Pellet testing. Where do you start?

WesternGrizzly · Post by **WesternGrizzly** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:13 pm

With so many variables it is hard to pick a place to start testing. Should I start with brand? Head size? lot number? etc.

Im just asking for your thoughts.
Matt

Pat McCoy · Post by **Pat McCoy** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:47 pm

When we tested for our junior club we got a tin of each size from RWS (R10), H7N (Final Match), and Vogel (greens I think).

Shot groups and found the guns seemed to be more concerned with size than brand. Occasionally, a different brand would do better with a different size, but that could have been shooter error or within statistical extremes.

Our host says lot numbers matter, but we never were able to see that shooting off a rest. Mechanical vise type rests may make that more noticeable.

RobStubbs · Post by **RobStubbs** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:00 am

A good start is to find the test card for the gun and see what size pellet they used. You can then pick a few manufacturers that produce at that size and test. It doesn't harm to test other sizes around their test size as you may get a better group with them. It does however ramp up the effort and cost though !

As for batches, my advice is to buy a bulk batch and if possible test a tin of the next batch before you buy them - that's only really possible though if you live near a friendly dealer who has the stock.

Rob.

Rover · Post by **Rover** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:07 am

Everything you ever wanted to know....

viewtopic.php?t=30593

sbrmike · Post by **sbrmike** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:56 am

Years ago, COL Tom Johnson in NC used to use a chronograph to test them. It appeared to work. Clamp the air gun in a vice and it eliminates the human factor. He also had the indoor lighting kit to eliminate wind interference.

EJ · Post by EJ » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:05 am

When I test pellets I buy 1 tin of all lots present at the current store. It doesn't matter what brand or size (even though a specific store usually carries a specific brand). I have found bigger differences between lots than brands or sizes. If there are no good ones within that testing round I move on to the next store and do the same thing again.
So far I have only tested off a vise, but I will probably try using the Scatt next time, or both. At least to see how they compare to each other.
Using a chronograph is also a good idea.

/EJ

Vincent · Post by **Vincent** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:32 pm

I agree with Rob, check the test card first. When I was selecting a pellet for my rifle I first cleaned out the barrel and then tried two brands based on the head diameter listed on the card. In the MEC book Air Rifle Shooting they discuss trying out several pellets and mention that a clean barrel could take about 20 shots to settle in.

WesternGrizzly · Post by **WesternGrizzly** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:40 pm

My air rifle test card does not indicate the size of pellet used.
Matt

USMC0802 · Post by **USMC0802** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:48 pm

I was lucky enough to of had this done for me at the OTC so I don't know the exact answer to your question. However, looking at my card of seven tests, 2 of the 3 best groups are different sizes. The best is a 4.48 and a close second is a 4.50. (The other of the top 3 just has a lot number listed and not the size). Any of the top 3 would of been good in my rifle as they were all extremely close and the best could only be determined by guaging the holes with a pellet and seeing which one fit the tightest. The best group of ten measured measured the size of a pellet. I believe the only brand that was tested was H&N. The ones that worked best for me were match finale but I do know that H&N sport produced the best group for one of the other shooters that was tested. One of the worst groups tested with my rifle was also a 4.48 so I'm not sure that size has everything to do with it. The worst group wouldn't of been able to hold 8s.

With all that said, I would think that individual lots would have as much to do with it than size. Buying different tins to shoot a few rounds and find the right one could be very expensive and time consuming. Pilkington was at USAS Nationals doing tests last week for a nominal fee and I suspect they do this at other matches as well. Finding them at a match to do it for you or sending them your rifle to test might be the most cost effective and accurate was to test if you are not set up for it

Rover · Post by **Rover** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:20 pm

The five shot test cards are meaningless. It is not a large enough statistical sample and you can't get the pellets they used.

There is only one way to do it; buy a single tin of each pellet you want to test from a dealer who has more of that lot. Quickly test shoot with large (25-30) shot groups and then buy all the pellets of that lot the dealer has that group tightly.

Anything else is just playing around, but if it's for pistol it probably doesn't matter.

EJ · Post by EJ » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:48 pm

USMC0802 wrote: With all that said, I would think that individual lots would have as much to do with it than size. Buying different tins to shoot a few rounds and find the right one could be very expensive and time consuming. Pilkington was at USAS Nationals doing tests last week for a nominal fee and I suspect they do this at other matches as well. Finding them at a match to do it for you or sending them your rifle to test might be the most cost effective and accurate was to test if you are not set up for it

Since you are going to shoot up the tins you bought that weren´t good enough anyway, why is it costly? Time consuming, yes, but sending your rifle away for a week to a company takes up even more time and I doubt it costs less. But other than that, it´s a good alternative if you live close to a factory or company that stocks pellets and have a decent testing procedure.

+1 on Rover

/EJ