If you could only do one; weigh or size which would you recommend? Or if you chose to do both, which would you do first?
Which is more important pellet head size or pellet weight?
- Thread starter Michael
- Start date
Michael to me if it's a PCP with good power I think size because of the way the pressure hits the pellet so fast forcing it down the barrel and into the rifling . Unless you are talking about truly extreme distances .
And for springers I think it's weight . The pressure in my mind builds up behind the pellet in a different way and it isn't as suddenly accelerated down the barrel an into the rifling . I absolutely HATE weighing pellets but usually in a 500 tin there will be about 10-50 pellets that are off in weight by over .3 grains either way . And at slow springer speeds it makes a difference in where they impact .
And for springers I think it's weight . The pressure in my mind builds up behind the pellet in a different way and it isn't as suddenly accelerated down the barrel an into the rifling . I absolutely HATE weighing pellets but usually in a 500 tin there will be about 10-50 pellets that are off in weight by over .3 grains either way . And at slow springer speeds it makes a difference in where they impact .
Upvote 0
Size. I've used a pellet sizer to make all my pellets nice and equal. The problem is, my barrel doesn't like that particular size. So, my groups open up immensely. I've also tried specific head size tins vs. mixed and get far better results with the sized tins.
Think about all the different ways the pellet is affected before it leaves that barrel... how deep the lands and grooves cut into it, how evenly the skirt expands, how the pellet scrapes down the barrel, air resistance... all these subtle and minute variations occur before the pellet leaves the controlled environment of the barrel. Once it does leave, those variations come into play during flight. eg: A fat head with deep grooves will react differently to the air than a skinny head with shallow grooves. Spiraling?
In a perfect world our rifles would shoot with "0" SD and have perfectly flat shot strings. In this world, weight would be noticeable effecting the velocity and drop of the pellet. But, we don't live in a perfect world. I have yet to find a rifle with a consistently lower SD than 2 and we've also got the bell curve to deal with. So, we're already starting out with a small level of inconsistency. Weight has the opportunity to either flatten these variables out or exaggerate them even further. Which brings us to the range of the target. A shorter distance shot will be less effected by weight variations. As that range gets farther out, the weight effects the flight path more and more.
If I could do both, I would probably weigh then size. Just because weight removes pellets from the group and saves me the wasted time and effort of sizing over/under weight pellets later on.
Tom
Think about all the different ways the pellet is affected before it leaves that barrel... how deep the lands and grooves cut into it, how evenly the skirt expands, how the pellet scrapes down the barrel, air resistance... all these subtle and minute variations occur before the pellet leaves the controlled environment of the barrel. Once it does leave, those variations come into play during flight. eg: A fat head with deep grooves will react differently to the air than a skinny head with shallow grooves. Spiraling?
In a perfect world our rifles would shoot with "0" SD and have perfectly flat shot strings. In this world, weight would be noticeable effecting the velocity and drop of the pellet. But, we don't live in a perfect world. I have yet to find a rifle with a consistently lower SD than 2 and we've also got the bell curve to deal with. So, we're already starting out with a small level of inconsistency. Weight has the opportunity to either flatten these variables out or exaggerate them even further. Which brings us to the range of the target. A shorter distance shot will be less effected by weight variations. As that range gets farther out, the weight effects the flight path more and more.
If I could do both, I would probably weigh then size. Just because weight removes pellets from the group and saves me the wasted time and effort of sizing over/under weight pellets later on.
Tom
Upvote 0
If I could only do one, sizing or weighing. It would be weighing and if doing both I most of the time size them first. I think the pressure in most air guns takes care of sizing if they are close. But nothing helps if the pellets are too far apart in weight? When I am testing pellets I also use a thumbnail to mash in the skirt a little on a few. I think at times some lead mixes in pellets can be harder or softer? Does that really tell me anything? Probably not 
Over the years with PB bench rest one of the funny things we did was hold bullets over a burning candle to lube them. But for pellets I think you bench rest guys(the really good ones) use voodoo!
edit: Your right Tom I need to weigh first, then size to cut down on sizing some of those.
Over the years with PB bench rest one of the funny things we did was hold bullets over a burning candle to lube them. But for pellets I think you bench rest guys(the really good ones) use voodoo!
edit: Your right Tom I need to weigh first, then size to cut down on sizing some of those.
Upvote 0
I think its been proven that if a pellet doesnt fit properly it affects the accuracy more often then pellet weight. some have even gone as far as creating a pellet resizer to be EXACT with every pellet and shrink the head size down, and some have created rigs to widen out the head size.
i think head size is more important personally then weight. if doing both i would definitely size them out then weight them. one that does this may conclude that the lighter pellets tend to be slightly smaller then the heavier or exact weight the pellet is supposed to be.
Now, does this include sorting pellets for deformitys as well? or just sizing and weighing?
i think head size is more important personally then weight. if doing both i would definitely size them out then weight them. one that does this may conclude that the lighter pellets tend to be slightly smaller then the heavier or exact weight the pellet is supposed to be.
Now, does this include sorting pellets for deformitys as well? or just sizing and weighing?
Upvote 0
Like many things. Size matters........ Having a .25 I don't have the head size choices the smaller bores do. But from I have read head size makes a big difference in accuracy.
Upvote 0
Same opinion... Accuracy/consistency due to head size is much more unpredictable vs pellet weight. Of course it depends on the rifle...some are more tolerant to head sizes vs. others. Pellet weigh (if measured) will always have a predictable/calculable outcome as far as accuracy. At a certain distance weight may become more important (i.e. at 80-100 yards) than head size assuming the head size used at shorter ranges (i.e. at 50 yards) was already ok in that rifle. But if head size does not match with the rifle from the get go...you may not even get decent accuracy at 25 yards.
Upvote 0
When I was doing alot of long range shooting and striving for sub MOA at 100 yards, all my pellets were full length sized to the bore based on slugging the bore to determine actual groove size.
It has been argued and hashed over on this and other forums, but I know it works. You should read some of Yrrah's work regarding this subject.
It has been argued and hashed over on this and other forums, but I know it works. You should read some of Yrrah's work regarding this subject.
Upvote 0
Here in the UK we use pellet size as the primary criteria, (and most of Europe AFAIK) it's SIZE - and that refers to the pellet skirt size.*
On the back of most quality pellet tins is the important SIZE info (probably described in mm / Metric).
With regard to the actual weight of the pellet I've always adhered to the 'rule', lower weight is better for Springers - PCPs can handle 'increased' weight better (it increases FPE upto a certain cutoff point).
And again, 'grain' as a description of weight is almost unheard of in modern 'ammo' (of any type) - it's grams these days, when you wish to descibe very small differences.
* then there are pellet types with thin skirts (which easily/or more quickly) deform to fit a barrel, and those with thicker skirts.
On the back of most quality pellet tins is the important SIZE info (probably described in mm / Metric).
With regard to the actual weight of the pellet I've always adhered to the 'rule', lower weight is better for Springers - PCPs can handle 'increased' weight better (it increases FPE upto a certain cutoff point).
And again, 'grain' as a description of weight is almost unheard of in modern 'ammo' (of any type) - it's grams these days, when you wish to descibe very small differences.
* then there are pellet types with thin skirts (which easily/or more quickly) deform to fit a barrel, and those with thicker skirts.
Upvote 0
On my 177's I size as it makes a big difference in the accuracy of my rifles and pistols. Here are the size sorted pellets (.446 to .453 in this lot).
.
With .450 that is 10 into one rough hole. I've since purchased a .450 and .451 sizer. If they drop though, they are too small and go into the plinking tin, Too large and they get sized to .450. I've since run out of the magic tin of Barracuda's and haven't been able to find another.
I got lucky with a great lot of .JSB 18s. They are all .551 or .552 and 18.2 +/- .1 The MCT shoots them equally well, so I don't sort (it's for hunting not target)
I don't have a sizing gauge for the RAW 30 yet, and based on how it shoots I don't think I'll need one. I was initially getting vertical stringing from the mixed tins and after weighing found I have 2+ grains of variation (44g to 46g) in the tins so those do get weight sorted. Pellets of the same weight stack at 50 yards. Heaviest are low, lightest are high.
.With .450 that is 10 into one rough hole. I've since purchased a .450 and .451 sizer. If they drop though, they are too small and go into the plinking tin, Too large and they get sized to .450. I've since run out of the magic tin of Barracuda's and haven't been able to find another.
I got lucky with a great lot of .JSB 18s. They are all .551 or .552 and 18.2 +/- .1 The MCT shoots them equally well, so I don't sort (it's for hunting not target)
I don't have a sizing gauge for the RAW 30 yet, and based on how it shoots I don't think I'll need one. I was initially getting vertical stringing from the mixed tins and after weighing found I have 2+ grains of variation (44g to 46g) in the tins so those do get weight sorted. Pellets of the same weight stack at 50 yards. Heaviest are low, lightest are high.
Upvote 0
Wow, that is a fantastic comparison on the different variations. At first I was thinking weight but after seeing that I am leaning more to size for consistency.
Upvote 0