should be a couple gr lighter than my original Accurate 36-168J (152gr instead of 156gr) but it is still just within borderline in my math calculation limits for good accuracy (changes required to make it 150gr and it fell out of the limits so this is absolutely the lightest I can get it for lower powered air rifles).

[triggertreat]

That's looking really good.  I like the .200 top lip (outside of the HP).  That should make it less prone to damages, like you said.  I do wish the weight was closer to 142gr - 150gr, but 152gr will work, too.  Just depends on the fill and tune, or tethered or not.  You'll for sure get three good shots if not more at 100 yards tuned in the very low 900's on a 3800 fill with the Slayer.

That 152gr weight is also for pure lead, so I think we can lighten them up a little more by tweaking the lead alloy and cast temps.  The sizing plays a key roll, too in velocity.

[Kinetic45^]

And it's updated to final!

[Kinetic45^]

That's looking really good.  I like the .200 top lip (outside of the HP).  That should make it less prone to damages, like you said.  I do wish the weight was closer to 142gr - 150gr, but 152gr will work, too.  Just depends on the fill and tune, or tethered or not.  You'll for sure get three good shots if not more at 100 yards tuned in the very low 900's on a 3800 fill with the Slayer.

That 152gr weight is also for pure lead, so I think we can lighten them up a little more by tweaking the lead alloy and cast temps.

Yah, the nose rim was thin on the Accurate 36-168J but that was to get the overall length and have the proper CG.  By making it thicker it is less prone to handling damage (and a little less 'explosive' opening) but also a few percent less accurate so it is a trade-off I hope is acceptable.  The old OAL 36-168J bullet length was .690 and the new is .670 which is another barely 'there' accuracy factor.
People don't understand that it is all a system and a change one place cascades and can totally change what works in real life shooting.  I spent a LOT of time working out the Accurate 36-168J and even MORE time trying to change it to the NOE 358-152-HP-GC so other people get to shoot it.  I rated the J bullet as a 9.5/10 on the accuracy scale of design but I am paying $300 for the cherry for a bullet that is just a 8/10 to get it mass produced so other people can buy a mold.
The changes were because several people told me the 36-168J was TOO HEAVY and it needed to be lighter, almost impossible to do without losing what it is but we shall see.

[Jeremy1982]

Of subject a little but will those interceptor work in out airguns?Are they too hard to make it out the bore?

[shamu25]

Cast some today from my new
Accurate 36-168J
Sized them to. 3578.  Shot 2 groups at 50 yards with the Slayer.   Both groups were ragged holes.  171 grain and 830 fps.  The mold will likely go to Erik next for Hollowpoint.

[Gut2Fish]

If 120 grain is the lightest the Slayer likes then I've got a short range varmint slug you can try. Crabtree made the 358345 for 38 special for clean holes. It's a semi wadcutter that drops just over 120 grain in 1-2% tin alloy. It has no long range potential, strictly a 50 yards and under plinker or varmint bain.

[Kinetic45^]

Of subject a little but will those interceptor work in out airguns?Are they too hard to make it out the bore?

Chamber easier than the lead slugs and shoot just fine.