Best low speed pellet options?

[SMH]

I’ve got a cricket mini that I’m wanting to slow down just for the rats in my chicken coop. Is there a particular pellet that likes a slower speed and still plenty accurate at 30 yards max? Because of the current tune with 25gr redesigns and 18gr Jsb’s I’m not wanting to mess with the regulator, but rather slow things down with the hammer spring. I plan on trying it soon, but can the 25gr’s be shot accurately down in the 5-600 fps range? I’m not sure because of my current reg setting if I could get the 18gr below 800 fps. Current tune with hammer spring turned in almost fully, she’s shooting the 25gr around 760, so I have no doubt I can get the speeds of those down.

Again, plan on trying both, but figured I’d ask for suggestions as well. Picture added just because she’s so sexy…

 

[nervoustrig]

Perfectly fine to slow them down into to the 500 – 600fps range. Practically any diabolo pellet design from wadcutters to domes will continue to be accurate to within the limitations of trajectory and the ballistic coefficient. In practical terms what that means is your vertical POI will be more sensitive to small errors in range estimation and your horizontal POI will be more sensitive to wind. So the end result will indeed be less good than your current results but very likely still “plenty accurate” out to 30 yards or so.

With that said, there is one significant caveat that applies based on your intention to leave the regulator where it is and slow things down with the hammer spring. Making big velocity changes by simply backing off the hammer spring will drive up the extreme spread because the gun is now operating at a state of partial valve lock. In other words the hammer is just barely knocking the valve open so you get super short dwell. What you will see is that it is very, very quiet but the velocity will swing up and down much more than usual. At modest distances, it may not influence the vertical enough to matter, just depends on a variety of factors like the magnitude of the de-tune and how the gun responds to it, your needed precision, etc.

Airguns that have an adjustable transfer port restrictor allow you to maintain the same consistency by leaving the regulator and hammer spring alone and instead restrict the flow of air to bring down the velocity.

 

[SMH]

Perfectly fine to slow them down into to the 500 – 600fps range. Practically any diabolo pellet design from wadcutters to domes will continue to be accurate to within the limitations of trajectory and the ballistic coefficient. In practical terms what that means is your vertical POI will be more sensitive to small errors in range estimation and your horizontal POI will be more sensitive to wind. So the end result will indeed be less good than your current results but very likely still “plenty accurate” out to 30 yards or so.

With that said, there is one significant caveat that applies based on your intention to leave the regulator where it is and slow things down with the hammer spring. Making big velocity changes by simply backing off the hammer spring will drive up the extreme spread because the gun is now operating at a state of partial valve lock. In other words the hammer is just barely knocking the valve open so you get super short dwell. What you will see is that it is very, very quiet but the velocity will swing up and down much more than usual. At modest distances, it may not influence the vertical enough to matter, just depends on a variety of factors like the magnitude of the de-tune and how the gun responds to it, your needed precision, etc.

Airguns that have an adjustable transfer port restrictor allow you to maintain the same consistency by leaving the regulator and hammer spring alone and instead restrict the flow of air to bring down the velocity.

I was definitely wondering about backing the hammer spring off and not fooling with the reg. Having said that, if I can get good accuracy and mediocre shot count by just hammer spring adjustment, it’s worth a try. Thank you for the in-depth response!!!

 

[nervoustrig]

Glad to help and best wishes for a successful outcome. One more comment...

I can get good accuracy and mediocre shot count by just hammer spring adjustment, it’s worth a try

Actually shot count should be stellar. Running at partial valve lock is very efficient (re: my earlier comment about it being quiet).

 

[Ranchibi]

I shoot JSB RS .22 13-14gr for ratting in my back yard @ 650fps approximately.

 

[nervoustrig]

I shoot JSB RS .22 13-14gr for ratting in my back yard @ 650fps approximately.

I have to say I agree with Randall’s suggestion here on the lightweight RS pellets. As a matter of fact I dug up an old post about a regulated QB I dialed back for using the same pellets for a suburban squirrel removal visit. Things turned out very nicely for the homeowner and me...but very badly for the tree rats.

New QB takes care of business - Airguns & Guns Forum

New QB takes care of business, Air guns, Airgun Forum

www.gatewaytoairguns.org

 

[Larcat]

Following along on this thread, interesting and relevant to my interests.

Anyone that wants to talk more about transfer port vs hammer spring and low power tunes I'm all ears.

 

[nervoustrig]

Some more info on the topic

Velocity adjustment -- Hammer spring or transfer port?

Hi All, I can change the velocity on my FX Dream Tac Compact by either adjusting the hammer spring or choosing a different setting on the transfer port (including a "low" setting). Is there an advantage to using one over the other? Right now I almost exclusively use the hammer spring and...

www.airgunnation.com

 

[SMH]

Well, it worked. And it worked amazingly well! I ended up tuning the alloy Gto’s at 780 @ 30 yards. The hades shot just as good at 690, but I wanted to use the alloy due to the lead being so toxic to the chickens. 2nd plus, I’m a falconer and do bird abatement on the side, any pigeon shot with lead is unusable for me to feed my hawks. With the alloy, all pigeons can be kept and fed at a later date.

Never dreamed the alloy pellets would shoot that good, at that speed , out to 30. Shot count is simply ridiculous. The two groups below were shot at 30 yards and a full magazine (14) through each. I’m an extremely happy camper!!

 

[Larcat]

Well, it worked. And it worked amazingly well! I ended up tuning the alloy Gto’s at 780 @ 30 yards. The hades shot just as good at 690, but I wanted to use the alloy due to the lead being so toxic to the chickens. 2nd plus, I’m a falconer and do bird abatement on the side, any pigeon shot with lead is unusable for me to feed my hawks. With the alloy, all pigeons can be kept and fed at a later date.

Never dreamed the alloy pellets would shoot that good, at that speed , out to 30. Shot count is simply ridiculous. The two groups below were shot at 30 yards and a full magazine (14) through each. I’m an extremely happy camper!!
View attachment 351946
View attachment 351945

Well this is interesting.

My vague hooe was GTOs would be good at lower speeds, for something flatter at the same FPE in the backyard. Thanks for posting.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Are are talking .22?

 

[Larcat]

Some more info on the topic

Velocity adjustment -- Hammer spring or transfer port?

Hi All, I can change the velocity on my FX Dream Tac Compact by either adjusting the hammer spring or choosing a different setting on the transfer port (including a "low" setting). Is there an advantage to using one over the other? Right now I almost exclusively use the hammer spring and...

www.airgunnation.com

Thanks

 

[SMH]

Are are talking .22?

We are. Why?

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

We are. Why?

I never caught that part; I lookedso I figured I'd just ask
Low speed?
*In my head I would just compare that to my 2289.
Sooo....lots of options in my head*
Where you wanting a specific weight? Shape? Price a factor? Lead free?
(I've been hairline deep in projectile research lately)

 

[Scouty]

I think GTO also makes a wadcutter in lead free but not sure I've seen them for sale anywhere. Might be worth trying if pass through becomes a problem.

If I'm reading everything correctly it sounds like you need lead free for pigeons? But not for rats?

If so you might also give the JSB Ultra Shocks a try on the rats. I've had initial good results with them at slow speeds out of Leshiy Classics.

Nice Mini Carbine. I've always coveted one. On my phone & can't tell for sure - did you remove the shroud?

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

I think GTO also makes a wadcutter in lead free but not sure I've seen them for sale anywhere. Might be worth trying if pass through becomes a problem.

If I'm reading everything correctly it sounds like you need lead free for pigeons? But not for rats?

If so you might also give the JSB Ultra Shocks a try on the rats. I've had initial good results with them at slow speeds out of Leshiy Classics.

Nice Mini Carbine. I've always coveted one. On my phone & can't tell for sure - did you remove the shroud?

For .22:
Wadcutter
+light
+lead
+cheap
= Excite Plinking
They come in 12.96gr
And actually made by H&N

 

[SMH]

I think GTO also makes a wadcutter in lead free but not sure I've seen them for sale anywhere. Might be worth trying if pass through becomes a problem.

If I'm reading everything correctly it sounds like you need lead free for pigeons? But not for rats?

If so you might also give the JSB Ultra Shocks a try on the rats. I've had initial good results with them at slow speeds out of Leshiy Classics.

Nice Mini Carbine. I've always coveted one. On my phone & can't tell for sure - did you remove the shroud?

I actually need the alloy for the chickens and pigeons, so it’s a win win! And yes, the shroud is removed. I’ve got a Huma mod30 on her and she’s completely silent.

 

[TheRealHearkensSaltLake]

I’ve got a cricket mini that I’m wanting to slow down just for the rats in my chicken coop. Is there a particular pellet that likes a slower speed and still plenty accurate at 30 yards max? Because of the current tune with 25gr redesigns and 18gr Jsb’s I’m not wanting to mess with the regulator, but rather slow things down with the hammer spring. I plan on trying it soon, but can the 25gr’s be shot accurately down in the 5-600 fps range? I’m not sure because of my current reg setting if I could get the 18gr below 800 fps. Current tune with hammer spring turned in almost fully, she’s shooting the 25gr around 760, so I have no doubt I can get the speeds of those down.

Again, plan on trying both, but figured I’d ask for suggestions as well. Picture added just because she’s so sexy…
View attachment 351855

I tested .22 redesigns at 770 fps and didn’t get good accuracy. 15.9 and 18 jsb are much better at slow speeds

 

[BackStop]

I only shoot .177 so I can't speak to calibers higher than that... and that may make what I am about to say moot.

However, I also shoot at what I consider lower fps/fpe for .177 than what you will read on AGN or pretty much any other airgun forum because speed and power seems to be the trend/marketing. Not exactly 12fpe, but lower fpe than the power Schizoid's would have you believe is necessary for my purposes.

Anyway, I have had MUCH better luck with heavier for caliber pellets for .177. Not extremely heavier for caliber, just 10.5/10.3 pellets. Never have had any luck with what a lot of people consider to be the "standard" for .177... 7.9-8.4grains.

For now, I shoot FX 10.3 .177 pellets. Tried the same JSB pellets and found that they have too many aberrations to be consistent. Funny that JSB makes the FX brand, but JSB's offering really sucks.

Anyway, as I said, I don't shoot higher calibers, so my 2 cents may not help the OP at all... (smile)