FX Panthera 500, 177 Accuracy with Slugs. All comments welcome.

[MunkKiller]

Panthera is really made for slugs and contrary to some people's opinions FX 177 barrels shoot slugs very well. My crown with "short" 500mm barrel can shoot 12.5g NSA 900+ fps. Go for it, no reason not to. Just don't try to tune for slugs with low reg pressure like 90 bars, generally speaking I leave my regs at 140-150 bars on my FX guns. Sadly the 15 grain NSA only has BC of 0.075 vs 0.07 of 12.5 grain so I didn't bother with the 15 grain NSA.

Also contrary to some people's opinions you don't need 1000fps to shoot slugs accurately. If the wind isn't bad I was plinking soda can sized steel targets at 220 yards......with a 380mm 177 barrel on my lowly crown.

I have read a few guys saying they can get one inch groups with .177 using the panthera ( on a calm day ) at 100 yds. I have seen the M3 Compact do it without modification in the .22 version. My whole reason for this gun is hunting in wooded or thick areas quietly. Trying to do that with a gun the size and length of the Panthera, would be ummmm Troublesome LOL. The size difference due the bullpup design of the M3 makes it ideal for such an endeavor the length of the Panthera is an entirely different matter.

 

[qball]

I have read a few guys saying they can get one inch groups with .177 using the panthera ( on a calm day ) at 100 yds. I have seen the M3 Compact do it without modification in the .22 version. My whole reason for this gun is hunting in wooded or thick areas quietly. Trying to do that with a gun the size and length of the Panthera, would be ummmm Troublesome LOL. The size difference due the bullpup design of the M3 makes it ideal for such an endeavor the length of the Panthera is an entirely different matter.

Yes, if I read the wind right I can definitely do MOA group at 100 yards. BC of 0.07 isn't great but certainly night and day better than pellets, I had 3 shot groups at 100 yards with C2C of 0.6 inch and lower but getting 4th and 5th shots in the wind isn't easy. LOL


EDIT: found a picture of one of my 100 yard 3 shot groups, this is at an outdoor public range so I couldn't shoot at it again cause I'll mess it up!

 

[Peashooter]

My maverick shoot the 13 gr slugs fine too with the regular barrel, i only got the heave liner to be able to shoot heavy stuff, but it seem either i am too stupid to do that or i just have terrible luck with FX barrels.
In .177 the twist rate are the same on regular and heavy liner, so apparently what apply for all other calibers do not apply to .177 ( that you need faster twist rate for slugs )
But it is also the case with the Epic Airguns two i am looking at, both CZ ( pellets ) and LW ( slugs ) barrels are 17. ? twist rate.

Wind, which there is always some of in Denmark, hence our position in the world as a wind turbine maker, well you do have to work with it on some days, i just dont CUZ i have no wind flags set up, so have to gauge by the previous shot, and so things do get a bit erratic.
But its not like i completely miss my 2" targets then.

Pellets at longer distances, well it dont seem as good in .177 as i have seen PPL do it in .22 and .25, in my case i can barely hit the damn Shoot N see paper.

 

[MunkKiller]

My maverick shoot the 13 gr slugs fine too with the regular barrel, i only got the heave liner to be able to shoot heavy stuff, but it seem either i am too stupid to do that or i just have terrible luck with FX barrels.
In .177 the twist rate are the same on regular and heavy liner, so apparently what apply for all other calibers do not apply to .177 ( that you need faster twist rate for slugs )
But it is also the case with the Epic Airguns two i am looking at, both CZ ( pellets ) and LW ( slugs ) barrels are 17. ? twist rate.

Wind, which there is always some of in Denmark, hence our position in the world as a wind turbine maker, well you do have to work with it on some days, i just dont CUZ i have no wind flags set up, so have to gauge by the previous shot, and so things do get a bit erratic.
But its not like i completely miss my 2" targets then.

Pellets at longer distances, well it dont seem as good in .177 as i have seen PPL do it in .22 and .25, in my case i can barely hit the damn Shoot N see paper.

Decided to go up to a .25 cal, I have tons of slugs and pellets on hand. I plan on using it as a walk around hunting gun. The more thought I put in it a .25 is just all around better for that purpose. Not to mention much more humane and hits much harder ...

 

[Peashooter]

Indeed, 25 can put most things down, at least with a well placed shot.
Not allowed to hunt with any airgun in Denmark, but strangely enough it is OK to hunt just about any animal here with a bow.

 

[MunkKiller]

Indeed, 25 can put most things down, at least with a well placed shot.
Not allowed to hunt with any airgun in Denmark, but strangely enough it is OK to hunt just about any animal here with a bow.

Ya same here most states don't allow airguns for anything but small game. Yet we can hunt nearly anything with a bow. Hunting laws are so far out of date it's not even funny!