Club Tests - Pellets
We are now testing pellets for performance in competition. It is
important to realize that not every pellet performs the same in each
gun. When making a choice for pellets it is very important to try
several types and weights to see what performs best in your personal
gun. The information that we are providing is from fellow club member
tests. When testing pellets in your gun you should shoot groups of 3
shots and this should be done several times to verify the results are
from the pellet and not from the shooter. Testing should be done from a
stand that holds the gun firmly on target. The second part of
performance is the lubrication or non lubrication of
pellets.
The types of lubricants used on pellets varies from user to user. The following products are the most common: air nailer or air tool lubricant, Remington oil, automatic transmission fluid, 3 in 1 oil, and some people used white graphite (this is very hard to find). If you use a lubricant on your pellets you should clean your gun with cleaning pellets after approximately 100 shots. This procedure will help remove any residue or build up of the product. Remember, you do not have to soak the pellets. A few drops will do the job only a light coating is necessary.
The types of lubricants used on pellets varies from user to user. The following products are the most common: air nailer or air tool lubricant, Remington oil, automatic transmission fluid, 3 in 1 oil, and some people used white graphite (this is very hard to find). If you use a lubricant on your pellets you should clean your gun with cleaning pellets after approximately 100 shots. This procedure will help remove any residue or build up of the product. Remember, you do not have to soak the pellets. A few drops will do the job only a light coating is necessary.
RWS Diablo Basic Pellets
In January 2012, the "Older Than Dirt Shooters" (hereinafter OTDSs) tested the RWS Diablo basic pellets. We tested the basic line of 7.0 grain pellets.
This is the pellet the club has been using for years. We have found this pellet has given us excellent performance in all models of the guns used in competition. These pellets are non-coated and very clean with an alloy that keeps them shiny and bright. The overall performance on these pellets has been to shoot a group less than 2 1/2 pellets wide with some performing 1 hole groups consistently. These pellets are a bargain at the club price of $5.00 for 500. ($10.95 at most gun stores). We have tested these pellets in everything from a Daisy 717 pistol to a FWB C2, and in the rifles, a Daisy 953 to a FWB 601 and found good performance across the board for most of our shooters. Some of our shooters with the higher end guns prefer the upgraded RWS pellets in their rifles. If anyone has additional comments, observations, or other empirical data, please contact Gary to add them in. |
Beeman Wadcutter Pellets
The older than dirt shooters (OTDSs) tested the Beeman
wadcutter coated pellets. We tested the 1235 coated pellet weighing 7.7 grains. This ammunition was tested in the
following guns: Daisy 953, Daisy 888, Baikal M46 and a FWB CP2.
The new Beeman pellets are similar to the old H&N Match pellets of long ago. Those pellets were 7.56 grains where the new pellets are 7.7 grains. It appears that these new pellets are simply the old pellets with a coating added. The old pellet shot really well in rifles and some pistols. With the coating, it should improve the ease of loading plus the coating eliminates having to lubricate the pellets. The old pellets sold for $11.00 for 300. This may be the old equipment sent to China to make the new pellets.
Here are the following comments from the shooters: in the Daisy's the shooters loved the ease of loading, finding the pellet easy to seat and the bolt closing quickly. In the Baikal the pellet performed well, loaded easy, some claim it felt a little loose. In the FWB it seemed to load the same as the RWS basic. The shooting performance in the 953 seemed to equal the groups fired with the RWS 7.0 grain basic pellet. The groups averaged about 3/8 of an inch. A couple groups slightly larger, maybe a 1/2 inch. But overall performance was good.
Tom will be shooting more of these pellets and we will update the results in the upcoming weeks. In the 888 Daisy the pellets performed well. Groups averaging 3/8 of an inch consistently with very good performance. This was fired from two different 888's. The test was done with fully charged CO2 cylinders and with an outdoor temperature of about 72 degrees. In the Baikal, the performance was very good shooting about two pellets wide. This test stayed consistent with he 3 Baikals we used today; all were equipped with red dots. The FWB performed the same as the Baikals and was also equipped with a red dot. The overall results with this pellet was quite pleasing.
This is the first time we are using coated pellets in our matches. The pellets were clean without a lot of residue in the can and it didn't leave residue on your hands when shooting. The cost of this pellet will be $4.00 per tin of 500. We will do more testing before we bulk order more of these pellets. Please inform Gary about any comments you have on this pellet so we can keep the members informed.
The new Beeman pellets are similar to the old H&N Match pellets of long ago. Those pellets were 7.56 grains where the new pellets are 7.7 grains. It appears that these new pellets are simply the old pellets with a coating added. The old pellet shot really well in rifles and some pistols. With the coating, it should improve the ease of loading plus the coating eliminates having to lubricate the pellets. The old pellets sold for $11.00 for 300. This may be the old equipment sent to China to make the new pellets.
Here are the following comments from the shooters: in the Daisy's the shooters loved the ease of loading, finding the pellet easy to seat and the bolt closing quickly. In the Baikal the pellet performed well, loaded easy, some claim it felt a little loose. In the FWB it seemed to load the same as the RWS basic. The shooting performance in the 953 seemed to equal the groups fired with the RWS 7.0 grain basic pellet. The groups averaged about 3/8 of an inch. A couple groups slightly larger, maybe a 1/2 inch. But overall performance was good.
Tom will be shooting more of these pellets and we will update the results in the upcoming weeks. In the 888 Daisy the pellets performed well. Groups averaging 3/8 of an inch consistently with very good performance. This was fired from two different 888's. The test was done with fully charged CO2 cylinders and with an outdoor temperature of about 72 degrees. In the Baikal, the performance was very good shooting about two pellets wide. This test stayed consistent with he 3 Baikals we used today; all were equipped with red dots. The FWB performed the same as the Baikals and was also equipped with a red dot. The overall results with this pellet was quite pleasing.
This is the first time we are using coated pellets in our matches. The pellets were clean without a lot of residue in the can and it didn't leave residue on your hands when shooting. The cost of this pellet will be $4.00 per tin of 500. We will do more testing before we bulk order more of these pellets. Please inform Gary about any comments you have on this pellet so we can keep the members informed.
Beeman Wadcutters - Additional Test
We performed another test today, January 13, 2012. Outside temperature was
about 48 degrees. The test rifle was a FWB 601 with FWB iron sights.
We shot two shots per target to measure grouping. The pellets
performed well but they didn't perform as well as the RWS. The RWS
basic seemed to be a little more consistent and the groups a little
tighter When compared to the RWS R10's there was no comparison. The
R-10's outperformed the Beeman's consistently. Take into consideration
the R-10's cost more than double the Beeman's. The shooters would say
if you are shooting bench it would be best to shoot the RWS pellets in
comparison to the Beeman's. The off hand shooting may not be as well
but this adds one more element for missed shots. The Beeman has one
advantage over the RWS and that being, the coating protects your hand
from handling lead. At this time we are waiting to see if there will be
any type of demand other than for gifts and friends or if you are having
children shoot with you.
Crossman Competition Pellets
We have tested the Crossman competition pellets in our guns over the
years. This use to be the standard for air gun competition pellets.
They were sold in packages of 500 and bulk boxes of 1250. They performed well and were moderately priced but most of our shooters found the RWS line to be superior. we have stopped buying these pellets for club use because of the limited demand for thm. Some of our shooters are still buying them from outside suppliers. The costs of these pellets is between $7.00 and $8.50 for 500. This pellet comes in a blister pack which most of our shooters do not like. The old packaging was better when they came in a tin with a screw lid. Most of our shooters have saved the tins to put RWS pellets in them because the RWS does not come with a screw down lid. The quality is not bad on these pellets with little residue but the pellet does show a cast line which a lot of our shooters feel takes away from their accuracy.
They were sold in packages of 500 and bulk boxes of 1250. They performed well and were moderately priced but most of our shooters found the RWS line to be superior. we have stopped buying these pellets for club use because of the limited demand for thm. Some of our shooters are still buying them from outside suppliers. The costs of these pellets is between $7.00 and $8.50 for 500. This pellet comes in a blister pack which most of our shooters do not like. The old packaging was better when they came in a tin with a screw lid. Most of our shooters have saved the tins to put RWS pellets in them because the RWS does not come with a screw down lid. The quality is not bad on these pellets with little residue but the pellet does show a cast line which a lot of our shooters feel takes away from their accuracy.
Meisterkugeln Pellets
The Meisterkugeln pellet has been used by the club for several years.
All the results have been good and it has been the bargain pellet for
competition. This is the pellet most upper end pellet gun manufacturer
ship with their guns. This is known as their professional line pellet,
it is a slightly higher quality than the basic match RWS and slightly
lower than the R-10. This pellet performs well in all the club members
guns and is the in between priced pellet at the club price of $7.00 per
500. Most members prefer the 8.2 grain for their rifles and most of them
still shoot the 7 grain basic match in their pistol. If you feel
justified add the extra $2.00 to shoot a professional line pellet in
your pistol that is the same weight. On visual inspection you will see
these pellets are slightly higher quality than the basic match. There is
also very little or no residue in the tin.
RWS R-10 Pellets
We are giving the results of the R-10 pellet made by RWS. This is a
premium pellet for RWS and is one of the standards for competition
shooting. The pellets we tested are the 8.2 grain and the 7.0 grain.
These are the bulk pack pellets, not the ones that are individually
packed in trays of 100. We have found these pellets to be the most
consistent and best performing pellets that the club uses. The price on
these pellets is $10.00 per 500 in either weight. Most of our shooters
prefer to shoot the 8.2 grain in their rifles and the 7.0 grain in the
pistol. These pellets are electronically sorted and laser scanned for
quality. The only higher quality pellet from RWS is the 100 tray packs
which run $37.00 for 500. Most of our members can't justify this type
of cost for the shooting we are doing. This is the best pellet the club
could buy for the price. Normally these tins of 500 sell for over $18.00
per tin on the retail market. You will also notice these are the
highest quality alloy mix for pellets. They always look clean and shiny
and you will not find any residue in the tins ( Even in the bulk pack).
Daisy Pellets
Daisy Pellets
The pellet we were testing is the Daisy .177 premium pellet. We have
tested this pellet in many different conditions and in many different
guns. This is the pellet the recreation department purchases
for their shooting practice sessions. The pellet is approximately 7.5
grains with no coating. The pellet is produced by a flash cast system
and the flange is trimmed off before shipping. This is a lower quality
pellet, not used by our competitive shooters. This pellet is low in cost
and is good for basic instructions. The cost of this pellet if purchased
in bulk is approximately $4.00 per 500 count. Wal-Mart price is about
$5.50 for 500. They will group about 5/8 of an inch in diameter
generally (sometimes tighter) but by looking at the pellets you can see
inconsistencies just by visual inspection. The pellets also have a lower
alloy mix causing them to corrode at a faster rate.
H&N Final Match Rifle Pellets (8.18gr)
This is a very high quality match grade pellet. It has been used in competition for years. It is a very soft based lead pellet with a basic Diablo design for rifles. We have had some of our members test these in the higher speed pistols with very good results. This pellet is very popular with competition shooters and rates right alongside the R-10. The cost of this pellet is a little on the high side at $12.00 for 500 pellets. Note that the shelf life is lower on this pellet because of the lower amount of tin used in manufacturing this pellet.
Gamo Match Pellet (7.65gr)
This pellet is very popular for shooters that are using springer type guns. With the higher speed these pellets perform well and have the classic knurled base. This pellet has a larger skirt to handle the higher speeds. They are not very popular with the target shooters because they do not perform as well as the R10’s and H&N’s. a lot of our shooters complained about the extra dirt and millings in the can. The millings in the can cause inaccuracy and lead buildup. The cost of this pellet is a little higher at about $8.21 for 500 pellets.
RWS Hobby Pellets (7.0gr)
These used to be very popular pellets before the basic match pellets were available. They have the classic knurled base with a small skirt which helps increase accuracy and keeps the speed consistent. The cost on this pellet is slightly higher than the basic match, about $2.00 more per tin. Most of our members prefer to shoot the Meisterkugeln Professional line pellets over the hobby because the cost is the same. Our supplier says the volume on this pellet has dropped over 50% on the sale of this pellet because of the basic match. These pellets performed well in both pistol and rifle. It is designed for match grade guns shooting in the 500 fps – 600 fps in the rifle and the 400 fps – 600 fps in the pistol. This pellet has been around for 50 years.
Avanti Diablo Match (8.4gr)
This pellet resembles the RWS R10 in shape and configuration. The only difference that we are seeing is the light tin coating on the outside to prevent corrosion. They seem to perform right alongside the R10’s but the cost is a little high at $6.95 per 250. The plus for this pellet is that you are not touching lead when loading them; you are touching tin which is safer.