A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE HOLY GRAIL OF SLUGS

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Xbowsniper

Xbowsniper

Member
Nov 19, 2017
1,238
140
New York, United States
Nation, 

As a lot of you have been following my quest to find a possible slug for WFTF Field Target use, i might have had a revelation. 

Yesterday, I headed out to my home range on Long Island, and planned to test a truckload of different pellets, along with some of my homemade slugs. Being bummed because H&N's Sniper line has been discontinued, i figured that i might as well abandon them, and move forward in my quest to find a better projectile. 

Now, yesterday, the wind was screaming. And I mean SCREAMING. The wind was a steady 6-8 mph , with sustained gusts up to 21 mph, as measured by my Kestral. I shot my standard JSB 8.44's, and my Field Target Trophy 8.64's and reconfirmed my zero at 30 yards as best as I could during lulls. I put a black dot in the middle of a standard sheet of paper at 55 yards. Shot both of these pellets out of my Thomas, to see what the wind drift was. I made a point of aiming at the dot straight up, and with no surprise, most of the shots didn't even make it on the paper, due to the wind. As I said, the wind was overbearing. 

Took out some of my S2 hollowpoiint slugs, with a flat base, at 9.50 grains. Aimed at the dot. Naturally, they didn't have the same point of impact as the pellets, they shot about an inch low, which is expected. I then proceeded to shoot over 20 shots, again, staying on the dot. Very surprised to see my group less than 1.25 inches only drift about an inch or so. All of them. Impressed me in that high winds that the group was that good. I would've filmed it, but I left my SD card for my camera home.

Stay tuned, next week I'm going to do a lot more testing, properly sighting it in, and documenting the groups at all distances. Hopefully, the wind will cooperate so I can get a solid zero, and I can go further with my testing. 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
Mercado, 

I tried the 11 grain ones, but they didn't really work too well. That's why I decided to go a little bit lighter than 11 grains. I only made enough of several designs and weights for initial testing, I didn't have enough to really see what they can do.

During the week, I'm going to make a batch of slugs starting with 9 grains, and going up to 10.5 grains in 1/4 grain increments. I might even find one that works better than the 9.5 grainer that i had my success with. 

I'm also shooting them out of a Thomas FT gun, with a 15" barrel, not sure of the twist rate.

I'll keep everyone updated, as I said , I hope the weather cooperates, and if it does, I'll try to get an accurate actual BC for the slug that I've chosen.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
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Ups -- ok if a test batch is available let me know to purchase one thanks....maybe it has to do something with your twist rate..is important for you as slugs maker to know your twist..maybe your design is perfect but your twist dont like it..it has nothing to do with weight because I have shot from your 11g up to 21g from the same barrel..same great results only more hold over ..if 10g difference up dont make a difference in my barrel .. I don't think 2g down.will.
 
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Mercado, 

I get what you are saying, but keep in mind, I'm trying to get a slug to work at only 12 ft.lbs, so comparing a higher power rig like yours to my sub 12 ft.lb setup, is void. I'm sure that if I jacked the power up, they would shoot like yours.

As far as barrel twist, I do know the twist rate of my guns, except the Thomas. The actual dimensions of the lands and grooves along with the twist rate of the barrel, is a well guarded secret by the builder. I think the weight variation tends more to affect the balance and center of gravity of the slug, particularly in a lower power setup like I have. That's most likely the case for the slugs above 11 grains in my rigs.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 


 
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@mercado - how fast are you shooting Tom's 11g's? I bought some from him a few months ago but couldn't get them to play nice with the gun that I had planned on using for FT ( I had it tuned down and don't believe I was shooting them fast enough ). I've since given up on a local FT season happening and frankly I'm not serious enough about it to travel to meets - I just like to do it for fun. With that said . . . I've "weaponized" that gun (lol) - pulled the reg out and turned it up, dialed up the HS, etc . . . . - I'm currently sending AA 10.3's out of it at 975'ish with surprising accuracy considering that speed. I've still got a few of Tom's 11g's left ( I forgot about them until I saw this thread ). So -- yeah just curious re: how fast are you sending them?
 
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Yo,

I already have a hollowpoint in the front of it, and it's actually oversized compared with a "regular" hollowpoint cavity. In order to get a larger hollowpoint, like the FX Hybrids, a second, possibly a third die would be needed. You would need one die to make the hollow shape in the nose of the lead, then a second die to close and taper the nose, creating a larger hollow in the front of the slug, yet closing up the point, tapering it for maximum aerodynamic advantage. For me, it wouldn't be worth it, plus it would be more difficult for the die maker to make said dies in that small of a caliber.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
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I tested 10.3 gr slugs with hollow point and a flat base in my Daystate Red Wolf .177 HP 😃



They did okey at 30 meters / 33 yards - Need to test them further out 👍



1597657958_3863059095f3a5366829424.24166897.jpeg



1597658000_3314483075f3a5390383331.36910190.jpeg

 
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I'm only using I compact 177 cricket tuned to 900 fps I was pushing them slower without knowing like 695 to 725 ...and they shots horribly for me at least because the only place I could sight my firs target is at 94y then I bump the power to 900 fps another complete different thing better than the jsb 10.34 in heavy wind ...maybe slugs don't like slower speeds..
 
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Nation, 

For those of you that I will see at DCPA's match this Sunday, I will have a limited amount of light test slugs to give out, for you guys to try. I'll have 9.50 grain, 2S nose, with flat base, same slug, except 9.25 grains, and some S2, cup base in 9.25 grains. The last 2 will be a small amount, so first come, first served. If I can get decent sight zeros and settings on Saturday, I'll use my slugs in the match on Sunday for the first time.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
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