Pellet Question

[longislandhunter]

The other day I was watching an airgun review on the Benjamin Akela and the reviewer used .22 cal H & N Hornet pellets.  The grouping tests he shot resulted in ragged hole groups and later in the review he set up a variety of targets out to what I believe was 40 yards and was getting outstanding accuracy. 

The only pointed type pellets I've ever used are the Predators, which have worked well for me in my hunting over the years so after watching the review I looked up the Hornet pellets as I've heard of them but I  don't really remember reading any hunting reports  with these pellets being used and I've never seen one in person.

I had no idea they were so expensive but  found out the pointed tip is not plastic, like the Predator pellets, but rather it's made from brass.  OK, I guess that might justify the price if they truly do group well and are effective as a hunting pellet. 

So, my question to you GTA hunters is...........  have you used them and are they worth the price for hunting ??

I have quite a few pellets that have worked very well for me over the years in my air gun hunting but I was thinking with that hard,  brass tip they  might be worth getting for hard headed squirrels and wood chucks.

I don't mind spending the $ on them if they're that good so I thought I'd ask the experts 

Thanks in advance for your input 

Jeff

[HOSPassassin]

I have never used them for hunting. They tested poorly for accuracy every time I tried them.

My guess is that if you can shoot them accurately they might give some advantage in penetration on a somewhat larger animal's skull, i. e., a raccoon or groundhog. I've never had a .177 pellet of any style fail to penetrate any part of a squirrel's anatomy as long as it's on target.

[Bicycleman]

I have some that were a gift from a Louisiana friend.  I have not used them in a hunting situation. 
I may have to give them a try.?.

[Back_Roads]

 They seem to go head to head with the poly mags, Gamo red fires also in the running. I stick with my poly mag assortment as I stocked up when they had a scratch and dent sale.

[longislandhunter]

Yeah, I stocked up too and have a life supply of PolyMags  which I love and work well..... I was just wondering if that brass tip really made any significant difference. 

I may order 1 tin using some of Amazon points just to give em a try 

Jeff

[PasadenaMike]

How are Polymags vs domed for small game? I have a bunch in every caliber I just haven’t shot anything but domed.

[longislandhunter]

Domed pellets work extremely well for me when hunting and I have no complaints with their performance, even on tough critters like squirrels and woodchucks, but that being said if the rifle I plan on hunting with likes the PolyMags then they will usually be my first choice. 

Most of my hunting is 30 yards or less but on occasion, depending on terrain and the game I'm hunting, my anticipated range of targets may be further.  If that's the case and I'm expecting to take significantly longer shots I usually opt for domed pellets as I feel they're trajectory is more stable at longer ranges.  That's been my experience anyway.   

Most of my guns like them but I do have some rifles that don't. 

Jeff

[PasadenaMike]

Domed pellets work extremely well for me when hunting and I have no complaints with their performance, even on tough critters like squirrels and woodchucks, but that being said if the rifle I plan on hunting with likes the PolyMags then they will usually be my first choice. 

Most of my hunting is 30 yards or less but on occasion, depending on terrain and the game I'm hunting, my anticipated range of targets may be further.  If that's the case and I'm expecting to take significantly longer shots I usually opt for domed pellets as I feel they're trajectory is more stable at longer ranges.  That's been my experience anyway.   

Most of my guns like them but I do have some rifles that don't. 

Jeff

Thank you. Most of my mags don’t fit the Polymags so I have to single load.

[longislandhunter]

Yeah, I have the same problem with a few of he mags I have and usually single load to avoid any problems.   Not a big deal though to me 

Jeff

[PasadenaMike]

Yeah, I have the same problem with a few of he mags I have and usually single load to avoid any problems.   Not a big deal though to me 

Jeff

Yeah if you hunt they won’t stick around for a second shot anyway

[Spacebus]

Yeah, I have the same problem with a few of he mags I have and usually single load to avoid any problems.   Not a big deal though to me 

Jeff

Yeah if you hunt they won’t stick around for a second shot anyway

I've gotten second shot opportunities on many game animals because my PCPs are so quiet. However, my stubby 2240 has a decent bark and I usually get a second chance on territorial pine squirrels.

[PasadenaMike]

Yeah, I have the same problem with a few of he mags I have and usually single load to avoid any problems.   Not a big deal though to me 

Jeff

Yeah if you hunt they won’t stick around for a second shot anyway

I've gotten second shot opportunities on many game animals because my PCPs are so quiet. However, my stubby 2240 has a decent bark and I usually get a second chance on territorial pine squirrels.

The ground squirrels are young and inexperienced now so they do stick around sometimes but as time goes on they won’t

[wolverine]

In my .177 HW100 BP-K, (17fpe) I've always used Polymag shorts because they are the most accurate out to 50 yards.  I  was gifted some Hornets from a member here and found them very accurate out to 70 yards.  I tested them on wet phone books at 30 yards and they penetrated deeper than the polymags.  (I dont recall the difference) As for expansion, the Polys beat them hands down.


I was going to keep some on hand for those shots past 50 yards, but then I found the Mako & JSB slugs perform much better.


I would think they would be good for head shots on raccoons and groundhogs.  I always shoot coons with .22 Metalmags for penetration.

[JimD]

If your gun likes Polymags but you want to try a metal tipped pellet why not shoot the Metalmags?  My Prod doesn't like them but my P35-22 shoots them pretty well.  I may try some on game at some point.

Any expansion in a projectile limits penetration.  That can be a good thing with a gun that will shoot through to eliminate damage to whatever is behind the target.  But on a lower powered gun or a larger animals you do not want to get into a situation where your shot may not make it to the vitals.  In my 18 fpe Prod, I don't want any less penetration.  On my 32 fpe P35-22, it has shot through squirrels consistently with 21 grain domed and losing a little penetration to make a bigger diameter hole could make sense.  But when I used it on a raccoon I was happy to have the greater penetration of the 21 grain domed. 

[longislandhunter]

I just received the tin of .22 cal Hornets that I ordered.  Haven't had the chance yet to see how they group in the Akela but hope to get out in the backyard range in the next couple of days.   Nice looking pellets for sure and seem to be of very consistent quality.  That brass tip surely is hard and sharp, big difference than the plastic tips on the Polymags.  If they prove accurate in my Akela, or other PCP's, I'll see if I can find a groundhog to try em out on, that's about the only thing I can legally hunt here at this time of year.   

Jeff

[Struckat]

I have not tried the Hornets but may some day. Domes and wads really are effective for me.

I have a tin of Polymags that are likely 15 years old or more, and have yet to find a gun that will shoot them any better than CPHP which are not good enough.

I have a tin of metal mags, no better. But with 177 you need to get pretty slow to now pass through, at least in my experience.

[StockClassDD68]

I have yet to find an ag that likes the hornets, mine seem to love the polymags and the hades. Even the metalmags were not too great in my rifles. But if you gun likes them run them! They have a fantastic look to them too, like a micro penetrator round.

[longislandhunter]

Yesterday I finally got to test out the Hornets in the backyard range.   
 
My Akela loves them.  Function in the magazine smoothly, nice tight groups and I was amazed how hard they hit.

Behind each of my targets is a steel plate which acts to prevent any pellets that may make it through the wood my target is pinned to from damaging the main target frame.  The Hornets were denting the steel much more than any of my other pellets and after a bit of shooting they started piercing the steel.   I was very impressed.

The pellets I've been hunting small game with all these years perform very well and get the job done so I don't feel the need to replace them with these pricey pellets, but  for tough medium sized critters like groundhogs and raccoons that have thicker skulls  I do feel these pellets will perform outstanding. 

After yesterdays test I'll  be ordering a couple more tins so I'll have them on the shelf for hunting season and since they will only be used for hunting they should last me a long time.   

I'm glad I decided to order a tin and give em a try.

Jeff