Testing Expansion .177 slugs

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ZekeZX10

ZekeZX10

Member
Nov 5, 2023
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Kearny, AZ USA
So I just got a new used pcp and testing expansion on different 177 slugs (next I need to get varmint knockers). I shot all slugs into 5 gallon bucket of water with no lid.

Velocity of Slugs:
1) Knock Out 10g - 1116 fps / 27 ft lbs
2) NSA 12.5g - 1000 fps / 27 ft lbs
3) H&N HP 20g - 781 fps / 27 ft lbs

Was surprised at how there was almost no expansion on the NSA 12.5g even though they were moving at 1000 fps.

The 10g Knock Outs were exactly what I was looking for as far as expansion, want rapid expansion for birds, varmints, etc.

Most surprising was the 20g H&N. After shooting the NSA 12.5 and getting no expansion I was expecting the same out of this, but what surprised me was it actually penetrated the bottom of the bucket! I've shot 62.5g slugs from a 30 cal and it never penetrated the bottom, the 30's just expand so fast the energy is dumped pretty quick.

To sum it up, if you want rapid expansion the Knock Outs seem to do the trick. The other 2 would seem to be better for longer distance shooting if you want to retain more energy than you retain with similar weight pellets.

Final Note...

The .177 I just got is the Daystate Pulsar which I believe was replaced by the Alpha Wolf. Anyway, now I'm ruined. After shooting an electronic pcp, no hammer smack, effortless cocking since no mechanical parts other than the lever, absolutely amazing trigger, I think I'm gonna sell all my other toys and get a Daystate Alfa Wolf!!

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ZekeZX10 said:
So I just got a new used pcp and testing expansion on different 177 slugs (next I need to get varmint knockers). I shot all slugs into 5 gallon bucket of water with no lid.

Velocity of Slugs:
1) Knock Out 10g - 1116 fps / 27 ft lbs
2) NSA 12.5g - 1000 fps / 27 ft lbs
3) H&N HP 20g - 781 fps / 27 ft lbs

Was surprised at how there was almost no expansion on the NSA 12.5g even though they were moving at 1000 fps.

The 10g Knock Outs were exactly what I was looking for as far as expansion, want rapid expansion for birds, varmints, etc.

Most surprising was the 20g H&N. After shooting the NSA 12.5 and getting no expansion I was expecting the same out of this, but what surprised me was it actually penetrated the bottom of the bucket! I've shot 62.5g slugs from a 30 cal and it never penetrated the bottom, the 30's just expand so fast the energy is dumped pretty quick.

To sum it up, if you want rapid expansion the Knock Outs seem to do the trick. The other 2 would seem to be better for longer distance shooting if you want to retain more energy than you retain with similar weight pellets.

Final Note...

The .177 I just got is the Daystate Pulsar which I believe was replaced by the Alpha Wolf. Anyway, now I'm ruined. After shooting an electronic pcp, no hammer smack, effortless cocking since no mechanical parts other than the lever, absolutely amazing trigger, I think I'm gonna sell all my other toys and get a Daystate Alfa Wolf!!

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Those Knock Outs that you are using are not the MK3's, which put those to shame! They totally blow up, even more, if you can believe it, and are super accurate. The best thing that I have ever shot at Starlings, period! My other favorite for accuracy was the NSA 12.5gr, but they were not expanding enough, had fly-offs. Never a fly-off with the MK3's. The cavity is twice the size of the standard 10.03 and looks like what the FX HALO was suppose to be, a flying bucket.
 
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PumaCarl said:
Those Knock Outs that you are using are not the MK3's, which put those to shame! They totally blow up, even more, if you can believe it, and are super accurate. The best thing that I have ever shot at Starlings, period! My other favorite for accuracy was the NSA 12.5gr, but they were not expanding enough, had fly-offs. Never a fly-off with the MK3's. The cavity is twice the size of the standard 10.03 and looks like what the FX HALO was suppose to be, a flying bucket.
Click to expand...
I will have to give the MK3s a try for sure then!
 
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Just got the JSB 13.43g Knockouts. More accurate out of the pulsar at 50 yards than the 10.03g knockouts and expand great, moving at 978 FPS and 28 ft pounds. I think the Daystate Pulsar likes heavier, longer slugs but going to try the jsb 10g mk3 knockouts and some varmint knockers, both are ordered just waiting. Going to do some comparisons at 50 yards later.
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Kgphotos said:
I used to swear by the NSA slugs for hunting. They expanded very well on squirrels. I used the .218 24.8 grain slug. Then NSA made a change and they will no longer expand. They are still very accurate in my Crown MK2 and I use them now for just silhouette shooting. I would never recommend them for hunting.
Kenny
Click to expand...
If you need some penetration and a little expansion the Nielsens are still really good for hunting imo. Not great for ground squirrels at close range but they are perfect for things like skunks or medium sized critters. I also use them at long ranges for ground squirrels because of their higher bc in 25Cal.

But I dont think anything expands like the 10g KO MK3, even at lower speeds mine have been amazing.
 
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@PumaCarl Holy Cow, the Mk3 Explode lol and I'm actually surprised they grouped so well at 50 yards being such a light slug, thanks for the suggestion.

Don't think I'll use them on squirrels because I don't think they'd penetrate enough, at least on these rock squirrels, they are tough.

So here's what I found out today: @1112 fps (High Power on the Pulsar) the JSB 10.03 Knockout MK3 are all over the place at 50 yards, too fast

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So I slowed them down to 1018 fps (Medium Power on the Pulsar) and the group was less than 1/2" at 50 yards, under a dime size... Those circles are 3/4" circles.

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So I tested expansion of the 10.03g MK3 @ 1018 fps / 23 fpe in 5gal bucket of water and they just blew up. As a comparison I also shot the 16.5g Varmint knockers @894fps / 29fpe.

All the shrapnel is by the 10.04g MK3 knockouts on the photo but I actually think that most of that is from the Varmint Knockers, the Knockers didn't really mushroom much they seemed to fragment leaving the core to penetrate deeper....which you can see helped in the later photos of the squirrel.

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So I had a little more time and since the Pulsar was sighted in for the 16.5g Varmint Knockers I just used them, the 10.03g Knockouts were shooting high and I didn't want to screw around sighting in for different distances, I'm just now getting the ranges down for the 16.5g and as you can see I'm a little off on my Kentucky windage.

Squirrel was at 38 yards and I hit him a bit low (I'm zeroed at 50 yards), and here is where I'm glad for the extra penetration because I don't think the 10.03 would have been as effective. Hit him in the neck instead of his head but the 16.5g broke his neck, travelled down the spine a bit and almost broke through the opposite shoulder, slug was just sitting under the skin.

Another squirrel for the stew!

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Another fine day.
 
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