My Latest Creations......Test Pellets

Jim,

Most likely, nothing. I punched out a bunch of each in various weights in both designs. I have the capability of making a solid point in both, but the setup is a little bit trickier. The head of the pellet gets "scarred" , so to speak with the ejector pin. It leaves a small indent like a cookie cutter. In order to minimize this, a lot of fine adjustments need to be made to reduce this anomaly, and I didn't have time to really tinker with it. If they are accurate for Field Target purposes, I couldn't care if it is a hollowpoint or not.



Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Jim,

Tomorrow is testing day after my match, hopefully, the weather will cooperate. I hope they shoot good, too, if they do, I might be onto something....

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Rio,

That was my initial intent, particularly with lighter pellets. If I desire in the future, I can have custom base punches made, so it's flat like other high production slugs are. Or, I could have a rebated boat tail for heavier projectiles. These are all standard punches and dies from Corbin. 



Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Jking,

Ogive is the amount of radius the nose of the projectile has. 1/2 ogive means that the nose is the same as 1/2 of the diameter, not length of the bullet/Pellet. 

Here are the differences between the two that I have......This illustration shows the difference better than I can explain it.

Hope this helps to clear things up.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Long Shot,

I made 6 different types and weights of test pellets.

Made a set of 1/2 ogive hollowpoints @ 10.5 grains, and 16 grains.

I then made a set of 1/2 ogive solidpoint, @ 18 grains 

1 set of 3/4 ogive hollowpoints @ 11.5 grains, and another @18 grains.

1 set of 3/4 ogive solidpoint @ 20.5 grains.

I kept all pellet velocities to under 12 ft.lb, which is my power limit for WFTF PCP class in Field Target. Velocities ranged from a high of 710 for the lighter pellets, and as low as 500 for the heavier ones.

Some had better promise than others, most likely due to the weight.

In testing, I did have some anomalies, the solid nose pellets did not group at all in either the TM1000, or the Air Arms EV 2. The TM1000 in general, shot these batches more consistently than the EV2.

I have to look into why I had extreme flyers, I'm going to guess a variation in weight due to less bleedoff in the swaging process, or not enough. I would stack 4-5 pellets on top of each other at 55 yards, then have a crazy flyer 4 inches away. Stack 4-5 more, then a flyer 4 inches away in a different direction, and so on. I would be willing to bet that it is a weight anomaly or nose not formed properly in the swaging process. I might have to change the speed I swage them at, that is usually the culprit.....not swaging at the same speed every time.

Shows good promise, it'll take a while to get the bugs out of the process. 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Almeidaken,

I'm already looking at another nose shape die, and different base punches to compliment the dies that I already have. I'm also going to order a flat ejection pin for the nose ejector, to eliminate that "cookie cutter" type scar left behind by my current ejector punch. 

I still think that the hollowpoint in some weights have promise, because I can stack 7-8 shots out of 10 at 55 yards. If they were all over the place, and none stacking at that distance, then I would 100% abandon that weight or design. Being I CAN stack a majority of pellets at that distance, I need to find out what is happening to the few that fly into right and left field. I do have the accuracy, I just have to refine my inspection process after I make a batch. If I find that 10-20% of the projectiles have an issue from the remaining 80-90%, then I've found my problem. At the moment, that's where I am now, I'm going to spend the rest of the week making different weight and design batches, and I'm going to run each batch through my normal pellet sorting regimen. I'll find the problem and get to the bottom of it. 

Thanks, I'll keep everyone posted 

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

John,

Weather permitting, yes I will. AND the Irish kid is going too...... he has a gig in my local house of ale on Friday night.

I'll bring you samples you requested, and I'll have batches for whoever's wants to try them as well.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Long Shot,

You are 100% correct. The batches I made, were very hastily done, so I'm not going to judge my results upon it, I've swaged pellets before. I found leaving the handle down for 5 seconds +, makes everything that much more consistent. When I get everything set up properly in the next day or 2, I'll have a better, more comfortable work station set up, so consistency will be that much better.

I'll remember some of these points, as I do forget from time to time.

Thanks,

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

Nation,

Here is my newest batch of pellets created for testing come next week.

These are 3/4 ogive, hollowpoint, hollow base 10.86 grains. These should be better in performance compared to previous lots.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech