Just to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to shoot 2 groups of 5 shots each for all the better quality 177 pellets I currently have in stock. I shot straight from the tin/box with no sorting, except the JSB Match S100 which were already all sorted. I then took the average of each pair and documented those.
First the pellets I am shooting
Here are the target pairs.
The overall group size averages are:
Tied for smallest = JSB Exact 8.44 and H&N Baracuda FT 9.57 at 4.5mm
Second = FX 10.3 gn at 5.3mm
Third = RWS Superpoint 8.2 gn at 6.71mm
Fourth = JSB Match Premium Heavy 8.26 gn wadcutter at 7.1mm
Fifth = QYS green box wadcutters 8.18 gn at 7.58mm
Sixth = QYS red box Olympic wadcutters 8.18 gn at 8.16mm
Seventh = H&N Finale Match wadcutters 8.18 gn at 8.29mm
Eighth = JSB Match S100 wadcutters 8.18 gn at 9.64mm (Largest average group size and only batch that were sorted).
Take away from this experiment is that my particular HW44 prefers domed or pointed pellets over wadcutters. I doesn't seem to be fussy about weight or head size or sorting.
This was a fun exercise for me and helped me sort my pellet stash in my mind — stick with the three that give the smallest average sized groups. These have been my go-to pellets in the various challenges.
First the pellets I am shooting
Here are the target pairs.
The overall group size averages are:
Tied for smallest = JSB Exact 8.44 and H&N Baracuda FT 9.57 at 4.5mm
Second = FX 10.3 gn at 5.3mm
Third = RWS Superpoint 8.2 gn at 6.71mm
Fourth = JSB Match Premium Heavy 8.26 gn wadcutter at 7.1mm
Fifth = QYS green box wadcutters 8.18 gn at 7.58mm
Sixth = QYS red box Olympic wadcutters 8.18 gn at 8.16mm
Seventh = H&N Finale Match wadcutters 8.18 gn at 8.29mm
Eighth = JSB Match S100 wadcutters 8.18 gn at 9.64mm (Largest average group size and only batch that were sorted).
Take away from this experiment is that my particular HW44 prefers domed or pointed pellets over wadcutters. I doesn't seem to be fussy about weight or head size or sorting.
This was a fun exercise for me and helped me sort my pellet stash in my mind — stick with the three that give the smallest average sized groups. These have been my go-to pellets in the various challenges.