Author Topic: Standardizing pellets for testing? 2025-02-13 Post! (Read 820 times))

GTA-Airgunner · « **on:** February 13, 2025, 12:03:37 PM »

Hey there all,

So, based on the replies to yesterday's topic, I have some more questions. I want to bring back the GRiP program in all its glory. "GRiP" is the Gateway to Airguns Review Program. It's unsponsored and unbiased. What makes the most sense to me is to have a standard formula so that each product goes through the same process in a repeatable way. The biggest variable that I can see would be pellets. So, if we were going to test up to 8 pellets per caliber, what would they be? Let's not talk about slugs here.. we can do that on another post.

What pellets should we use for .177?

What pellets should we use for .22?

What pellets should we use for .25?

What pellets should we use for .30?

I've got the Barra 250z in .22 on the bench, ready for our first official GRiP video. Nex,t I have the Umarex Zelos .22 and several more .22s to go through. So, let me know your thoughts, and I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Thanks for being a part of the GTA!

Cheers
Rick

Airnut · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2025, 01:21:00 PM »

Testing pellets! Thats going to be a tuff nut to crack.
To many variables to consider.
You can test the pellets for physical attributes like advertised weight,head size, length ect. But any performance attributes not so much because as you know pellet performance varies from gun to gun.
Glad to see GRIP come back!

GTA-Airgunner · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2025, 02:27:46 PM »

Hey there..

This particular question is more about standardizing what pellets I should use when doing GRiP reviews. As for testing pellets.. man.. what a mess that would be! That may be a good topic down the road.. I don't want to head down that rabbit trail with this thread lol.

cheers
Rick

ER00z · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2025, 03:41:27 PM »

I'd stick to the usuals for small bores... Crosman Premier, JSB (or similar), H&N and JTS.

Example...
If I were testing.177: Crosman Premier h.p. 7.9gr, 10.5gr domed, JSB (or Air Arms/FX) 8.4gr &10.3gr, H&N FTT 8.6gr & Baracuda 10.6gr, JTS 8.7gr & 10.4gr

Another thought, I wouldn't mind seeing a "hunting pellet" special now an then (maybe once a year?). Talking about JSB Hades, Polymags, H&N Hornets, Baracuda Hunters, Crow Mags, Premier Destroyers, Gamo Tomahawks... And so on.

splitbeing · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2025, 04:13:34 PM »

.177 pellets: h&n Ftt, baracuda, terminator (yes, this pellet in .177 I feel strongly about but not in .22), Ftt green
Jsb 8.44 and 10.5
Plus a JTS pellet and meisterkugelns

Extensive testing posted here has shown the ftt green to be accurate in guns that also like ftts and is a good lead free option. The terminators are 7.25 gr and are accurate in many .177s, are a good hunting choice in .177, have a unique weight, reach further than a wadcutter, require less energy than most hollow points, and are neglected or underrated I suspect due to their lesser performance in.22, which is a more popular caliber than .177 in the states. My sense from across the pond is that they are a known go to .177, but that's a guess.

If I am following the crosman news well, which I might not be, the crosman pellets are no longer to be produced. The 7.9s are on their way out and aren't the deal the .22 cphps are anyway.

cosmic · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2025, 07:58:23 PM »

.22 JTS...

Airnut · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2025, 08:45:07 PM »

Quote from: GTA-Airgunner on February 13, 2025, 02:27:46 PM

Hey there..

This particular question is more about standardizing what pellets I should use when doing GRiP reviews. As for testing pellets.. man.. what a mess that would be! That may be a good topic down the road.. I don't want to head down that rabbit trail with this thread lol.

cheers
Rick

Ok sorry I misunderstood the question.
I would get with PA and see if they would give you a list of the 8 top selling pellets for each caliber and use them.

GTA-Airgunner · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2025, 10:55:23 AM »

That's a GREAT suggestion. I will reach out to PA, AGD, UTAH, AOA and see what they say.

I'll post my results here once I start pulling the lists together.

Cheers
Rick

HunterWhite · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2025, 12:16:21 PM »

Pettet choices are a big expense for many of us. " You must try every brand and style in every rifle or pistol". That gets expensive.
I think that this will be very beneficial to most of us.

Hats off for launching this endeavor!

I don't know what format you have in mind.
My suggestion would be to create a database with the pellet being studied, and the rifle or pistol, power level, cost, muzzle velocity, air temp, pellet weight, diameter, variance and any other information that you have. It would be nice to have your test results as well as others. I know that it will be a hugh task. I wish that I had enough energy to help. I would like to contribute with my input as well. I don't have 22, only 177 and 25.

Hunter

splitbeing · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2025, 01:03:16 PM »

Being an international forum, it might be worth reaching out to at least a European retailer as well regarding top selling pellets. I think this is especially important for the .177 caliber, considering how prominent that caliber is in countries with more restrictive laws such as the UK sub12 fpe laws. While the dome pellets may be similar top sellers, hunting pellets might be on the list that aren't in the states.

Motorhead · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2025, 01:28:17 PM »

If your hitting what your aiming at with regularity .... no need in changing what your feeding/shooting in said AG's

If looking for a possible increase in accuracy ? Then It Is whats it's always been being a go test some others and see how it goes.

While the established standards of the "Better" pellets is known and stated over & over again, for a new shooter to simply follow what other say to use or try is likely still the best miens in finding a good pellet for your particular air gun.

avator · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2025, 01:43:35 PM »

Kudos...
Testing 8 brands/weights in 4 calibers of X number of guns has to be a labor of love.

Better hire someone to mow the lawn, you're gonna be busy..

airgunaut · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2025, 02:16:01 PM »

For .177:

In addition to H&N FTT 8.64 already mentioned, how about RWS R10 both 7 and 8.2 grain? RWS Super Dome 8.3 is worth considering also, being reasonably priced and generally available.

BanjomanMI76 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2025, 02:28:29 PM »

My opinion is for 22 caliber:
H&N Field Target Trophy Green 10.03 Grain
Predator GTO 11.75 Grain
RWS Hobby 11.9 Grain
Crosman Premier HP 14.3 Grain
Benjamin Match Grade 14.3
JSB Jumbo Exact 14.35 Grain
H&N Field Target Trophy 14.66 Grain
JTS Deadcenter 18.13 Grain
H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 Grain
JSB Jumbo Monster 25.39 Grain

Back_Roads · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2025, 08:47:41 PM »

Might want to dabble in a sew of those lesser known bargain brands, seems some airgunners are cheap like me LOL Bargain gate may have some listed.

splitbeing · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2025, 09:25:00 PM »

Quote from: Back_Roads on February 14, 2025, 08:47:41 PM

Might want to dabble in a sew of those lesser known bargain brands, seems some airgunners are cheap like me LOL Bargain gate may have some listed.

x2.

Great idea, James! If I saw some videos on the norma pellets in .177 during the sale, I'd have bought them. Most of the postings here were .22 guns, which held me back from buying. Doing tests on bargain gate pellets is a great idea.

Hoosier Daddy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2025, 08:29:31 AM »

Quote from: Back_Roads on February 14, 2025, 08:47:41 PM

Might want to dabble in a sew of those lesser known bargain brands,

X3

I like my Eley's in .177 wad cutters for 10M

GTA-Airgunner · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2025, 01:39:25 PM »

Hey there guys. so it seems like there are two topics here.. We can certainly get into it next week.

To not lose the point, what I'm trying to do is standardize a set of pellets that I would use for all the GRiP reviews so that there's consistency in the testing (testing guns not pellets). The other topic that's come up is pellet testing. That's another story. For that we'd want to have a set of standardized guns to test pellets with. I think that's worthwhile as well. But let's have that discussion on another thread. I'll get one started next week.

Thanks guys.

Rick

Hoosier Daddy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2025, 03:51:16 PM »

Understood Rick... but I am going to drop this here for future reference..
I would be interested in a "side-by-side" comparison of the JSB, FX and A.A. pellets in .22 - 15.9g
I have it from a reliable source (Monkey Daddy) they are all the same mold from Predator Outdoors.
BUT the FX shoot so much better for me and would like to clear the air as to why.

Nvreloader · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2025, 06:04:17 PM »

The one item that is NEVER touched is PELLET HARDNESS.
Ya, I know a can of worms and all ends....LOL

Some pellets will shoot very accurately on of AG,
change the hardness only and you couldn't the inside wall of a barn,
standing inside it with the doors shut.

The standard lead pencil test is fairly easy to use and provides useful information.

Something to think about..........FWIW

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Standardizing pellets for testing? 2025-02-13 Post!

Author Topic: Standardizing pellets for testing? 2025-02-13 Post! (Read 820 times))