Brocock Bantam Sniper XR .22 - slug testing - update 6/5

[ctshooter]

******See 6/5 update at end.******

Today I received my 22 .217 NSA sample pack of slugs. Time to do some legit slug testing with this rifle. Tune is ~31.5 fpe with the JSB 18.1 @ 890 fps. All slugs were shot without touching anything - not scope tweaks, no power changes. Each group is 5 shots. Shooting indoors from my bench. Distance is 15 yards.

The "standard" for this test is the JSB 18.1gr pellet which is the top shot at the 12 o'clock position on the 3 ring. Basically one hole a little bigger than the pellet itself. 

Looking at the groups, the NSA 17.5gr did decent. Also the 24.8gr NSA weren't too bad. The H&N group is still pretty tight. 

I was a bit disappointed this round with the FX hybrid slugs. I'd been shooting them earlier in the week and they were making one hole groups. Possible it's from shooting them after the NSA slugs which fit a bit tighter than the FX. 

 

[lbc_PSI]

Were the groups shot using the magazine or single feed?

 

[ctshooter]

The JSB pellets were shot from the mag. The slugs were fed using the Rowan Engineering single shot loader.

 

[L.Leon]

Would love to see the same at 50 yards. Good choice on the XR. I really love my Bantam Sniper HR.

 

[ctshooter]

I can do 50-60 in my backyard. Just my location in Ridgefield, CT I am not 100% sure on the laws. I need to pop over to the local PO and ask them definitively how they view it. Not the best place to shoot, though, as I have really weird swirling winds back there - but no local ranges are open right now.

 

[ctshooter]

Would love to see the same at 50 yards. Good choice on the XR. I really love my Bantam Sniper HR.

I've been really happy with it so far. So wanted to get a sniper HR, but really wanted a side lever for cocking. Was super happy when the XR line was announced. It's been a laser with the pellets I've thrown at it so far - just the slugs are probably having issues with the choke. I saw some slugs which were inverted cones on the slugs sub-forum so I'm going to check those out.

I really believe it's the choke screwing us all up with slugs and the hybrid designs, like the FX, that allow more expansion and compression in the rear of the slugs will be more adaptable to choked barrels.

I'm okay either way really - I'm not going to be shooting past 50 yards with the XR any time soon so pellets will be just fine.

 

[Yo]

I think that's great shooting even for only 15 yards. At least they're all clustered together. Lethal hunting rounds for sure. Must sound like a firecracker when you pop a squirrel with those. YO!

 

[L.Leon]

@ctshooter, post up your impressions of that XR when you can....

 

[ctshooter]

@ctshooter, post up your impressions of that XR when you can....

Hey - I posted some impressions here: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/brocock-bantam-sniper-xr-22-just-shipped/, but it got moved to the Dealers Feedback section.

 

[L.Leon]

@ctshooter, post up your impressions of that XR when you can....

Hey - I posted some impressions here: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/brocock-bantam-sniper-xr-22-just-shipped/, but it got moved to the Dealers Feedback section.

Thanks

 

[Bravo1956]

Can't really tell much at 15 yds. Does the XR have the Poly barrel? I tried the NSA variety pack in 217 in my Sniper HR (non poly) and none were very good at 50 yds, the main issue was that the bolt required me to slam it with my palm to get the slugs to chamber and bolt closed, did not feel right doing it.

 

[Vetmx]

Can't really tell much at 15 yds. Does the XR have the Poly barrel? I tried the NSA variety pack in 217 in my Sniper HR (non poly) and none were very good at 50 yds, the main issue was that the bolt required me to slam it with my palm to get the slugs to chamber and bolt closed, did not feel right doing it.

That's because your chamber (leade) is cut for pellets not slugs. Most guns accuracy potential with slugs is killed by this before the lead even leaves the pipe. Some manufacturers cut their leads for pellets but their process and specs also jive with a slug. Probably more by coincidence than on purpose. Those are the guns and guys you see bragging about their slug groups. Pay attention, you will see a trend. My purpose built slug guns are one hole at 18yrds (my basement test range). Not even a ragged hole, just a hole. Even then things can go to crap between 50 and 100yrds.

 

[Bravo1956]

That does make sense, I thought I would try it, since it is trendy at the moment, but it is so accurate with JSB 18's, I will stick with those. Thanks. 

 

[ctshooter]

While I agree you can't tell much at 15 yards, you can tell if slugs are spreading at 15 they'll probably look like a shotgun at 50. 

 

[ctshooter]

As I mentioned when I posted the first target, I had felt the NSA slugs had leaded up the barrel a bit much and the FX was not shooting up to its potential. I took 4 pulls through with a bore snake earlier today. Shot about 20 pellets and 10 FX slugs to get a little lead back into the rifling. Then finished up with 11 shots with the FX slug into the below target which is a 1/2" green dot. Same distance as the first target.

 

[Vetmx]

What are you lubing them with?

 

[ctshooter]

No lube, straight from the can. These were also shot from the mag.

 

[Vetmx]

Lube with silicone oil. Dry slugging craps up a normal barrel and really makes a choked barrels choke funky quick.

 

[ctshooter]

Now that the leaves have grown in a bit I am getting chance to shoot in the backyard a bit. I set this target up at 40 yards. Shooting prone with a front bipod but no rear support. I don't shoot this distance much at all, even though I plan to get a lot more experience moving forward. So don't expect perfection and sub-MOA groups (yet - I'll get there).

Here's a comparison between the FX Hybrid and the H&N Barracuda Match 21gr.

Top group is the FX Hybrid .22 slugs - somewhere in the range of .8-.9" ctc. The H&N Barracuda Match 21gr in the bottom group. I didn't measure it, but it looks right about in line with the FX except for the upper left flyer which I knew I pull.

Oh FYI - these are 10 shot groups.

 

[lbmalleo]

Have you tried the NSA 25gr and 17gr at those distances yet? They seem to have performed well in your first test.

I am looking to buy a Sniper XR, how high can you get the velocities of a 25 grain slug at? Any idea?

Saludos,



Lucas