Introducing the Slug Gage!!

[Ezana4CE]

I guess it was only a matter of time before @JCup came out with a gage to measure slug diameter consistency. Here’s a HAM article about it.

Now There's A SlugGage - You're Going To Need It!

In 2015, HAM told you about a tool for pellet measurement: the Pelletgage. Now there's a SlugGage. All slug shooters are going to need one!

hardairmagazine.com

Here’s a link to the .22 slug gage on the PelletGage site.

.22 SlugGage

The SlugGage is designed to sort airgun slugs, using ten precise gage aperture. The .22 caliber SlugGage ranges from 0.2160" to 0.2205" in 0.0005 inch steps. Slugs have more contact with barrel rifling than diabolo pellets, and the diameter of the ogive surfaces can have a lot of effect.

pelletgage.com

 

[qball]

Would it be more productive to size them instead? Say buy 218 and size then down to 217.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@qball Could be if a person wasn’t into sorting. Then one would have to own a sizing die to size down their slugs. Even still, before sizing wouldn’t it be helpful to know that the slug’s diameter is large enough to warrant attempting to size down?

 

[Ranchibi]

Ezana! Thank you! I ordered one! From doing so much slug testing, I know how important diameter is for slug accuracy from spin stabilization, this will help immensely!

 

[qball]

@qball Could be if a person wasn’t into sorting. Then one would have to own a sizing die to size down their slugs. Even still, before sizing wouldn’t it be helpful to know that the slug’s diameter is large enough to warrant attempting to size down?

My question for those who sort is what do you do with the ones that are a bit bigger and smaller in size? Throw them away? Knowing the problem is one thing then addressing the problem without waste is another. Most slugs and pellets are over 5 cents each so it’s like throwing away a nickel each time. If someone wants ultimate size consistency then why not buy larger sizes and whole sale size them down so there is no need to sort head size in one single step with almost no waste? If they decide to sort by weight again then it’s another conversation. Just my thoughts on it, granted I’m way too lazy to sort so I just buy what I think is most consistent ammo to start with plus I’m don’t bench rest.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@qball I was thinking for those that have different platforms chambered in the same caliber that it may be posible to use certain sizes for certain guns/barrels. It may not always work out that way, but it’s possible for those with an assortment of .22 caliber guns.

I do like your idea of buying oversized slugs and sizing them down to the sizes that one needs. I have no experience here. I have never used a sizing die nor have I seen one in person. I’m also curious to see if members have use for a slug sizing gauge for sorting.

 

[thomasair]

JSB slugs are made in a 2 piece split die…just like their pellets. They are NOT round….but appear round to the naked eye…just like pellets.

Slugs like Nielsen are made in a single piece die that is perfectly round….so the slugs are also perfectly round.

While round apertures are ok to gauge perfectly round things….they are useless for gauging things that are not round…like pellets or slugs made in split dies.

Mike

 

[Vetmx]

Would it be more productive to size them instead? Say buy 218 and size then down to 217.

Yep. But in this industry many will trip over a dollar to pick up a penny.

 

[Vetmx]

Before everyone starts bustin out their credit cards I will say that this is necessary for some slugs and barrel combos, and a waste of time for others because the minuscule difference in slug diameter is not what’s giving you issues with your accuracy or day to day consistency.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Before everyone starts bustin out their credit cards I will say that this is necessary for some slugs and barrel combos, and a waste of time for others because the minuscule difference in slug diameter is not what’s giving you issues with your accuracy or day to day consistency.

View attachment 314482

@Vetmx What all do you have here? Looks like a swaging press.

 

[Vetmx]

The red thing is for sizing slugs. The yellow thing is my bow press.

 

[John "spysir" Blount]

My question for those who sort is what do you do with the ones that are a bit bigger and smaller in size? Throw them away? Knowing the problem is one thing then addressing the problem without waste is another. Most slugs and pellets are over 5 cents each so it’s like throwing away a nickel each time. If someone wants ultimate size consistency then why not buy larger sizes and whole sale size them down so there is no need to sort head size in one single step with almost no waste? If they decide to sort by weight again then it’s another conversation. Just my thoughts on it, granted I’m way too lazy to sort so I just buy what I think is most consistent ammo to start with plus I’m don’t bench rest.

Use them for Chrony readings unless they are insanely off.

John

 

[qball]

Use them for Chrony readings unless they are insanely off.

John

I see what you are saying but then again how much do you trust the those numbers since the head sizes vary. Wouldn't you want the numbers from the good lot so you have confidence in your numbers?

 

[Ezana4CE]

I just had a thought here. After sorting slugs, one may use this device before slugging a barrel to determine the diameter sizes to try
in order to slug the barrel. The largest impediment I can think of is what @thomasair mentioned about non-concentric slugs. I hadn’t considered the possibility that some slugs aren’t completely round due to the molds used to cast them.

 

[Ranchibi]

Well, I received my .22 SlugGage today from Jerry Cupples of Pelletgage. It came extremely quick to my door. It is very well made and holes are laser cut for extreme tolerances. Assmbly is a no brainer, quick and easy as no tools are needed. Jerry emailed me with assembling directions and how to use it properly, great guy to deal with. Once assembled, I slipped some NSA 17.5gr .2175 through it and found them to be very consistent in diamter with most being .2180 in diameter. If a slug is not concentric, it will not pass through. This is a great tool for taking one element of slug shooting out of the equation for sure as I know if I load a slug into my RAW's breech with hardly any resistance, it will not group....now I just have to size all my slugs....approximately 5,000....LOL! Kudos to Jerry for designing and building an excellent slug sizing gauge/tool! It does have feet that you cannot see raising it about 1.5".

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Ranchibi Sounds like a useful tool for your sorting process. Please keep us updated to any further benefits or cons regarding using a slug gage for slug sorting.

 

[bigHUN]

I had a pellet gauge in .22 and .25 and I played with them pretty much some 4-5 tins. I wasn't happy with them since day one.
Just take a higher power jewellers loupe and have a closer look at the hole edges and you will see what I am saying.
For my JSB pellets I ordered the pellets sizer from Trrobb, and again I had to rework these tools as well to my liking. The Zan slugs were pretty consistent so far.
Much faster just resize to a same OD instead of sorting into batches.
This is my opinion.

 

[Ranchibi]

Looked at the holes through my double 30x & 60x lighted loupe and there were a couple very minor imperfections that would not interfere with sizing, just looks like the heat from the laser might have produced them. For slug sizing, they definitely need to be batch sized as smaller sizes well, cannot be sized larger and if any barrels can use other sizes. That being said, NSA slugs (thank you Nick) are sized to very tight tolerances from sizing them with this SlugGage. I shot about 20 sized NSA and had no fliers....just what I was hoping for! Thank you Jerry!

 

[MEC17670]

My question for those who sort is what do you do with the ones that are a bit bigger and smaller in size? Throw them away? Knowing the problem is one thing then addressing the problem without waste is another. Most slugs and pellets are over 5 cents each so it’s like throwing away a nickel each time. If someone wants ultimate size consistency then why not buy larger sizes and whole sale size them down so there is no need to sort head size in one single step with almost no waste? If they decide to sort by weight again then it’s another conversation. Just my thoughts on it, granted I’m way too lazy to sort so I just buy what I think is most consistent ammo to start with plus I’m don’t bench rest.

I would keep them separate and shoot them as a lot. Plinking or for leading up your barrel after cleaning.