Can anyone guess which is which?

Ok. They both drop between .217” & .218”

One on left in both pictures is Griffin 35.5 dish base. Though 3 micrometers say the same OD the Griffin loads without hurting thumb & seats easily. 

One on Right is 36 grain NSA flat base which is hard enough to load I’ve thought of getting my own sizer or custom barrel with no choke, 28” & machined for best seating/engagement of rifling. I’m no expert, leave that up to a buddy who’s a Grade A Gunsmith. 

The NSA rolled on glass smoother. I can test accuracy to 100 yards but no further until corns cut down & first snow fall. 

If anyone has a stock barrel 24” LW Condor capable of very high power what slugs have you found to be most accurate at various ranges as far as you’ve tried them and at what MV? Lubed or not? 

If there’s no wind tomorrow I’ll try the different Griffins.

I can’t really compare as none are from the same Corbin style/weight molds. So much depends on a “perfect” cast/swage. 

Only noticeable difference I see is this batch of Griffins is very smooth. The NSA tested randomly rolled perfectly. The dish base Griffins seat easily where the RBT Griffins & NSA flats I have to use something flat and hard to seat flush.

Considering this barrel isn’t set up for slugs in the 1st place I can’t judge anything except what seems to shoot best for this particular barrel.

I’m hoping that 21-31 grain dish base do well from lower power PCP’s and looking to test to 300-325 yards with RBT’s from anyone making them. I’ll try the flats, dish, everything but I highly suspect RBT’s will shine past 200.

If not, everything I own still loves JSB 18.13 to 33.95’s so I won’t be heartbroken.

My guns DON'T like a forced hard to close bolt. If it's hard to close the bolt on my guns, it doesn't matter what it is. Accuracy is not there.

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I totally agree with you. I’ve tried certain things like Eun Jins or slugs in different guns. If I feel any hard restriction on a sidelever or bolt it doesn’t get used ever again. In fact I’ll push it back out with one piece rod.

The Condor & Elite smooth twist though are single finger loaded. I can judge does it make my thumb sure. The dish base Griffins loaded easily. The RBT Griffin & NSA 36 need to be seated about 0.030” so I really would like my engagement depth or “chamber” reamed for a slightly easier angle of engagement with the lands. I can get incredible accuracy with what I consider hard to load NSA 36 grain flat base.

Now I’m not a “hunter” much but I would be interested if my State brings in Whitetail. It is nice to know I may one day be able to take my 2 year old boy Groundhog hunting though I’m pretty old for a 2 year old.

Back to slugs in question. I didn’t only want heavy hard hitting or super high BC RBT’s. I was sent some 28.5 RBT Griffin slugs to try and was just coming here to say they fit nicely in my Rainstorm One .22 mags. They’re slightly loose. The 36 grain RBT Griffins & 36 grain NSA FB all fit flush in mag. I just need to test accuracy & adjust power accordingly. So far the 28.5 RBT loads effortlessly!! And the great part is I’m seeing very promising accuracy. Mind you this particular RS1 has a light spring backed all the way out and the Altaros reg that was giving me 50 shots at 860 with JSB 18.13’s is now out of her. I plan on buying another RS1 that’s set up identical to this but slightly hotter at 875fps.

Probably keep the hot one for JSB & H&N pellets but the old gal here I’m about to compare magazine depth to length/weights of Griffins. He has a page on EBay that has a bunch with stats (weight/length) posted. I’d be thrilled if she can put any one type of slug from 21 DB to 36 RBT’s in a great group at 100. If it can do that I’ll continue to test the limits.

I also got my single shot loader for Gen 2 Synrod and will be turning her up & testing if I don’t feel an excessive amount of resistance in loading.



From left to Right you can read The Griffin assortment. He threw in the 35.5 grain DB. My 36 grain NSA FB lubed are at far right. I have about 200 left of those. I was going to make another order to ship together but got a message it’s already been sent. Since he’s basically promoting these with free shipping & I had a $5.00 off coupon I got these to my door under $12.00 & ordered a $9.00 Marauder .22 shot tray.

One thing I’ve been contemplating & would like feedback. Do you fellas think a deep dish/cup base is easier to push than a flat base? Do you think any oblongation occurs with dish/cup slug seat? And do you find RBT’s of equal weight are registering faster on your chronographs? I am & I thought it would be exactly the opposite but I can only assume the shorter sidewall of the boat tails reduces friction allowing gain in speed. I don’t see this in every gun.

Thank you very much Mercado. I’m looking for exactly what brand, weight, style slugs shoot best for most people’s certain guns.

If you got 40 grains to 940 I’m excited! Reason is I shot a 31.9 RBT 316 yards from the EDgun Supermagnum .25 that’s currently for sale in classifieds and was hitting. That gun could shoot and Reg was strangled at 112 bar but it worked efficiently. Now that thing had a bolt like a tank rode a dovetail rail and I can’t say just how solid it felt.

I’ve owned one other AF. A Triple A Condor from TT’s and this .22 with heavy hammer, high flow tank & adjustable diameter top hats is a beast. I’m sold on them now with no frame flex and abilities. I’m going to get a .257 and probably 2000 65 grain NSA RBT’s as I was literally praying Nick or Dale would come out with a designated slug for stock Texan barrel.

If I decide to modify the .257 it will be: 1, a .308 drop in TJ liner kit as my State would go by caliber limitation of .30 or bigger for Whitetail. But if I’m not happy with the stock barrels performance in .257 I’m going with a 36” heavy match grade barrel & milling a thicker custom fit receiver. 

The only FX I have is an Elite with an original ST .25 which I’ve been told can shoot some slugs. But not like the STX can.

I’m looking for original Barrels for it in .177 & I have to call a dealer to see if I buy a STX barrel kit with 700mm (27.559”) in .177-30 if it could replace a few. 

I love my Elite but it’s no Thomas receiver even though it does handle my 29” .215” bore choked to .213” 2 L&G Benchmark 0.753 SS barrel. It’s honestly not ideal but it works as in hole in hole with JSB 18.13 but forget slugs. Unless I also get GMI ENGINEERING to make a .213” along with .253” for old Sumatra.

I know quite a few guys who’ve been dying for RBT slugs in solids but I think the tiny HP isn’t meant for expansion so much as weight distribution. Almost everyone said slugs had to be 900 or faster. I was shooting them at 750-850 from guns that could have sent them cracking but I found excellent accuracy at lower speeds. Again though I’m just shooting target paper. 

I’ll be playing come first NE PA snow and post results.

James I appreciate the post it’s awesome to see different slugs out there . The one on the left has less bleeding at the hollow point then the one on the right . And I also noticed the one on the right appears to have a sharp/ noticeable angle at the transition from flat to the nose . It alsoappears that the curvature Of the nose on the right side is actually wavy . Are these the differences ?

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Yes, those are the main differences I saw also.

Turned out 36 grain NSA .217” just too hard to seat as stock barrel not set for them. Great slugs but shorter lighter Griffins work much better.

I did testing with Griffin 28.5 RBT .217” and believe it or not 300 yards in no wind was easy for them. I’m sold on Griffins. Do need to try .254” AVS for old Sumatra .25 now.

I think boat tail desing bullet is not for all barrels because nielsen discontinued the. 22 cal boat tails .If people were buying he would not do that I must be that the majority of barrels like flat base because it could be done in lighter weights. Boat tails start at 28g to heavy for most. 22 ..I order flat base to try on my condor 36 g 38g an they simply don't fit all most 1/8 of a inch sticking out of the barrel. When I could push 40g BT completely in when nielsen use to make them. My taipan long I used to think that it don't like heavy lead because bigger than 21 g FB simply don't have the accuracy with anything heavier..but I still have some 28g BT and they shoot as good as the 21g only 4 more mils of hold ,so it was not the weight it is the long flat base surface dragging in the barrel..the same happen with my taipan long. 25 tuned for 34g at 925 fps and It could shoot 52g BT same accuracy but like 7 mils more of hold ..hope nielsen start making them again because in Puerto Rico I cant buy griffin ammo in ebay..that's whi I built the. 223 to cast my own ammo...

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Dearest Mercado,

you’re absolutely correct. RBT is too hard for most airguns to push. 
So Griffin is now making some AMAZING rebated boat tail slugs that have a big dish/cup base!! They still have the tiny perfect HP front nose. The aerodynamics of the RBT aren’t super uber better than any other slug. So anyone sad their Marauder couldn’t try RBT, well now you can. The design pulls ahead at long range. FB is okay, but to me if you’re gonna use a NON REBATED BOAT TAIL, then why just flat? Cup or dish take air blast so much better. 
So these new deep cup dish RBT’s, if weight/length is kept so they can seat in your inleade without excessive force will be amazing. You get lowest drag possible with that tail. 
Remember guys, heavy isn’t always best. I found the 36 grain HP FB slugs that supposedly shot so great look like junk in performance compared to 28-32 HP RBT slugs. And so far 28.5 RBT (solid, not cup dish RBT) are have gotten me groups at 300 yards I’m very happy with. 

James I appreciate the post it’s awesome to see different slugs out there . The one on the left has less bleeding at the hollow point then the one on the right . And I also noticed the one on the right appears to have a sharp/ noticeable angle at the transition from flat to the nose . It alsoappears that the curvature Of the nose on the right side is actually wavy . Are these the differences ?

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Yes, those are the main differences I saw also.

Turned out 36 grain NSA .217” just too hard to seat as stock barrel not set for them. Great slugs but shorter lighter Griffins work much better.

I did testing with Griffin 28.5 RBT .217” and believe it or not 300 yards in no wind was easy for them. I’m sold on Griffins. Do need to try .254” AVS for old Sumatra .25 now.

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I'm going to be testing some of the AVS .254 slugs in my new Sumatra 2500 to see how they do. I'll only be going out to 100 yards as that's the length of my home range. Hope they work as good as the AVS slugs do in my Liberty.

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Hia DesertSilver,

I just ordered .253” 48 grain BC .118, OAL .428”, SD 107. 
If they work 1/2 as good as old Air Venturi 50 grain FB solid core 2S step down nose I’ll be happy. 1/2 as good would be 1/2”@50 yards as a non tethered Sumatra put 10 in 1/4” @ 40 yards. A step down in-line reg is coming.

Forever I wished a airgun could match a .22LR. Now I’m worried someone will underestimate a slug because they’re way past that & I’m pretty sure I’m never going to need a .257. Oh I wanted one of Dyotat’s fully milled receiver & a 36” SS chrome lined Lilja bull barrel in a 18-25lb BR stock. I don’t care to compete so weight, tethering, no constraints on my dream build.


I realized something when I was shooting Griffin .217” 28.5 RBT HP’s @ 830 fps 300 yards and connecting with my POA. I don’t need a .257. In fact I’d probably only shoot it 1-4 times a year at a farm with almost 2000 yards hill to yonder hill. Here from my porch I have up to 300 yards. I can go 1/4 mile down my road and as long as corn or soybeans are down I have up to 600 yards and huge mountains of mulch, cinders, fill dirt to give a visual report of strikes. I’m very lucky to have it and the friends I do who let me use it any weekend or after hours when yards empty. 
So my buddy Mike is going to be offering something VERY different from what everyone else is putting out slug wise. We really like Dale, Nick. AVS. Stand up guys who’re MEN OF THEIR WORD. 
Seems my buddy Mike and I think alike in ways. Because we both have been thinking WITW does every slug have to be a HP? Besides reduced weight for balance, I don’t care about expansion in target shooting. So the .22’s he’s going to start soon are going to be available in hollow cavity RBT. They’ll have any nose you want in any weight including 1/4 & 1/2 grain increments if you’re obsessed with fine tuning. He can play with the weight & balance, over all length and get this. You could soon be shooting up to a 6S Spire Point .217” .218” 28-44 grain RBT w/ or w/out hollow boat tail. Maybe even 60 grains but you’d need single loading Raptor in .22 and more than likely a 1:14 twist, maybe you won’t but 60 grain .22’s in 1:16 are known to keyhole. 
We’re both about superior accuracy not massive power. Take it for what it’s worth. I shoot when I can & feel like it & Mike’s main business isn’t slugs but people are seeing his Griffins are very good. I’m not saying anyone’s else’s aren’t but I prefer Mikes, Dale’s & NSA pre HS press. You must understand my reasoning. I know each Griffin is checked and best for my 200-600 yard use. If I were hunting I’d most likely be buying NSA as the HS press does excellent for that and even 200+. In my guns, I’ve just found they like what they like. I’m fine with JSB 18.13-33.95 in .22 and 25.43-33.95 original in .25.

Besides the .253’s this older Sumatra does best with slug wise but it has no problem sending 20 grain .250 H&N FTT out “slow” and 33.95’s 850-980.