.177 Slugs, has anyone had personal experience with them?

Soren, 

Excellent work 👍! What velocity are you driving those at? I just sent a purchase inquiry to Alfa Precision for two blanks. Hopefully shipping won't be insane, but I might as well try them out. If the carbine barrel I ordered for my BSA ever returns from an alternate dimension, I might even use the factory rifle length barrel for testing. 

Mark
 
Soren, 

Excellent work 👍! What velocity are you driving those at? I just sent a purchase inquiry to Alfa Precision for two blanks. Hopefully shipping won't be insane, but I might as well try them out. If the carbine barrel I ordered for my BSA ever returns from an alternate dimension, I might even use the factory rifle length barrel for testing. 

Mark

1023 FPS producing 31.2 FPE 👍

Standard deviation of 2.9 FPS over a 10 shot string 😃
 
I shot the 15.5's out of the Condor today at an average of 946 fps. It rained all night and off and on until mid afternoon, but it was calm today. I only shot at 30 and 50 yards shooting 16.2's as a control group. I was shooting off a one piece rest and could not get the front of the gun low enough to have the tank supported,so I had a lot of trouble keeping the horizontal steady. Next time I will use a bag or bipod. The slugs shot as good as the pellets. Half inch at 30 and 8 of 10 were 3/4 at 50 and 1 inch for all 10. The group was horizontal and that was the problem I had with my hold. Next time I will put the larger insert in and crank up the velocity and use a different rest. The Wolverine is shooting the 15.5's at 896. The slugs are about 15 fps slower in both guns. They also had no resistance going into the Condor. I wonder how much velocity is lost to blow by? Joe Goboflies,out? 
 
Well, it looks like I get to be a guinea pig. I just paid for my order of two blanks from Alfa Precision. Between the delay for funds by wire transfer, manufacturing, shipping, COVID, etc... hopefully I'll see them before Christmas LOL! Two .177 blanks, 16mm diameter, 620mm/24.4" long, 380mm/14.906" twist carbon steel. Let the waiting begin...

Mark
 
Just an update. On Monday a bag from the Russian Federation showed up on my doorstep! 😁... However, it was an empty bag with a giant hole in one end...😭 I caught up with my postman and he said that was what he was given. He got me the number for the consumer affairs, so that maybe there is the slightest glimmer of hope that they might turn up.somewhere in the system.

Maxim, from Alfa, was very quick to respond and sent me a picture of what the containers that the barrels are normally shipped in, so I can give an accurate description and/or a photograph of what they are looking for to the postal service. I'm not having the best luck with missing barrels.

Mark
 
Nation, 

Just a bit of an update from myself as well.

I've been tinkering a bit more the last few weeks, but the weather has not been very cooperative. Testing slugs, no matter what weight, is next to impossible with a 15 mph+ wind. Initial tests do show promise, though.

I have determined that my 1720T's favorite food is my 15 grain flat base hollowpoint, with a 2S nose.

I have also decent results with a 9.25 grain hollowpoint, with a flat base, also a 2S nose shape, in my RAW TM1000, and my Thomas FT. Keep in mind, I'm trying to get these to work in 12 ft.lb Field Target rigs.

I'll be doing a little bit more testing this weekend, I'll also be getting prepared for the Carolina Classic this upcoming week. 

I'll keep the Nation posted,

shoot straight 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
My search for a 177 slug began recently when I found out that H&N discontinued their piledrivers. The piledriver seems to be a love it or hate kind of thing and I was one of the lucky ones I guess. It worked way beyond my expectations so I was really bummed when I could no longer get them.

Thanks to a thread here on AGN I found out about the 12.5 gn slugs that NSA just came out with. I immediately ordered some and they have shown real promise. I am shooting these at 892 FPS out of a Hatsan AT44 and have little trouble hitting golf balls at 100 yards. I am hoping for the wind to die down a little around here so that I can try them out at longer distances but so far I am really impressed.