Pellet preferences

[Scott Tschirhart]

Someone on this board recommended the H&N Hunter Extreme pellet for my rifle. It is pretty devastating when it hits.
It allows for body shots and takes the squirrels down hard.

[Scott Tschirhart]

But it not as accurate as the heavier round nose pellets.

So I tried a much heavier pellet and it shoots really well.

[GunnyMack]

Yes, Scott that was me. Like I mentioned my particular gun really likes those H&N pellets.
Each tin of pellets might be lasers or shotgun patterns depending on the gun.
I just picked up a tin of the H&N .177 slugs to try. So far I'm not terribly impressed but it's now bow season, bird season and colder so the air gun slug testing will have to wait until spring.
I've seen the variety packs some makers have but not tried any of them, worth a try though.

My old RWS Mod 45 broke the spring years ago. I called RWS and they said the springs hardly ever break. I didn't tell them I made up a heavy weight slug and that's what broke the spring. Anyhow they said send it for repair, I said no send me the spring and then I spent a few days trying to compress that sucker into the reciever! I got it by gum and it's still going strong!

[AmBraCol]

Some rifles are very pellet picky. Kind of like some 22 rifles as far as ammunition preferences. I keep a wide variety of pellets on hand for that reason, to try out in different rifles to get a feel for what they like. My AirArms rifles do seem to have a preference for JSB's, but I've got some H&N's I need to run through them one of these days and see how they do. You might mic the heads on those pellets and see if there are any differences in diameter. Head size matters in many rifles, kind of like matching cast bullet sizes to a specific rifle bore.

[stretch]

I like heavier pointed pellets in my RWS 48 for hunting.

Penetration is greater, and one frequently gets entrance AND exit
wounds in squirrels.

The HP pellets expand impressively, but there's just not enough power
in an air rifle to exploit the energy enough to kill.

-Stretch

[AmBraCol]

The HP pellets expand impressively, but there's just not enough power
in an air rifle to exploit the energy enough to kill.

-Stretch

You need to try some of the 30 cal PCP's...

[stretch]

Going from a 22 cal. springer to a 30 cal. PCP would, indeed, allay any
concerns about power for squirrel hunting!

-Stretch

[Scott Tschirhart]

Guys, it is amazing how much difference there is in the accuracy with different pellets in this rifle.

[GunnyMack]

I want a .25 PCP or a 30 or a 35! In this state air rifles are considered a FIREARM and you have to go through NICS. Can't have any sound moderator either. Kind of limited to what I can get. Now if I only had a couple grand to splurge for a PCP and a compressor...

[AmBraCol]

Guys, it is amazing how much difference there is in the accuracy with different pellets in this rifle.

I've found best results with "name brand" pellets (mostly JSB and H&N or AirArms), but even there different rifles like different pellets. When one gets into cheaper pellets the differences increase. Ammo sensitive? Very typical of springers.

[FLINT]

Yes, I've been a hardcore airgunner for about 40 years - though haven't been able to shoot as much lately.

Lately I've found JSBs to be pretty much my go to starting point.

20 years ago crosman premiers were always the starting point, but seems the've dropped off lately.

I have one rifle that absolutely loves polymags which are expensive, but very devastating on squirrels.

Guys, it is amazing how much difference there is in the accuracy with different pellets in this rifle.

did you mention what kind of rifle it is? looks like maybe a beeman?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m finding this heavier pellet, despite its round nose, is much better on squirrels.

[marlinman93]

I don't recall the brand, but my pellet rifle came with 7 gr. pellets that allowed for very high velocity, but I found 11 gr. pellets far more accurate.