H&N Baracuda "Green" .22 Cal

The H&N Baracuda "green" .22 cal pellets seem to group REALLY well, according to reviews done by AGD (Air Gun Detectives). This over several different rifles. Was considering trying some, but the price tag on these is very high, about $0.11 each depending on where you buy them. That's more than a lot of loaded .22 rimfire rounds cost! Just wondering how many here on the site have tried them (in .22 cal), and generally what results were obtained with them? I know every rifle is different, but the results obtained/shown in the AGD vids seem to defy that principle. If results like that are routine, the Baracuda "green" pellets might be worth that high pricetag. I dunno.... I would be using them in a couple of break-barrel, gas-ram powered rifles .22 caliber (Hatsan 95 and a Gamo Hunter Ext Pro). I'm currently using JSB 15.89's in both rifles, and these pellets shoot very well, but I'm certainly not getting the extreme accuracy shown in those videos with the Baracuda "greens".
 
The H&N Baracuda "green" .22 cal pellets seem to group REALLY well, according to reviews done by AGD (Air Gun Detectives). This over several different rifles. Was considering trying some, but the price tag on these is very high, about $0.11 each depending on where you buy them. That's more than a lot of loaded .22 rimfire rounds cost! Just wondering how many here on the site have tried them (in .22 cal), and generally what results were obtained with them? I know every rifle is different, but the results obtained/shown in the AGD vids seem to defy that principle. If results like that are routine, the Baracuda "green" pellets might be worth that high pricetag. I dunno.... I would be using them in a couple of break-barrel, gas-ram powered rifles .22 caliber (Hatsan 95 and a Gamo Hunter Ext Pro). I'm currently using JSB 15.89's in both rifles, and these pellets shoot very well, but I'm certainly not getting the extreme accuracy shown in those videos with the Baracuda "greens".
If you don't mind me asking , why do you want to use lead free? If it's just for the accuracy you could try a lighter 14.3gr or 13.4gr pellet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NorCal David
If you don't mind me asking , why do you want to use lead free? If it's just for the accuracy you could try a lighter 14.3gr or 13.4gr pellet.
Don't mind at all... Yes, accuracy was the primary thought for their usage. Those groups obtained in the AGD vids using those pellets drew me in! Probably a dumb idea though, especially for use in the Gamo Hunter Ext Pro. Could easily get into supersonic velocities? The Hatsan would probably be OK though. At any rate, after thinking a bit more about this, I think I'll just stick with the JSB 15.89's. Primary use of both rifles is hunting anyway, and the heavier pellet is much better suited to this application. Avg 745 fps out of the Hatsan, and 877 out of the Gamo. The Hatsan (using the JSB's) has "harvested" a few backyard groundhogs with headshots, so why mess with success? I seem to grab for the Hatsan over the Gamo when an opportunity presents , I'm not sure why that is:unsure:? Anyway---Thanks everyone for your comments on those "green" Baracudas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaceSpace1369
I shoot the Baracuda Greens in all three calibers and can compare them to other unleaded pellets, but not the leaded ones. Like most of the tin-alloy pellets they are consistent in size and lack defects (they are just too hard to suffer damage), and shoot "well" in some guns, but not all, and not even in guns that one would think would shoot them well. For example, I can get "better than other pellets" groups at 25yd out of the Condor, but not out of a Hatsan 87, even though the feeling of them shot out of that springer is better than other, lighter, pellets. I'd think it is because the Condor shoots them much faster (>900fps) , but then they also shoot better than others out of a multi-pump at around 580 fps. Maybe there are velocity "nodes" or whatnot, or maybe it is just random.
As for the high price, if they are shot into a relatively soft trap (box of rags or rubber mulch), most will look undamaged and can be re-shot or re-used. I wouldn't hunt with the re-shoots, but for practice or plinking they are fine.
 
I shoot the Baracuda Greens in all three calibers and can compare them to other unleaded pellets, but not the leaded ones. Like most of the tin-alloy pellets they are consistent in size and lack defects (they are just too hard to suffer damage), and shoot "well" in some guns, but not all, and not even in guns that one would think would shoot them well. For example, I can get "better than other pellets" groups at 25yd out of the Condor, but not out of a Hatsan 87, even though the feeling of them shot out of that springer is better than other, lighter, pellets. I'd think it is because the Condor shoots them much faster (>900fps) , but then they also shoot better than others out of a multi-pump at around 580 fps. Maybe there are velocity "nodes" or whatnot, or maybe it is just random.
As for the high price, if they are shot into a relatively soft trap (box of rags or rubber mulch), most will look undamaged and can be re-shot or re-used. I wouldn't hunt with the re-shoots, but for practice or plinking they are fine.

BM and others -- thanks for the comments on the "green" Baracudas. That AGD guy just seems to get REALLY tiny groups when testing these pellets through several rifles. THAT was my main attraction to them. From a practical standpoint though (mainly the cost), and for hunting purposes (main usage of my two break-barrel rifles) I came to the conclusion they (the "greens") make little sense. Cost wise, your suggestion about re-using them got my attention, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to DO that!:unsure:. I'm pretty practical, but that seems just a bit extreme;). Fortunately, and thanks to YOU guys, I quickly came to my senses and dismissed the use of these for hunting. Plus, look at the money I saved that can now go towards the purchase or even more JSB 15.89's, which seem to work pretty well and dispatch the backyard groundhogs (with properly placed shots of course) that are foolish enough to excavate under my backyard shed. I can proudly say there have been no g-hog "gotaways" using the JSB's so far. Back to that AGD guy for a moment--and apologies for the thread drift-- But I just watched his excellent review (well, at least I thought it was...) on the .22 cal Umarex Zelos.... Holey Moley, that thing is calling out to me in a BIG way... . It's taking all that I can muster to RESIST this urge to go over to the dark side. Is there any type of support group that I can join? The fact that I am even considering it (the Zelos) is very disturbing to me:rolleyes::unsure:😱. And here I thought I was a true break-barrel guy....