Three new JTS .177-caliber pellets. Left to right — 7.87-grain wadcutter, 8.7-grain dome, 10.4-grain dome.
Testing three new JTS pellets
Testing the new Benjamin domed pellets
Testing the three new JTS and the new Benjamin .177 pellets:Part 1
Testing the three new JTS and the new Benjamin .177 pellets:Part 2
This report covers:
- The test
- Group one
- Group two
- Group three
- Group four
- Group five
- Discussion
- Summary
Today we look again at the potential accuracy of these four new pellets. Until now I’ve tested them in target rifles. Today I’ll test them in a sporting air rifle and it’s one we all know well — the HW 30S on which I’ve written 14 reports. You might want to read those reports, as well, because this rifle has been through a lot of tuning and customization. Not only is today a different approach to testing these pellets, it’s also a chance for BB to have some fun.
The test
I shot five-shot groups at 10 meters with the rifle rested directly on a sandbag. And, since this rifle has a known best pellet, I shot a group of five with that one first. That shows the rifle is still sighted in and also shows the level of accuracy we can expect from BB today.
I removed the Edge target peep sight after the 50-yard test. I will use the factory rear sight today. The front sight still has a square post that’s leftover from the offhand tests.
Group one
Group one was shot with the Air Arms 8.44-grain dome that has proven to be the most accurate pellet in this rifle. Will I find a better one today? We’ll see.
Five of the Air Arms domes went into 0.715-inches at 10 meters. That’s not good — especially for this rifle. But four of those pellets are in 0.3-inches and that is right in line with how this rifle shoots this pellet. Also, those four are in the center of the bullseye. which is where the rifle is supposed to be sighted. That one hole off to the left looks like a flier to me. There were no called pulls, so I can’t say why it went out that far, but I’m accepting the group of four that went where I expected as representative of what the rifle does with this pellet. I’m now ready to test the new pellets.
The HW30S put five Air Arms 8.44 domes into 0.715-inches at 10 meters, with four in 0.3-inches.
Group two
Group two was shot with 10.4-grain JTS Dead Center domes. They stayed together and made a 0.538-inch group. That’s not good for this rifle, so this pellet is out.
The HW30S put five JTS 10.4-grain domes into 0.538-inches at 10 meters.
Group three
For the third group the HW30S shot five 8.7-grain Dead Center domes. They scattered into an open 0.518-inch group at 10 meters. It measures slightly better than the heavier dome but it’s another no-go pellet for this rifle, in my book.
At 10 meters the HW30S put five 8.7-grain JTS pellets into a 0.518-inch group.
Group four
Group four is five JTS 7.87-grain wadcutters. Five are in 0.391-inches between centers at 10 meters. Now, the four Air Arms 8.44-grain domes are even closer together, but the wild fifth shot opened that group, making this one the best five-shot group of the day.
The HW30S put five JTS wadcutters into a 0.391-inch group at 10 meters.
Group five
Okay, that was it for the new JTS pellets. What about the new Benjamin Single Die pellets that I call Bullseyes? Well, the HW30S likes them, too. Five went into 0.423-inches at 10 meters. That’s only slightly larger than the JTS Wadcutter group. It’s really too close to call.
The HW30S put five Benjamin Bullseyes into 0.423-inches at 10 meters.
Discussion
We have had three tests of these four new pellets and they have all shown promise. Today the wadcutters were best, but wadcutters don’t hold up well as distance increases, so I’m going to stay with the Air Arms domes for this rifle. The new 10.5-grain Benjamin Bullseyes will be my new backups.
I have to comment that the HW30S that now has the Vortek PG3 SHO tuning kit (this kit is no longer available from Vortek) is a very sweet air rifle! The tune is dead calm and the trigger is adjusted to perfection. The custom stock by Steve Corcoran completes the package and makes this rifle a world-beater!
Summary
I had fun today, and fun is what airguns are all about. I hope you enjoyed this look at these four new pellets tested in a sporting rifle as much as I enjoyed testing them.
B.B.
I think you just like shooting that air rifle…more pellet tests with it?
-Y
Yogi,
It’s true, I do like shooting this rifle. I have been looking at it, wondering what I could do and then the idea of this pellet test hit me. I hadn’t realized that my other two tests were with target rifles until I looked at them in preparation for this test.
In fact, I’m REALLY wanting to swap the .177 barrel into the Avenge-X rifle so I can repeat this test with it. I might just do that.
BB
Once you finish that test, perhaps you or Ian could follow that up with a blog on tuning the AvengeX to two of the pellets just to show that it can be done?
Nice shooting! Glad you had some fun. And we get some good information on the pellets in that excellent gun. Thanks!
I just recently received from PAIR a tin of these .177 Benjamin Bullseyes along with some of the H&N Baracuda 8’s that I intend to test in my detuned Diana 34. I guess I will have to let you folks know how they do.
I just might have to break out my HW30S for this test also.
That ‘lil HW30 is one which will not be leaving Casa FM – or maybe, for the HWs, it should be Haus FM? – until after he does, permanently.
FM,
I do not see it leaving RRHFWA either.
I am just thankful that the previous owner of this HW30S did not feel that way.
Another topic;
Has anyone actually shot the Hatsan Velox? There are a few videos of people shooting, but only two that are any kind of review. One the guy did not like the Velox (25 cal) the other the guy really liked the Velox (22 cal). There was a third video in Spanish who liked the Velox but I could only catch a small fraction of what he was saying (CC on, but also in Spanish).
Mike
bmwsmiley,
I too been looking for reviews on it. From what little I’ve found, seems like another one of those you love it or hate it guns. I think most of the hate is focused on the “looks” of the gun. I’m more interested in the function and accuracy (for what it is).
Doc
Have you looked at the Huben GK1? It’s a similar pistol but the big drawbacks for the GK1 is the high fill pressure 35 MPa / 5076 psi, the non-removable rotary magazine, and the $1649 price tag from Huben Airguns.
The reported velocity in 22 cal is 900 ft/s with a 1.175 g / 18.13 grain pellet; that’s about 32.6 foot-pounds! Quite a punch for a pistol with a 210mm / 8.27 inch barrel.
A regulator is available, but this increases an already high price tag to $1899 from Huben Airguns.
I personally don’t have a way to charge it past 4500 psi and would want the regulator so I could reduce the velocity some and increase the shot count at the lower tank pressure.
BB
“I removed the Edge target peep sight after the 50-yard test.”
I want to let readers know that after you mounted the Air Force Edge rear peep when you tested this HW30s I ordered one from P/A. This solved an ongoing problem of trying to find peeps that fit my two Weihrauch rifle dovetails and had enough elevation adjustment to be on target. This wonderful Edge sight also fits the Gehmann 530 iris with 1.5 magnification making a great combination, at least for me.
Deck
Thanks, that’s good to know. What front sight are you using with it?
Elmer,
” The front sight still has a square post that’s leftover from the offhand tests.”
That is the factory front sight.
BB
Elmer
A round front sight insert (several size choices) works best for me with a peep sight.
Deck
Thanks for that – believe peep sights will help improve FM’s not-Olympic-quality sighting and shooting skills. 🙂
FM
I’m sure peep sights will help if you are among the majority of folks who shoot.
Deck
FM,
Peep sights are great for close range shooting. You might consider a Williams with a small aperture and target knobs for one of your Max’s.
Another possibility is to add a 3622 to your burgeoning collection. It is my intention to add one to my modest collection. Hopefully I will also add a Maximus to it again. 😉
Based on some of the comments and what BB had written about fitting a peep to his HW30, was leaning towards an Edge peep – did not see one available in PA’s site; maybe FM not be looking in the right places or for the right sight. Do appreciate the advice; maybe a Williams would work.
Regarding the 3622, recognize the value and utility there but in some ways, the Maximus family seems to already tick a lot of the boxes in FM’s shooting laundry-list. If another Maximus pops up somewhere, give ya first shot at it! 🙂
Good luck in finding one. I do believe that AirForce has quit making them.
As for the Williams sight, I really do like them. They are very well made.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-arms-rear-sight-fits-mpr-rifle-11mm-dovetail?a=13015
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/airforce-adaptive-rear-target-sight-fits-most-10-meter-3-position?a=2237
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-adjustable-precision-diopter-sight?a=7411
Here are some alternatives offered by PAIR, one of which is the rear aperture offered by AirForce. As for myself, I think I would go for the Air Arms aperture.
RR, here is a Max – but the price and logistics involved are a bit daunting. These rifles have truly gotten scarce. 🙁 Converted, the price in US money is $778. FM will keep sniffin’ for you and point ya to any found.
https://www.airgunsindia.com/product/benjamin-maximus-air-rifle/
At that price, they can keep it. I would like to have one again, but not that bad.
The JTS Wadcutters leave some nice clean holes and it got me thinking; has there been any comparison testing for which target pellet leaves the cleanest, clearest scoring holes on a paper target? Which pellets are common in high level competition?
I will certainly be trying some of the JTS domes in .22, it’s good to see more high quality pellets hitting the market.
jfnz,
RWS R10, and H&N Match and Vogle pellets are common in high-level airgun competitions.
BB
jfnz,
Olympia Shot made in Poland make a large selection of .177 wadcutter pellets.
The Chinese company Qiang Yuan Sports (QYS) Olympic Pellets make a very popular selection of Match Grade wadcutter pellets. The QYS pellets are extremely popular in India and B.B. has used/reviewed them as well.
Most high level competitive shooters know what head size works in their airgun and test pellets in their competition airguns by Lot Number and then order tens of thousands of pellets from that specific Lot.
I believe both brands i noted above are carried by PAIR along with the pellet brands B.B. mentions other than Vogel.
shootski
B.B., Moms, and other Readership,
Happy Mother’s Day!
Now go shoot.
Those of you lucky enough to still have your MOM count your blessings and take her to shoot or whatever else she loves to do!
shootski