Jerry,
I believe you're right about that, recently H&N got all new tooling, and moved to a new location not too long ago. Basically, started over, if you will.
Just for an FYI, I've been working with H&N for about a year or so, to help bring back the quality of their Sniper Medium .177 line, and it's been a slow and tedious process. When it was first offered, the quality and wind bucking abilities were second to none, and all the dies were damaged by a worker, and they were never the same after that. It's a work in progress.
As far as comparing them with JSB'S or Air Arms, in my eyes, there is no comparison, with any of the lots anymore. With JSB'S, I have to sort though about 4-5 tins to get the proper weight and headsize, just to get 300-350 projectiles for a 2 day match. With Air Arms, I have to sort 3-4 tins to get the same. With H&N Field Target Trophy, I can usually get those same numbers from 1 1/2 tins. I found that the weight of the nominal 8.64 grain pellet is usually between 8.56 -8.70 grains, much more consistent than the numbers I listed for JSB'S and Air Arms before. Head size wise, I keep well over 80% of the H&N's, but with the JSB'S and Air Arms, I keep less than 10%, and that's after they are weighed.
Looks like you'll see a lot more people using H&N's, as their quality control is stepping up to the game, where as, in my eyes, JSB'S seem to be the same old crap, with Air Arms not far behind. These have been my observations over the last few years or so, which is also the reason that I'm investing in swaging dies to make my own pellets, at much better quality than can be offered by any company out there.
Tom Holland
Field Target Tech