So, I finally was able to complete some initial testing with the ARG Slugs provided to me by . My Maverick VP .30cal is mostly a stock model with a 600mm barrel and Superior X Liner, but I added a carbon fiber liner stiffener and an aftermarket 580cc carbon fiber bottle. My 1st regulator is set at 170 bar while my 2nd reg is set at 150 bar.
I started my testing at the 50 yard mark and I was able to test accuracy with the following ammo:
This was a horrible day to do this testing, as I was getting a gusty 11-15mph wind coming out of the southeast, and I'm certain this affected the accuracy results.
I started shooting with my current ammunition favorite, the FX Hybrid Slugs. I had tweaked the regulators a bit from my last true range work, so I wanted to see what my tuning yielded. FX Chrono reading gave me a small improvement over my previous 930fps with a velocity boost of 15fps for a velocity of 945fps. This was the fastest that I would shoot for the entire day. Hybrid Slug velocities were between 938-945fps during testing.
After getting Hybrid Slug chrony numbers, I eagerly switched over to the ARG 55.6gr slug. From the beginning, the rounds were difficult to chamber in the Maverick. The ARG has a very soft lead, so that allowed it's skirt to conform to the Superior X liner, but the difference between the Hybrid Slugs was immediately apparent. The first chrony number I got from the ARG 55.6gr was 830fps, and although I knew the slug wasa fair bit heavier than the Hybrid Slugs I just shot, I did not expect such a great velocity penalty. Along with the velocity hit, I also got a fairly large increase in velocity variance, and the next 5 shots were between 830-859fps. We can see that shot string below:
I got two flyers with the ARG Slugs, but we can see in the video above, the wind was very strong and unpredictable.
A 29fps spread is a lot compared to the Hybrids, and I had a feeling the chambering difficulty had something to do with it. So I pulled out the electronic calipers and measured the following slugs.
The large diameter was not a good fit for the Maverick VP with the Superior X Liner, which is why I believe the slightly heavier ARG 55.6gr slug was 100fps slower than the slightly lighter JSB Knockouts.
It is at this time, I completed my testing of the .30cal ARG Slugs in the Maverick VP before doing 100 yard accuracy test, because I was worried I might get a round stuck in my barrel. I wanted to do some Ballistics Gel testing with the ARGs, but the potential for sticking in the barrel, a real possibility.
I have some additional ARG ammo in .22cal and .25cal, and I am going to distribute this to some shooters with these caliber airguns so they can do some additional testing.
I started my testing at the 50 yard mark and I was able to test accuracy with the following ammo:
- FX Hybrid Slugs
- JSB Knockouts
- JSB Hades
- ARG 55.6gr slugs
This was a horrible day to do this testing, as I was getting a gusty 11-15mph wind coming out of the southeast, and I'm certain this affected the accuracy results.
I started shooting with my current ammunition favorite, the FX Hybrid Slugs. I had tweaked the regulators a bit from my last true range work, so I wanted to see what my tuning yielded. FX Chrono reading gave me a small improvement over my previous 930fps with a velocity boost of 15fps for a velocity of 945fps. This was the fastest that I would shoot for the entire day. Hybrid Slug velocities were between 938-945fps during testing.
After getting Hybrid Slug chrony numbers, I eagerly switched over to the ARG 55.6gr slug. From the beginning, the rounds were difficult to chamber in the Maverick. The ARG has a very soft lead, so that allowed it's skirt to conform to the Superior X liner, but the difference between the Hybrid Slugs was immediately apparent. The first chrony number I got from the ARG 55.6gr was 830fps, and although I knew the slug wasa fair bit heavier than the Hybrid Slugs I just shot, I did not expect such a great velocity penalty. Along with the velocity hit, I also got a fairly large increase in velocity variance, and the next 5 shots were between 830-859fps. We can see that shot string below:
I got two flyers with the ARG Slugs, but we can see in the video above, the wind was very strong and unpredictable.
A 29fps spread is a lot compared to the Hybrids, and I had a feeling the chambering difficulty had something to do with it. So I pulled out the electronic calipers and measured the following slugs.
Slug | Weight (Grains) | Diameter | Velocity |
FX Hybrid Slugs | 44.5 | .299 in | 945fps |
JSB Knockouts | 50.15 | .2995 in | 930fps |
ARG 55.6gr | 55.6 | .305 in | 830fps |
ARG 61.7gr | 61.7 | .305 in | ~ |
ARG 67.9gr | 67.9 | .306 in | ~ |
The large diameter was not a good fit for the Maverick VP with the Superior X Liner, which is why I believe the slightly heavier ARG 55.6gr slug was 100fps slower than the slightly lighter JSB Knockouts.
It is at this time, I completed my testing of the .30cal ARG Slugs in the Maverick VP before doing 100 yard accuracy test, because I was worried I might get a round stuck in my barrel. I wanted to do some Ballistics Gel testing with the ARGs, but the potential for sticking in the barrel, a real possibility.
Conclusion
The ARG slugs bring a unique design made with butter soft lead, and some heavy ammo weights as another ammunition alternative to airgun hunters. The point is, for FX shooters, these slugs seem to be a tad too large in diameter. They also need a specific tune to push these ultra heavy slugs at velocities airgun shooters are accustomed to. Maybe these are the ideal slug for a Texan .30cal or some of the hot rodded AEA Challenger series airguns. When you want to push a heavy slug at a flat trajectory for larger game such as deer and hog. These rounds would make easy work out of any coyote pass 150 yards if your airgun is agreeable with the larger diameter. While at the range, I bumped into another airgun shooter who shot a .30cal Brocock, and I gave him some of the slug samples hoping for some better results in another airgun. I hope he discusses his findings on AGN as I forgot his AGN handle, but I do remember he was from the Warren, Ohio area.I have some additional ARG ammo in .22cal and .25cal, and I am going to distribute this to some shooters with these caliber airguns so they can do some additional testing.
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