Minimum Pellet Weight for Springers?

[badger5th]

OK, I just received two tins of 0.177 H&N Baracuda greens. I noted on the cans "For PCP rifles only". I've previously shot a couple of hundred of these pellets from my R9 before seeing this notice. The pellets are 6.64gr and average 1,090 fps from the R9.

I know you are not supposed to fire cleaning pellets from a springer and certainly never to dry fire one. Not noticing any unusual noise or vibrations when I shoot these versus standard weight pellets. Is anyone aware of an HW/Beeman recommendation regarding minimum pellet weights in their springers? I doubt I'm going to have any kind of major sudden failure but I'm concerned I may be unnecessarily shortening its life.

Also planning on an R7/HW30 for a light easy plinker around Christmas. Curious about the same issue with these pellets in a lower powered springer.

Thanks

 

[bdzjlz]

I shoot the GTO predator 6.79 Gr in a couple of my springers at > 1000 fps with absolutely no issue over now several years.

 

[nervoustrig]

My advice for pellets for springers is, shoot it if it's accurate. Sure, springs and piston seals will eventually wear out but usually after tens of thousands of pellets have gone downrange so no reason to let something so far away intrude on your enjoyment.

However if you want to determine the optimum weight for a particular gun, test a range of weights over a chronograph and calculate the energy for each. The narrow range of weights where the gun produces its highest muzzle energy offers a clue where the power plant is working most efficiently, and less prone to piston bounce and vibration. More of the spring's stored energy is going into propelling the pellet. Many times it works out that the most accurate pellets fall within this range.

 

[SpiralGroove]

Thanks Jason ... makes perfect sense.
I usually use the most accurate pellet producing a balanced shot cycle.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

"Recommend weights"
.177 5-10 grain
.22 10-20

I go outside[above amd below]of all weight recommendations and so far so good

 

[Mycapt65]

Weight is only part of the equation when searching for appropriate pellets for a springer.

Springers are most accurate, efficient and last longer with pellets that offer the right resistance or back pressure. Weight is only part of that factor. Fit is important as well. Tight fitting pellets create more resistance than loose fitting pellets of the same or similar weight. This can be seen in chronograph testing. In my 177 Weihrauchs tighter fitting 8.64 FTTs make noticeably less power than looser fitting 8.44 Exacts even though the weight are very similar. Other factors may be at play because these are two different pellet designs. Still when using the same design usually velocity (energy) will decrease as head size increases.

It may be possible that the very light tin pellets you're using may create adequate back pressure if they're tighter fitting than the heavier lead. I had one person assert that lightweight pellets were deliberately made tighter fitting to create proper back pressure. I can't say it is or it isn't because I still use lead pellets because they typically offer better sectional density and hence Ballistic Coefficients.

Nervoustrig pointed out a chronograph is a good way to tell what works in the gun most efficiently. I find my Weihrauch springers typically make more power with light pellets than heavies. Power drops off pretty quickly once you get over certain weight. The drop off as pellet weights decrease is less obvious. My spring guns will sometimes make more power with lighter pellets than I'm uncomfortable using. What makes me uncomfortable using them is because the shot cycle gets sharp or violent when pellets don't create enough resistance. The gun will talk to you so to speak once you become familiar with it.

Even though the lighter end of the pellet weight spectrum might be maximum efficiency on paper, it may not be true efficiency. Some of the power you're using to determine efficiency may be generated by increased dieseling. Low resistance pellets allow compression chamber pressures to spike quicker which invites more dieseling that creates additional power that's not actually stored spring energy. Therefore effectively skewing perceived efficiency. Excessive dieseling usually upsets accuracy and is rough on piston seals and springs.

Accuracy is your ultimate goal or at least I assume so. Pellets that are too light or too heavy usually won't be the most accurate in a gun anyway. I use mostly accuracy and then with efficiency to determine what pellets are right for my gun.

Bottom line is springs and seals are consumables and they will eventually wear out at some point. Whether you are OK with that point being 5000 shots or 10000 shots is up to you. I'd suggest that you keep using what gives you the results you want and worry about what happens later. If you're disappointed with the longevity of the spring and or seal then consider trying something else.

Also something to keep in mind. Typically skirted Diablo style pellets become less stable (accurate) as speeds increase over 900 fps. Even if shooting light pellets isn't hurting the gun mechanically, it may be hurting your accuracy.

Ohhh and btw first quality springer was a 177 Hw95 and my second was a 177 Hw30. I love both guns but I love the 30 more and use it three times as much. I've since added a few Weihrauchs including two more Hw30s. The Hw30s are hands down loved and used the most.

Welcome to the wonderful world of springers.
Enjoy your new guns
Ron