Pellet trials

Shot the .177 S510 this afternoon with some of the H&N sample pellets. Set target at 35 yards. Started at 190 bar and about 3/4 setting on the power dial. 
Still a lot to work on with my shooting skills but I think there is enough to show the Field Target Trophy
70DF39DE-3D67-4FD2-8930-4C52B9F48DA1.1612819728.jpeg
don’t group as well as the others at this setting. 
 
If you don't have one already, I would recommend a pellet gauge. For me it is very valuable to know the head size of the pellets (you can't go by the tin label). For example, I have some old H&N FTTs that shoot great in a couple of guns and measure 4.51. I bought a couple of new tins of FTTs and they measure 4.53. They shoot like crap out of everything but an old RWS48, and the velocity is down about 60 fps compared to other pellets that weigh the same. Knowing that a particular gun prefers smaller head sizes helps keep me from buying a bunch of pellets that won't shoot accurately.

You don't have to go crazy measuring. I just take about 10 or 15 pellets from a new tin and check them out. If most of them are a consistent size, I mark the size on the tin. If they aren't consistent, I use them for indoor practice.

If you don't want to spend $50 on a pellet gauge, you can measure the heads with calipers. It's not quite as accurate (at least the way I do it) but it should give you an idea as far as what head diameter your barrel prefers. Once you find a good pellet, you can measure them and buy more in the same size or try other pellets in the same size.
 
My S500 (single shot version of the S510) shoots the JSB 10.34's better than any of the others I tried. The key was to keep the speed down to around 850-875. If you try to set the power selector on one of the indents to achieve this speed, it won't. You have to fiddle with the power adjuster and put it in between two. I was able to adjust mine to achieve this speed so the adjuster was horizontal with the barrel. (see pic) The groups really tightened up. I shoot FT and I'm able to keep 10 shots close to 1" at 55 yards. 

At 35 yards you should be able to put 10 inside the circles on your target. 

S500 power adjuster.1612823450.jpg


Good luck and have fun!