.22 Pellet Head Size Experience

[bdzjlz]

Just for the fun of it, I recently ordered .22 H&N Baracuda pellets in 5.51, 5.52, and 5.53 mm to see if they really produced a noticeable difference in the group size, and to see how they compared in performance to my "go to" JSB 18.13 pellets. Yesterday, I shot a 10 shot group with each of them on my 18 yard indoor range under perfect conditions. Today, with winds of 8 to 12 mph, I shot them at 50 yards. To make the comparison equally interesting, I shot a group under each condition and at each range, using JSB Exact Heavy 18.13 pellets. This is the pellet that shot the best in my rifle after trying nearly every pellet made about a year ago, at both 18 and 50 yards and the pellet my rifle is routinely sighted in with and monitored for pinpoint POI.

It is interesting that in this case, the pellet that produced the best 18 yard group also produced the best 50 yard group. You can reasonably ascertain from the 18 yard groups how the 50 yard groups will compare - and this has not traditionally and necessarily been my experience. There is no question, at least from this one experience, that my rifle preferred the 5.53 head size over the others. I will repeat the 50 yard experience, shooting at least four groups of each when I get time, just to validate this once more. The H&N Baracuda 5.53mm actually shot a considerably better group than the JSB 18.13 that I have traditionally relied upon. The wind may or may not have been a factor, given the weight difference between the two. Fun stuff to play with.

See below.

 

[jwrabbit123]

Hi I have done extensive testing with slugs in 22 caliber with varying size slugs and I can say 100% the size make a huge difference while I am using thousandths I can say some of my guns like ,214. some ,,2155 some .216 and some ,217 , I know which shoot better with what ,

now if I get a new gun I usually push 5 pellets threw bore with cleaning rod measure and get an accurate ave and go .0005 more to have bullet spin properly



I have tried with pellets and i found it doesn't make as much difference as the skirts are thin and soft so when the trigger is pulled the air blast is like an explosion and seals the skirt into rifling and , but yes the head of pellet must also contact rifling to spin properly

 

[Stefanjan]

No denying those results. I tested the .177 Baracuda matches and Field target trophys in the 3 head sizes and actually the 4.52 did best also (vs the 4.51.and 4.50). One of my JSBs is also a 4.52 and it shots very well vs smaller haed sizes.

 

[Revoman]

While I normally shoot H&N 21.14, 5.52 diameter pellets in .22, I have found that from measuring many of my current 5.52 marked diameter tins, tins that there is quite a variance in head diameter in each tin This has been as high as 5.51 to 5.55 from a single tin a .05 variance (id that enough to be a factor? I believe so). Yes, the percentage of the two extremes is very low, I'm just stating that there are diameter swings. My .22 seems to like the 5.52-5.53 the best however, so since that is the bulk of head diameters, I'm okay.

The same holds true for .25 caliber, but to a lesser degree for some reason. I will say that the AA's (not H&N) that I use more for the .25 are within one diameter size of each other, usually 6.37 to 6.38, with very few exceptions. My Wildcat seems to prefer the 6.37, but will also shoot the 6.38 very well. The AA's seem to be slightly more consistent than the JSB, even though they are manufactured in the same factory. It's my assumption that they use different dies for the AA line, perhaps made to AA specifications.

 

[bdzjlz]

Great responses and I thank you for your posts. While there is certainly some BS within these forums, there is much good information shared. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from each other.

 

[Windmill01]

I had consistency issues with my HW77 in 22 cal with H&N 5.50 head sized pellets. I tried three different sizes and it seemed to like the 5.55 the best........that is however until I put some H&N Greens through it. Wow what a difference. I also started useing the heavier Green 12.65 gr, same accuracy, less noise and more penetration to 25 metres. Will try greater distances when time and wind permits.

Gary