Single Shot Tray vs Magazine

[Fate]

Is it me or does shooting groups appear to have a more consistently smaller size when using the single shot tray?

I've not had my Synrod long enough to know much about its shot count, accuracy vs range, or the characteristics of its stock tune. I'm not even sure if the stock tune was modified for the LW barrel or not, although I see no reason to believe it was.

So I'll remain frustrated until I get the chrony I ordered. Then I can see what's happening. Until then I'm in the dark.

But I did notice, and was a little concerned about what seemed a sometimes thing with its groupings. They're all one hole, sometimes very small pellet sized holes. Then sometimes they open up to twice pellet size or a tad less, but still it's a "hole" in the end. I prefer and expect, however, one tiny pellet sized hole when optimizing the scope settings in the short 10 meters I have inside.

So this morning I decided to try the single shot tray I got. I prepared each pellet on my little ball bearing gadget to ensure consistent skirts and base, and carefully loaded a shot string by hand. And there it was... one tiny hole like I expect and desire.

If this is not a fluke or a coincidence, and the magazines are somehow altering pellets or the loading of the pellet that detracts from ultimate accuracy... is there  any method to massage magazines to make them as consistent as a single loading of pellets??

[AlanMcD]

Have you tried the same "prep" of you pellets when you shoot with a magazine?  Untill you do several large groups of both, you won't really know for sure.

I know that with my Mararders, I get the same statistical average results with either a single shot tray or among multiple magazines.

Now with my Daystate Air Ranger, I get much better results with the single shot tray than with the mags by a good margin - about 8 out of ten pellets out the tin go to the exact same POI when shot from the bench indoors at 21 yards (with the other two shots being a mm or two off it), but the magazines provide a roughly 0.25" ctc group with the same ten shots.  Drives me nuts.  I've tried any number of things over the years and nothing seems to tighten up the magazine shooting . . .

[Fate]

That's pretty much what I find, too, Alan. But I have not prepped my pellets for the few magazines I've shot so far... although the last three I just loaded I did. I'll see what happens with them.

Looking at the magazines, I think I'll take them apart and smoothly bevel the inside edges of each port. Can't hurt and may make a difference. I'll see shortly.

[GLPalinkas]

I know, Most top level competition shooters, Bench Rest or Field Target, single load to eliminate any chance of the magazine altering the skirt of the pellet. I can’t believe any serious 10m competitors would even attempt a magazine.

[KnifeMaker]

At times, the issue for ever day shooting, pesting for instance, a mag is very valuable. Often the issue s not the the mag, but the entrance to the barrel it;s self. A very slight highly polished edge to the very real of the opening in the breach of the barrel can have very good results.


this is something that is commonly done to auto pistols such as the 1911 as standard practice. Works the same with mag fed ag's where any sharp edge or transition can cause a slight hang up or damaged head or skirt. Daystate is famous for ignoring this and the ports having burrs as well. Mostly  because they assemble outsourced products rather than being a manufacturer. Typical gun smithing is not their forte. 


Knife 

[oledawg]

Single shot tray for my FX Crown, definitely more accurate than the mag.

[ranchibi]

With every PCP with the exception of one, the same has been true for me. I single shot load most of the time as it slows me down also.

[oledawg]

With every PCP with the exception of one, the same has been true for me. I single shot load most of the time as it slows me down also.

Good Point

[Chris USA]

To me,... it is about the elimination of variables. A magazine introduces one more (count 8-10+ more) depending on # of chambers in magazine. Weigh and head sort to further diagnose.

On my .25 Red Wolf,.. I can not tell a difference between magazine (2) and tray. Like has been said, a tray will slow you down a bit and that can be a good thing sometimes.

[JohnnyPDX]

With every PCP with the exception of one, the same has been true for me. I single shot load most of the time as it slows me down also.

Just that simple, it slows you down. True here.

[avator]

Our normal plinking targets are paint balls at 35 yds. Most all of our guns are capable of that if we do our parts. Mags are good providing accuracy remains minute of paint ball. I try to have enough mags to match shot count per fill. That way I can reload mags, refill the gun and take a break between sessions. Mags are also good for creating shot strings over the chrono.
When sighting and pellet testing I shoot paper. I like using single shot trays to eliminate the deformed pellet factor from the mag. I can also change pellet types without shooting a full mag of one type or trying to remember how many of each pellet I loaded the mag with, again allowing me to focus. Single loading also slows me down between shots so I can relax and focus on POA and POI.

[Fate]

Gentlemen, my well intentioned question has both provided confirmation of what I've noted as well as opening up a bigger can of worms for me now that I've dissected more of what went on between the loading methods.

I can say that from now on I'll be using the single loading tray when sighting in and pellet testing... a consensus observation. And, for slowing the process down, something I didn't consider but now see makes absolute sense.

But on reflection I remembered I also used a different pellet when I single loaded than I'd used in the mags... Hades vs JSB Jumbos. So I wondered... is there a difference there, and if so, what. So I looked further.

Loading both into the barrel, then pushing them back out, I examined both pellets, and a distinct difference was noted: The Hades were engraved about equally on the head and skirt, while the Jumbos' head was engraved but the skirt barely touched by the rifling.

So although both pellets weigh the same 15.89 grains, it's obvious they will produce different results when fired.

Then I examined some different pellets... and loading engraving differences were noted. Different weighted pellets, having different depths inside for the bolt probe to seat them will necessarily load differently, some deeper than others where generally the heavier ones will load more shallowly than the lighter ones. Both factors influencing downrange performance.

With my 48 I know that flaring the skirts made them work better and understand why: more consistent velocity by better sealing against the charge air. It would follow the same would be true for a PCP.

Then comes selecting pellets with varying dimensions, weights, head vs skirt differences, coating... aackk! NO!

I feel like if I don't watch I'll fall down a hole after Alice. Do not want to go there. I'm anal enough as is. I'm just going to note how the supplies I have work, use them appropriately.

Thanks for indulging me and for your honest answers which have me satisfied. I'm going to put the light board, macro photo setup, and pellet containers with their fitted and virgin states away... and just enjoy some shooting. There's enough on my plate already with the new gun and hpa setup to keep me busy a long time. Pellet minutia is a long way down the line from here, if ever.