I didn't want to thread hijack another similar thread on hunting with pellets, so just wanted to see if anyone here had any feedback on hunting with the Monsters or Monster RDs 
Small Game Hunting with JSB Monster Redesigned?
- Thread starter mtnGhost
- Start date
I'd be interested in this as well as I am thinking of making the RD Monsters my go-to.
I plan on setting up my rifle for pesting with slugs but think slugs are too destructive for small game and would like a similar weight pellet to use without making (big) changes to my tune.
Having successfully hunted squirrels and rabbits with regular domed pellets for years I am not sold on the need for expanding pellets/slugs to make a humane kill. The flip side is that expanding pellets do dump their energy better and carry less energy down range in the event of a shoot-through.
Guessing that a RD Monster with a Hades style head might be an optimum compromise for a hunting pellet in the more powerful AGs and may suggest that to JSB as an alternative to slugs for those rifles that don't shoot slugs well.
Curious to hear real world results of the RD Monsters for hunting.
Hank
I plan on setting up my rifle for pesting with slugs but think slugs are too destructive for small game and would like a similar weight pellet to use without making (big) changes to my tune.
Having successfully hunted squirrels and rabbits with regular domed pellets for years I am not sold on the need for expanding pellets/slugs to make a humane kill. The flip side is that expanding pellets do dump their energy better and carry less energy down range in the event of a shoot-through.
Guessing that a RD Monster with a Hades style head might be an optimum compromise for a hunting pellet in the more powerful AGs and may suggest that to JSB as an alternative to slugs for those rifles that don't shoot slugs well.
Curious to hear real world results of the RD Monsters for hunting.
Hank
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@Vana2 - yep, I totally agree. I also typically see a 20-25FPS higher MV with 25gr Monsters than a ~24.8gr NSA, but each have their place in my book. The Monsters do seem to smack real hard, buy I haven't had an opportunity to hunt pests or small game with them yet.
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I have taken pigeons and starlings with the .22 cal redesigns and they put em down. They also have a poi about the same as my Nielsen 24.8 grains. I can swap between the two and not worry about scope adjustments. I have 2 mags and have one loaded with slugs and one with redesigned and when one is empty, I just grab the other.
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I find the Monsters are pretty much a waste on small game. Other pellets perform just as well or better, while also being cheaper and using less air.
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Agreed, but in a rifle that is tuned to shoot .22 caliber 25 grain slugs at 940 - 960 fps the typical 15ish grain pellets will be too light and there is not much chance that they will shoot well.
Rather than have the gun dedicated to only shooting slugs - having RD Monsters, with their weight and half-decent BC might be useful for pesting at the upper end of the 70-90 yard pellet range. They are less than half the price of slugs as well. Figure that the RD Monsters would do a pretty good job on groundhogs at reasonable ranges.
I hear you about small game - my go-to is a 30 fpe .22 caliber HW100 FSB shooting 15 grain domed pellets. It has plenty of power for rabbits and squirrels at typical ranges and as far as 50 yards or so if needed. I don't even bother with my .25 unless I am specifically out for groundhogs, porcupines or racoons.
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The Monsters hold up better in the wind and have ~60% better BCs than an 18gr. I get a little more reach out of them at the cost of shot count, but it's a trade off.
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I have a pcp tuned to shoot JSB Redsigned @ 930fps and 22gr Griffin slugs at close to the same speed but slings 18gr a little over 1000fps on same tune which makes them a bit squirrely at that speed. The Redesigned hit much harder and are less effected by wind. If I am pesting/hunting in windy conditions I would tune for Redesigned if not 18gr all day...cheaper and just as effective with good shot placement.
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I can think of at least three scenarios where the Monsters and Beasts are a better choice than slugs... 
Scenario One: I don't want the expansion of the slugs (that almost always come as hollow points), as a domed pellet has enough killing power for my quarry of choice.
Scenario Two: I'm doing angled shots (e.g., birds up high in the trees) and I don't want my projectiles to fly for ever and a mile beyond the target in case of a miss.
Scenario Three: I don't have (or don't want to have) separate guns — with one dedicated to slugs, and one dedicated to mid-weight pellets (14-21gr in .22cal).
Unless I have a power lever on my PCP, the power I chose for my gun (when buying it or tuning it) will determine which pellets/slugs I can use, and which pellet/ slugs I cannot use.
Some time ago I made a chart to help me decide on the power level (muzzle energy) I would want to have in a .22cal gun. I'll attach it as PDF below.
The chart lists high-quality, high-BC pellets and slugs and shows at what power level they can be used — and consequently shows how many pellet/slug choices a certain power level offers.
Matthias
Attachment: How Muzzle Energy Restricts Pellet/Slug Options
View attachment 1576473931_7239419245df7154b1fc772.51172958_How Muzzle Energy Restricts Pellet Options. 17.pdf
Scenario One: I don't want the expansion of the slugs (that almost always come as hollow points), as a domed pellet has enough killing power for my quarry of choice.Scenario Two: I'm doing angled shots (e.g., birds up high in the trees) and I don't want my projectiles to fly for ever and a mile beyond the target in case of a miss.Scenario Three: I don't have (or don't want to have) separate guns — with one dedicated to slugs, and one dedicated to mid-weight pellets (14-21gr in .22cal).Unless I have a power lever on my PCP, the power I chose for my gun (when buying it or tuning it) will determine which pellets/slugs I can use, and which pellet/ slugs I cannot use.
Some time ago I made a chart to help me decide on the power level (muzzle energy) I would want to have in a .22cal gun. I'll attach it as PDF below.
The chart lists high-quality, high-BC pellets and slugs and shows at what power level they can be used — and consequently shows how many pellet/slug choices a certain power level offers.
Matthias
Attachment: How Muzzle Energy Restricts Pellet/Slug Options
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I can think of at least three scenarios where the Monsters and Beasts are a better choice than slugs...
Scenario One: I don't want the expansion of the slugs (that almost always come as hollow points), as a domed pellet has enough killing power for my quarry of choice.
Scenario Two: I'm doing angled shots (e.g., birds up high in the trees) and I don't want my projectiles to fly for ever and a mile beyond the target in case of a miss.
Scenario Three: I don't have (or don't want to have) separate guns — with one dedicated to slugs, and one dedicated to mid-weight pellets (14-21gr in .22cal).
Unless I have a power lever on my PCP, the power I chose for my gun (when buying it or tuning it) will determine which pellets/slugs I can use, and which pellet/ slugs I cannot use.
Some time ago I made a chart to help me decide on the power level (muzzle energy) I would want to have in a .22cal gun. I'll attach it as PDF below.
The chart lists high-quality, high-BC pellets and slugs and shows at what power level they can be used — and consequently shows how many pellet/slug choices a certain power level offers.
Matthias
Attachment: How Muzzle Energy Restricts Pellet/Slug Options
View attachment 1576473931_7239419245df7154b1fc772.51172958_How Muzzle Energy Restricts Pellet Options. 17.pdf
The .22 is my favorite caliber. Lots of information in your chart Matthias, I grabbed a copy for reference - thanks for posting!
Per your Scenario Three, I actually prefer to have AGs for specific applications. My interests range from (informal) 10 meter shooting with a SSP to shooting large pests on my permissions with a .25 PCP.
My interest in the RD Monsters and slugs is for a new category: "long range sniper" for training, pesting and plinking. My current maximum effective range (1 inch groups or better) is around 60 yards in calm conditions and I am looking to set up an AG & pellet/slug that is capable of 1 inch groups at 70 > 100 to maybe 125 yards. I'd like to have something to train with to see how far I can shoot and still maintain my 1 inch (minute of a squirrel's head) groups.
In truth, most of my shots at small game are under 30 yards so the whole point of the exercise is to test the limits of my skill and see how far away I can put my 1" spinners and still hit them consistently.
Cheers!
Hank
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