Who sells JSB's with Different Head Sizes?!

On PA's website it looks like they only offer JSB in 5.52 (it lists 5.5, but that's what is on the front of the tin). You can choose H&N, and use the filters to see a variety of head sizes.

If you buy em from AOA they still have the sticker that says head size and lot number. Buy em from PA and they just have that generic barcode sticker. I think it's PAs way of keeping us from requesting the same lot number when we find a good one. Less hassle for them. 

That is a very good question! My R9 prefers the 4.53 head size in the JSB 8.44 and I was able to find them on back order at Pyramyd. But that was the only .177 JSB that seemed to have a size option. I also happened to run across the 4.53 size at a local gun store so picked up what they had on the shelf. Precision is close enough for me to visit occasionally, and you never know what head size will be available on a given day. I think the dealers have to take whatever the distributor decides to ship so can't reliably inventory multiple head sizes in most pellets. The only pellets that seem to be routinely available in multiple head sizes are .177 match pellets sold through dealers specializing in 10 meter rifles and supplies.

For the JSBs in .22, their web site shows only the 15.89 available in different head sizes, the others are only listed as available in 5.52. It would seem that there would be enough demand for the 15.89 that Pyramyd would carry at least a couple sizes, but maybe it is only the FT guys who care about such things, and they use mostly .177.

You might need to purchase a sizer , or have one made for you

Works for me

Den

Here’s my take on it…early on I was thoroughly convinced that head size was important to know when making an order. After measuring and logging it for a few years, I’ve come to conclusion that it is nearly useless as far as being able to predict what will group well in a particular rifle. It started falling apart when I realized some barrels grouped as well with a tin measuring 5.48mm as they do with another tin measuring 5.52mm. Yet the same barrel may not group well at all with other tins measuring the same, despite being ostensibly just as consistent and absent of any physical defects.



I will grant that there may be some special cases where it’s useful to at least have a ballpark idea of the head size in advance. Say you have an oversized bore and you’ve determined it never does well with pellets whose heads are on the smaller end of the spectrum. But as far as a notion that each barrel has a preference for a magic head size down to the second decimal place, that’s hogwash.



Cylindricals (slugs) seem to be a different matter for reasons that are intuitively obvious, but that I do not have enough first hand experience to add to the discussion.



The buying strategy that has worked best for me is to order quality brands on the basis that they are consistent. Not because they have a specific head size, and assuredly not because I trust the number printed on the label will be especially accurate…but because all 500 in the tin are closely like each other, whatever that size happens to be. Then I test them in each rifle and let them tell me what they like. Having a few rifles in each of the small bore calibers, typically at least one will like them. On rare occasions, the manufacturer will lay a golden egg and they’ll group well in almost everything. This “have to try it and see” thing is annoying if you have just one rifle. I get that. And if I ever figure out a way to be 100% certain that my purchase will be a success, I promise to share it with the world. At present, the closest to that ideal I’ve found is to buy the ones made in the Czech Republic or Germany. I still get some stinkers from time to time but the standouts always wear one of these 4 labels:



JSB

Air Arms

H&N

RWS

Sad but true accurate answer- every JSB dealer.

Call AoA and order from them and request the head size that you want.