Hi all, title basically says all. I’ve been wondering what fps slugs begin to expand. I’ve been wanting to “eco” tune my .25 DL for some Nielsen 26gr slugs in the superior liner.
Thanks, PlinkForFun
Thanks, PlinkForFun
At what fps do slugs begin to expand?
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At least 815 and above, but actual expansion I vote 880 and above. It depends on what type of material/type of Skin/tissue you are hitting too because at a lower speed the softer skins prevent the initial expansion that shrooms out. Most people try to run their setups on the higher speeds therefore. What is your intended target?
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The ONLY nsa slug Ive recovered to date was a 29.5gr .25 starting out at 995fps and was hit behind the shoulder of a young male coyote at 30 yards. I got a picture of it somewhere, ill find it. But I believe it expanded somewhere in the .380 range. That dog ran about 5 yards and colapsed. I can tell you similar shots with pellets pass through. So, faster the better. If I cant get them to 900 or above I go the next one lighter. Hope this helps.
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Mostly squirrels, dove sized birds and maybe a bit bigger, I do see coyotes in a field behind my house once in a while, so I might later retune it for some more power. I’m just not sure if I’ll get more than 30 shots if I do. I’ll test the 26.8s and 29s through the 600mm superior and I’ll make a post on it about the results on varying velocities. I’ve heard many people get awesome accuracy out of both, so wish me luck. I was thinking maybe the 850-900 fps range is where I’d like to tune it, so sounds like that’s the sweet spot for expansion. Thanks guys!
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A picture would be great! But wow those must’ve expanded nicely. .40? Pretty good if you ask me.
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Found this posting that shows some slug expansion at different speeds scroll down for the pics and info. It looks like once you get into the 820fps plus area the FX and I would expect the VK slugs, as they are built much the same, as well expand nicely most others not so much until they are over 900fps.
http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?868530-%EF%94%B4-Slugs-%E2%80%94-Testing-How-Much-They-Expand-and-How-Far-They-Penetrate
Velocity in the 800fps results
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/taipan-veteran-22-grain-slug-shootout/
Higher velocity results
https://www.bakerairguns.com/general/22-caliber-airgun-slug-shootout-jsb-k-o-slugs-first-look/
http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.php?868530-%EF%94%B4-Slugs-%E2%80%94-Testing-How-Much-They-Expand-and-How-Far-They-Penetrate
Velocity in the 800fps results
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/taipan-veteran-22-grain-slug-shootout/
Higher velocity results
https://www.bakerairguns.com/general/22-caliber-airgun-slug-shootout-jsb-k-o-slugs-first-look/
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Man, that 22gr fx in that first article just looks killer!! I can tell you nsa in the .30 cals in the 900’s hit and expand HARD AS HELL. I hit a jackrabbit the other day with a 49.5 at 970 fps and dirt flew behind it from all directions. It looked like it got hit by a sledge
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Awesome, thanks for those links. Those are going to help out a lot. But like vmaxpro said, WOW! Those hybrids are flat as a pancake.
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That's funny...! 
biohazardman, I'm glad you found my post on a British forum.... — you didn't have to go that far, actually...!
The same post was right here at AGN....
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/%f0%9f%94%b4-slugs-testing-how-much-they-expand-and-how-far-they-penetrate
I just modified the pics at AGN to reflect something I'm learning about wadcutters versus domes vs. spitzers. It's not just total expansion that matters.... 
Because even if there is no expansion in overall diameter, if the HP cup opens up wide it will act like a wadcutter, effetively crushing a lot of tissue — yeah, that's good, that's what kills better...!
Blunt wadcutter inside of the quarry, but sleek high BC semi-spitzer type projectile to on the way to get to the quarry....
➔ The best of both worlds.
Matthias
PS: I'll be posting more test results in that thread — either in ballistic gel or quarry (clay and play-dough are just too good to be true — they totally exaggerate the HP expansion).
biohazardman, I'm glad you found my post on a British forum.... — you didn't have to go that far, actually...! The same post was right here at AGN....
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/%f0%9f%94%b4-slugs-testing-how-much-they-expand-and-how-far-they-penetrate
I just modified the pics at AGN to reflect something I'm learning about wadcutters versus domes vs. spitzers. It's not just total expansion that matters.... Because even if there is no expansion in overall diameter, if the HP cup opens up wide it will act like a wadcutter, effetively crushing a lot of tissue — yeah, that's good, that's what kills better...!
Blunt wadcutter inside of the quarry, but sleek high BC semi-spitzer type projectile to on the way to get to the quarry....
➔ The best of both worlds.
Matthias
PS: I'll be posting more test results in that thread — either in ballistic gel or quarry (clay and play-dough are just too good to be true — they totally exaggerate the HP expansion).
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