Which pellet weight???

[Oldtime]

Hi All,

Well, my nice new HW35 arrived a few days ago, so i thought i would start testing to see what it likes.

Initially, i thought i would try to sort out what weight it likes, get the internal ballistics sorted as it were..

So, i fired off 10 shots each of four different weight JSB pellets, 13.43gr, 14.35gr, 15.89gr, and 18.13gr

The velocity spread i got was lowest for the lightest pellet [7.7fps] then nearly double that for the middle weight ones. then back down to a spread of 9fps for the heaviest ones..

I was expecting like a linear trend as it were, not the lightest and heaviest be twice as good as the intermediate ones..

Is there any reason for this?? or anything i should learn from this??

Second question..

What do you all think, that the best indicator is that a particular pellet works most efficiently in any particular gun?? The highest muzzle energy, or the highest muzzle momentum??

I would "think" momentum, as this is an actual measure of the driving force transferred to the pellet, whereas kinetic energy is more a mathematicians "contrived" measure [and one that is not even relevant at usual air rifle powers]

 

[That hurts]

Hi All,

Well, my nice new HW35 arrived a few days ago, so i thought i would start testing to see what it likes.

Initially, i thought i would try to sort out what weight it likes, get the internal ballistics sorted as it were..

So, i fired off 10 shots each of four different weight JSB pellets, 13.43gr, 14.35gr, 15.89gr, and 18.13gr

The velocity spread i got was lowest for the lightest pellet [7.7fps] then nearly double that for the middle weight ones. then back down to a spread of 9fps for the heaviest ones..

I was expecting like a linear trend as it were, not the lightest and heaviest be twice as good as the intermediate ones..

Is there any reason for this?? or anything i should learn from this??

Second question..

What do you all think, that the best indicator is that a particular pellet works most efficiently in any particular gun?? The highest muzzle energy, or the highest muzzle momentum??

I would "think" momentum, as this is an actual measure of the driving force transferred to the pellet, whereas kinetic energy is more a mathematicians "contrived" measure [and one that is not even relevant at usual air rifle powers]

It has nothing to do with power, highest muzzle energy or 'momentum' ... which pellet is the most accurate is essentially all that matters so long as it keeps you within the 12 FPE limit

 

[Chorleyboy]

As @That hurts said above. Accuracy should be the deciding factor on pellet choice.
Rick

 

[Scrappy]

I wouldn't over think it, just shoot different pellets and find which give you the best and most consistent results in terms of accuracy. For me so far the best .22 pellets I've found are JSB Jumbo RS 13.43gr and Air Arms Accuracy Plus 13.43gr

 

[jesim1]

Firstly, I would suggest your fps variance is more to do with that individual tin of pellets than the weight, fps variance is to do with quality and consistency of the pellet, weight technically has nothing to do with it.

Secondly, your completely missing the point in your tests - any kind of power or efficiency without accuracy is worthless

You obviously want a decent performance, but a more accurate pellet with a slightly higher fps spread is the better option than just using fps spread and power as a measure on their own.

Yes, they have to be decent, but no one can tell the difference between single figure fps differences, and it will make zero difference to your shooting

 

[Mick_Green]

As long as they are all shooting sub 12. I would not entertain anything over what pellets shoot the best from my barrel. Out of the pellets you tried at X distance. What pellet variant made the smallest hole / Group. That’s the one you want to be using. and the still buy as many other different pellets as you can and try them in batches of 50 and go for the one with the smallest hole / group. Personally, once I find a pellet that groups the best I always get another 5 batches of 50 through the 5 different .177 pellet sizers I have (doesn’t matter what the size says on them as I’ve never have trusted that part of it (just different colours on them) and the n compare then to the straight from the tin groups. Sometimes they are much better sometimes they are worse. At that point I know what pellet I need to get the best from my Barrel and how it needs to be straight from the tin or run through x sizer.

 

[junglie2022]

Pellet fit in barrel & weight variation would explain those figures.x

 

[Buglecall]

For whats its worth, i chrono a selection of pellets to see if legal. If alls legal.
I put the chrono away and see whats the best group wise,i ignore all else.
I have had a heavy pellet thats accurate BUT you could hear and feel it was not ideal,so went with a equally good lighter pellet.
I see you are using .22 so you most likely wont find a accurate pellet and will have bad pellet drop.......i am joking
Finding the best pellet is what i enjoy really.good luck

 

[chouchin66]

Hi All,

Well, my nice new HW35 arrived a few days ago, so i thought i would start testing to see what it likes.

Initially, i thought i would try to sort out what weight it likes, get the internal ballistics sorted as it were..

So, i fired off 10 shots each of four different weight JSB pellets, 13.43gr, 14.35gr, 15.89gr, and 18.13gr

The velocity spread i got was lowest for the lightest pellet [7.7fps] then nearly double that for the middle weight ones. then back down to a spread of 9fps for the heaviest ones..

I was expecting like a linear trend as it were, not the lightest and heaviest be twice as good as the intermediate ones..

Is there any reason for this?? or anything i should learn from this??

Second question..

What do you all think, that the best indicator is that a particular pellet works most efficiently in any particular gun?? The highest muzzle energy, or the highest muzzle momentum??

I would "think" momentum, as this is an actual measure of the driving force transferred to the pellet, whereas kinetic energy is more a mathematicians "contrived" measure [and one that is not even relevant at usual air rifle powers]

@Oldtime Just listen to your gun...literally. Which pellet makes the firing/ cycle sound nicest, the smoothest/ least twang/vibration, least recoil...if this is accurate also, then you've ( rather, your gun) has picked it's pellet/ weight..

 

[Oldtime]

@Oldtime Just listen to your gun...literally. Which pellet makes the firing/ cycle sound nicest, the smoothest/ least twang/vibration, least recoil...if this is accurate also, then you've ( rather, your gun) has picked it's pellet/ weight..

I thought in theory that the thing (a brand new HW35e) would sound different with different weights, but not sure if it would in practice. I can tell you that it was harsh at first, (well, i think so) but about 100 shots later, is smoothing out. Is this usual? I was scared to use the lightest pellets (JSB jumbo RS) as i thought this might be close to dry firing is you follow me.. What do you find with your HW35 ?

 

[chouchin66]

I thought in theory that the thing (a brand new HW35e) would sound different with different weights, but not sure if it would in practice. I can tell you that it was harsh at first, (well, i think so) but about 100 shots later, is smoothing out. Is this usual? I was scared to use the lightest pellets (JSB jumbo RS) as i thought this might be close to dry firing is you follow me.. What do you find with your HW35 ?

Smoothing out is par for the course...mine, being .177, likes 7.5 - 8.5 grains...7, not so much, 9ish, not so much. Fit in breech plays a part also. Even with aftermarket Maccari internals, I can hear/ feel pellets not to it's liking..