So, for those of you that have seen my posts testing the various slugs I have in the FX, 600mm, .25 caliber slug liner, I have a little more info for you guys. After I last posted all of the results I had up until that point, I wasn't really thrilled with the results I had been getting. After polishing the barrel a second time, results got a little better but still were not that great. Over the last couple weeks, I've been testing all of the same slugs at lower velocities and the results weren't very good. Kind of what I expected. The slugs seem to shoot better out of the FX 600mm liner at higher velocities, to a point anyway. Slower didn't improve my results so I decided to try faster!
So, lately I've been testing the slugs at higher velocities and the results are getting better. I turned my regulator from 154BAR to 160BAR and tightened the hammer spring one more half revolution. This increased my velocities on average about 20-25FPS. I've already stated that I've had best results with the flat based slugs and that has held true at higher velocities as well. So, to the point. Today I shot some really good groups with the Varmint Knocker slugs in 30gr and 30.4gr. The best group I've shot in all of my testing came today with the 30.4gr FB slug at between 925-928FPS. I shot a bunch of groups today and the picture below is the best yet, a 13 shot group at 50yds. All of the other groups were pretty similar to this one, pretty impressive. If you aren't aware, slugs are not as accurate as the JSB's at closer distances, that really can't be expected. Pellets(Diablo) have a self stabilizing design which makes them great at shorter distances. They also have horrible BC's which again makes them best suited for shorter distances. Slugs on the other hand are stabilized by the twist rate and velocity. They have terrific BC's, some upwards of .099, which make them best suited to longer distances. Luckily, with my gun sighted for the 33.95 MKII's, the 30.4gr slugs shoot about 3/8" high with the same zero. Works out almost perfect... I can shoot the MKII's out to about 50 yds. and use the 30.4gr. slugs at longer distances with the same zero. That is very, very lucky because all of the other slugs tested with the exception of one or two, had POI that were no where near the zero I use with the JSB MKII's. Some are 3" right, 2" low left, 3.5" high, you get the picture. They group well but the POI could be anywhere.
I'm still going to continue my testing but for those of you that have asked where to start, first and foremost, stick with the flat based slugs. In all of my testing, over 900 slugs shot so far, they have shot better than anything else. Second, shoot them as fast as you can. The only problem I had with too much speed was with the 25.4gr. AONCO at over 1000FPS and the 26gr. and 28gr. Varmint Knockers at between 980-995FPS. That was a bit too hot and the results showed it. They didn't shoot well at slower speeds either! For most of us shooting a Crown or Impact, anything from about 30gr and heavier should do fine as fast as you can push it unless you have a really hot or souped up gun. Third, if I had to do it all over and knew what I know now, I'd start with the 30gr., 30.4gr and 31gr. from Dale at Varmint Knocker. All of these slugs had the flat base and the large hollow point, I don't know why the large hollow points shoot so much better than the 2-S hollow point, but they do. I tried to test and shoot Rat Sniper but only had one tin, ran out and couldn't get anymore. I called numerous times, told the owner what I was doing and couldn't get anymore slugs. I was also told that the slug that was shooting the best, the 31.3gr Rat Sniper has been discontinued. He is making a light slug made especially for the FX liner, but I couldn't get any of those either because of the long wait. Hopefully when he gets caught up on production I can get some to test. I also bought a bunch of Nielsen's slugs to test, the 34.7gr. the 36gr. and 39gr but unfortunately my gun couldn't get them going fast enough to shoot accurately. I really like the Nielsen slugs, but the heavier weights didn't shoot well in my testing. I just wish he made a slug in .25 cal. that was a bit lighter. I think a 30.5gr. would be about perfect! His slugs have a large hollow point and slightly dished base and the weights are very consistent, I'm sure if I had a lighter slug it would shoot great!
So, in summary... shoot the flat base slugs, faster is better for the most part, shoot the slugs with the large hollow point, and start your testing in the 30gr-31gr range. I am no expert! However, I have tested over 30 slugs with different weights and designs and have taken detailed notes on every single shot. I'm doing my best to methodically test every variable I can to figure out what and why some slugs shoot better than others in these FX slug liners. Those are the things I've shared with you here. Liners may vary, but I think these results are a very good indicator of what will and will not work in a .25 caliber, 600mm FX slug liner. Keep in mind that these results are for the 600mm slug liner only! I've heard and been told that the 700mm liner shoots completely differently. Not sure if that is true or not though. Hope this helps at least somebody!
For the record... my fingernail is 5/8" across. This 13 shot group at 50yds is about 1" and 10 of the slugs are about 3/8". The other groups I shot today were similar but a tad larger overall. Certainly tight enough groups that I'd feel confident taking shots and smoking ground squirrels at 150+ yards! I'll give it a shot, or lots anyway!
One last thing, this 1:21" twist slug liner absolutely loves the JSB 33.95gr. MKII's. It will shoot 3/8"-5/8", 10 shot groups at 50yds regularly. If not, I screwed up, not the gun!
SORRY, I'M SO LONG WINDED, JUST TRYING TO BE THOROUGH!
Stoti
Anyway
So, lately I've been testing the slugs at higher velocities and the results are getting better. I turned my regulator from 154BAR to 160BAR and tightened the hammer spring one more half revolution. This increased my velocities on average about 20-25FPS. I've already stated that I've had best results with the flat based slugs and that has held true at higher velocities as well. So, to the point. Today I shot some really good groups with the Varmint Knocker slugs in 30gr and 30.4gr. The best group I've shot in all of my testing came today with the 30.4gr FB slug at between 925-928FPS. I shot a bunch of groups today and the picture below is the best yet, a 13 shot group at 50yds. All of the other groups were pretty similar to this one, pretty impressive. If you aren't aware, slugs are not as accurate as the JSB's at closer distances, that really can't be expected. Pellets(Diablo) have a self stabilizing design which makes them great at shorter distances. They also have horrible BC's which again makes them best suited for shorter distances. Slugs on the other hand are stabilized by the twist rate and velocity. They have terrific BC's, some upwards of .099, which make them best suited to longer distances. Luckily, with my gun sighted for the 33.95 MKII's, the 30.4gr slugs shoot about 3/8" high with the same zero. Works out almost perfect... I can shoot the MKII's out to about 50 yds. and use the 30.4gr. slugs at longer distances with the same zero. That is very, very lucky because all of the other slugs tested with the exception of one or two, had POI that were no where near the zero I use with the JSB MKII's. Some are 3" right, 2" low left, 3.5" high, you get the picture. They group well but the POI could be anywhere.
I'm still going to continue my testing but for those of you that have asked where to start, first and foremost, stick with the flat based slugs. In all of my testing, over 900 slugs shot so far, they have shot better than anything else. Second, shoot them as fast as you can. The only problem I had with too much speed was with the 25.4gr. AONCO at over 1000FPS and the 26gr. and 28gr. Varmint Knockers at between 980-995FPS. That was a bit too hot and the results showed it. They didn't shoot well at slower speeds either! For most of us shooting a Crown or Impact, anything from about 30gr and heavier should do fine as fast as you can push it unless you have a really hot or souped up gun. Third, if I had to do it all over and knew what I know now, I'd start with the 30gr., 30.4gr and 31gr. from Dale at Varmint Knocker. All of these slugs had the flat base and the large hollow point, I don't know why the large hollow points shoot so much better than the 2-S hollow point, but they do. I tried to test and shoot Rat Sniper but only had one tin, ran out and couldn't get anymore. I called numerous times, told the owner what I was doing and couldn't get anymore slugs. I was also told that the slug that was shooting the best, the 31.3gr Rat Sniper has been discontinued. He is making a light slug made especially for the FX liner, but I couldn't get any of those either because of the long wait. Hopefully when he gets caught up on production I can get some to test. I also bought a bunch of Nielsen's slugs to test, the 34.7gr. the 36gr. and 39gr but unfortunately my gun couldn't get them going fast enough to shoot accurately. I really like the Nielsen slugs, but the heavier weights didn't shoot well in my testing. I just wish he made a slug in .25 cal. that was a bit lighter. I think a 30.5gr. would be about perfect! His slugs have a large hollow point and slightly dished base and the weights are very consistent, I'm sure if I had a lighter slug it would shoot great!
So, in summary... shoot the flat base slugs, faster is better for the most part, shoot the slugs with the large hollow point, and start your testing in the 30gr-31gr range. I am no expert! However, I have tested over 30 slugs with different weights and designs and have taken detailed notes on every single shot. I'm doing my best to methodically test every variable I can to figure out what and why some slugs shoot better than others in these FX slug liners. Those are the things I've shared with you here. Liners may vary, but I think these results are a very good indicator of what will and will not work in a .25 caliber, 600mm FX slug liner. Keep in mind that these results are for the 600mm slug liner only! I've heard and been told that the 700mm liner shoots completely differently. Not sure if that is true or not though. Hope this helps at least somebody!
For the record... my fingernail is 5/8" across. This 13 shot group at 50yds is about 1" and 10 of the slugs are about 3/8". The other groups I shot today were similar but a tad larger overall. Certainly tight enough groups that I'd feel confident taking shots and smoking ground squirrels at 150+ yards! I'll give it a shot, or lots anyway!
One last thing, this 1:21" twist slug liner absolutely loves the JSB 33.95gr. MKII's. It will shoot 3/8"-5/8", 10 shot groups at 50yds regularly. If not, I screwed up, not the gun!
SORRY, I'M SO LONG WINDED, JUST TRYING TO BE THOROUGH!
Stoti
Anyway
