Priest slug project

I was sighting in today at 50. The 32 and 34gr slugs are close to shooting the same. I even manage to fling one of each. Moved the 34’s over but not quite enough. A couple more clicks left and I shot a 32gr just a smidge high. Was getting ready to click down when I saw movement out at my 100yrd target. It was a red chasing a gray squirrel. I didn’t have a 100yrd setting yet so I held dead on a knot on a tree down there and shot. I saw the slug hit right by the #10 hash in my scope. When the red reappeared I cleaned him out. I have shot lots of reds down there with 18-25gr pellets. A 32gr slug at 925fps is more effective. Raining too hard now for 100yrd grouping.
1582057116_5255355515e4c469c991f84.02472496_DC45FA15-86EC-4CA3-8448-47C5281ED8C8.jpeg
1582057159_18673826995e4c46c7ad05c4.94340385_27A4E02C-0DD0-47FE-BA30-C7F218998BBE.jpeg

 
Awesome! I took mine out this weekend and got a really nice shot on an iguana at 100 yards. On the video footage I noticed the pellet was spiraling but I hit the iguana on the 3rd shot. I have the video footage but I'm not sure if I can share here (not the hunting gate)

DanielL is already helping me with those spirals because I have pellet shavings on my receiver, he fixed that by removing two screws that are securing the shroud on top of the scope rail, probably the only thing that is securing your carbon fiber one because the original shroud has a thread that screw on the receiver and these two screws to prevent the shroud from turning, but looks like the guys are RTI are applying serious torque to the screws.... My bleeding screw was so tight that I broke an allen key while trying to lose it.


 
Looks like it’s all coming together for you. Would you happen to have some dimensions on that plenum extension? I made a smaller one out of some 303 stainless this weekend and picked up another 30 fps with a 22 gr slug out of the stock barrel. Mine is maybe half as long as your extension. Would like to try a longer one to see if it is worth it for mine. If it works good, I might put the .25 setup back on it.
 
Orion, I love watching iguanas getting smacked with a pellet. I think I even commented on one of your videos. I think you were using a Taipan. About the shroud, I use 6 screws to hold mine. Under the scope rail where the shroud goes through, there are orings. That’s not ridged enough for me. I replaced them with .005 sleeves. Then I tapped the sides of the receiver. Now my barrel and shroud are very ridged and the .005 sleeves keep the set screws from digging into my CF shroud. I also build bushings that go inside the shroud under the scope rail where all the screws are securing the shroud. They are a very tight fit on my barrel and it tricks my barrel into believing it’s shorter than it actually is. Check page one for photos. 
 
Rich, I will cc it the next time I have all the air out of the gun. Mine might be a smidge big. Not completely certain but my ES may not be as tight as it used to be. It is very very expensive doing all kinds of testing with slugs. I was just experimenting with different lengths and wire thickness hammer springs and had to switch back to pellets. As of now I will say that RTI really did their homework. Nothing is better than what they have in the gun. The spring they use and the hammer weight they added has the gun operating at peak efficiency even with a larger plenum. 
 
 

DanielL

Accuracy: 

Member

My Priest 2 in .25 and Priest 1 in .22 both do well with NSA slugs with their stock barrels in the smallest diameters (imagine because of the choke.) Been waiting patiently to level a squirrel but lately they've been shy.





I have the Priest 1 in 25 and 177. What weight slugs are you shooting in .25? I was going to buy the .25 sample pack from nsa but they don't offer it in .249. So hoping you could let me know which ones worked for you and I'll give them a try. Think you might be the first person I've seen say they worked in the factory barrel. Mine is the cz barrel. Thanks in advance.
 


DanielL

Accuracy: 

Member

My Priest 2 in .25 and Priest 1 in .22 both do well with NSA slugs with their stock barrels in the smallest diameters (imagine because of the choke.) Been waiting patiently to level a squirrel but lately they've been shy.





I have the Priest 1 in 25 and 177. What weight slugs are you shooting in .25? I was going to buy the .25 sample pack from nsa but they don't offer it in .249. So hoping you could let me know which ones worked for you and I'll give them a try. Think you might be the first person I've seen say they worked in the factory barrel. Mine is the cz barrel. Thanks in advance.

In .25 I'm shooting the lightest slugs...the NSA 26.8 gr. They have a bit less power than similar weighted pellets out the barrel but quickly catch up down range.
 
1582736015_15421809085e56a28fd13e53.33621660_image.jpg
Shooting at 80yrds today. Somewhere between 50 and 80 the 32gr slugs started opening up. The 34gr ones are ready to move to 100. Stopping these things is a chore. There is a wool blanket and 3/4” plywood in that target box. At 80yrds slugs blowing through and sounding like an old Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. Had to put my archery target behind it.