Spent the day messing with the FX slugs

[ronmcc4]

So I decided to try some FX Hybrid slugs to see what all the hoopla was about so I ordered a box of .25 caliber to try in the Red Wolf and the Wildcat MK3 Compact. Long story short: The Red Wolf didn't like them at all - no way no how. That didn't bother me at all as its very accurate with the pellets I like to shoot in it and can certainly do anything I'd ever ask of it. 

So - what about the Wildcat - it IS an FX rifle with the new Superior barrel liner. FYI - My Wildcat is dead stock - no tuning, etc. I started at power level 7 (slug velocity was 849) thinking slugs want to be shot really fast. Groups were pretty good at 35 yard but the groups were bouncing around - lots of flyers. Same thing at 50 yards (that's all I have where I shoot unless I go to our gun club). So I decided to try power level 6 (slug velocity of 836 fps) - magic happened. 1 hole groups at 35 yards and 1/2 inch groups at 50. iStrelok had issues calculating the proper holdover so I had to use the adjustment feature to fix that. But - I have a good slug load with proper aim points for the Wildcat now.

After all that, I asked myself what the advantage of the slug was. With the higher ballistic coefficient it should shoot flatter and carry more energy than a pellet. But, just for my situation, I get more energy from JSB Kings, King Heavies, and Hades than I'm getting from the slugs at the velocities I have. Obviously, I've only tried one brand and I have not tuned the rifles trying to get the most our of them. My typical shooting doesn't involve long range shots and pesting (legally) in Tennessee is problematic so - I'll stick with pellets. I'm sure I could find something that would work in the Red Wolf and I could get more power from the Wildcat if I wanted to. I'm happy like it is - for now.

 

[lenweber2]

You may have found a low velocity flat on the harmonics wave. There may very well be a high speed in the 960-980 area(just a guess here) that has the same flat spot on the sign wave that is as accurate or better.

 

[edosan]

up to 100m, not big difference... over that, huge ... 200-300-400 and even 500 meters with slugs is a reality today (with accuracy), for hunting and for me, over 200m is too much with airguns. 

I have test the RW Safari .25 with VaminKnockers (Dale) slugs 32.8gn quite well, (moa @ 100) but need to test more, waiting for some slugs to arrive.

 

[Jking_sley]

 

My taipan vet standard does this w/ .25 hybrids shooting them at the described 830-835 fps ( this was 5 at 50 yards). Stumbled upon this as i bought the hybrids for my cricket and tried em in all my guns after the cricket didnt really like em too much... But yea I've tried them out to 160 actually, not groups but I was popping cans off a post @ 161 yards in front of my house...I was stoked to say the least! What really struck me was it only took 8 shots total to take 3 cans at that distance! They actually seem consistent!

-cans on the post, my shooting table is behind the car in the driveway 

 

[Eaglehorn]

up to 100m, not big difference... over that, huge ... 200-300-400 and even 500 meters with slugs is a reality today (with accuracy), for hunting and for me, over 200m is too much with airguns.

Agreed. If you're regularly pushing 75-100m+, for me that's when slugs are worth it. If that's a rarity then go with pellets. They're as accurate and arguably more precise, but slugs still have their place due to their much higher BC.

The hybrids are interesting because they seem to be marketed towards airguns that don't have the power for heavier slugs but can push the lighter hybrids just fine. I guess it could work for the people in the in-between area of semi-regular long-range shots. Although I'd personally go all or nothing on a slug or pellet build, I can see them being useful if you want the higher shot count or have an airgun that doesn't have the power for heavy slugs. 

 

[Scotchmo]

...With the higher ballistic coefficient it should shoot flatter and carry more energy than a pellet. But, just for my situation, I get more energy from JSB Kings, ...

Maybe you get more muzzle energy, but if downrange energy matters (hunting at 50yds for instance), than the 26gr slug at 836fps muzzle velocity will carry more energy than the 25.39gr King at 900+fps muzzle velocity.

The farther the distance, the more advantageous the higher BC slug becomes.

 

[ronmcc4]

Absolutely agree - for longer distances slugs indeed shine. When I get a chance I want to get out to our gun club and give them a try in the Wildcat at 100 and maybe farther. That would just be cool. 

 

[Spray1Mark]

Your Redwolf will love the Daystate JSB KO when they hit the shelf in the near future, just remember a little bit of lube and you will see the magic!

 

[HeyU]

I think along the same line of practicality for my situation. My max distance is 70-75 yds. My expectations for using slugs would be to reduce the amount of drift at 50 yds to 75 yds. A flatter curve would be a plus. On a mostly calm day the JSB 18.13 do very well out to my max distance and are quite effective on the Starlings at that range too. Most of my misses r due to the wind pushing my pellet off target. Of course I hold for wind but pellets are fairly sensitive to even minor changes in the wind. That would be my reason for trying slugs.