Some experimentation with my RAW

First of all, I have been wondering if the variation in head size from advertized makes any difference in accuracy or consistency. JSB has been all over the board with head sizes — very poor control. I sorted over 100 tins of Monster Redesign 22 cal first by weight and ended up discarding pellets under 24 grains (quite a few) or over 27 grains (also quite a few). I sorted into 8 hundredths groupings. Then I head sized each batch using a pelletgage. The pellets were either 5.54, 5.55 or 5.56 head size. The tins all said 5.52. Now for the testing. This morning I shot 2each 5 shot groups at 25 yards to see which had the smallest group size. The picture below shows the result (labelled).
D1AE3791-5AC3-46ED-8E8F-59D915BE454F.jpeg


Not much difference. Not enough to make a difference.



Next I figured "let's see about slugs at 50 yards" and I tested 3 weights I've previously tested indoors at 20 yards. First, the target at 20 yards indoors:
F7477977-A86C-49C6-BB4D-329D087EB7FD.jpeg



Now the same slugs at 50 yards:
A16E9697-1CAD-43A8-A07B-8A6BD629CE1C.jpeg

The bottom two targets are JSB Monster Redesigns to be sure zero was still valid. For sure the pellets are the most accurate and consistent (if I do my job) but the slugs (especially the 17.5 grain) do very well and may do well in wind.
 
As a suggestion, sort pellets by head size and weight and then keep them pellets will shoot tight if zeroed to the container regardless of weight as they are similar to each other . Now 1 head size usually shoots best but a second size can also shoot pretty well. And I believe your gun is a polygonal barrel? Keep the crap head size for chrony work.
 
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Ross, nice groups! Have you tried any .2175 NSA's? Made a big difference in mine from .217-.2175. Any slugs I load that are not snug into the breech do not group for me.....
No, I only have one sample box and a crap load of 17.5s. These didn't fit snug — actually were a bit loose. I am now wondering about 218s.
 
I’m now going to have to sort a tin of the FX branded 25.39’s. I’m curious to see the weight difference across the tin. I have the JSB and Daystate range masters to compare as well.
I haven't found any JSBs or FXs that are true to the size labelled on the tins. H&Ns tend to be better, but they don't have 25 grainers.
 
No, I only have one sample box and a crap load of 17.5s. These didn't fit snug — actually were a bit loose. I am now wondering about 218s.
I know of another person that used .218 NSA in his .22 RAW...said they were very accurate! Might try both .2175 and .218 thru yours. I know I do get a few slightly loose .2175's occasionally.....I have have a lot of .2175 17.5 grain if you'd like to try some (free) just PM me.
 
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First of all, I have been wondering if the variation in head size from advertized makes any difference in accuracy or consistency. JSB has been all over the board with head sizes — very poor control. I sorted over 100 tins of Monster Redesign 22 cal first by weight and ended up discarding pellets under 24 grains (quite a few) or over 27 grains (also quite a few). I sorted into 8 hundredths groupings. Then I head sized each batch using a pelletgage. The pellets were either 5.54, 5.55 or 5.56 head size. The tins all said 5.52. Now for the testing. This morning I shot 2each 5 shot groups at 25 yards to see which had the smallest group size. The picture below shows the result (labelled).
View attachment 276697

Not much difference. Not enough to make a difference.



Next I figured "let's see about slugs at 50 yards" and I tested 3 weights I've previously tested indoors at 20 yards. First, the target at 20 yards indoors:
View attachment 276698


Now the same slugs at 50 yards:
View attachment 276699
The bottom two targets are JSB Monster Redesigns to be sure zero was still valid. For sure the pellets are the most accurate and consistent (if I do my job) but the slugs (especially the 17.5 grain) do very well and may do well in wind.
Yeah rsfrid,
I've gone through about 4 tins of FX Redesigns, they were mostly 5.54 head size, but the weights were all over the place (70 grain spread).
Because my RAW HM1000x shoots 18.1 grain better so far ..... all of my slug comparisons have been done with that pellet.

At 50 yards, the pellets have the edge - not by much, but at 100 yards, the ZAN 23 grain (.217) slugs are better.

I was going out to the range today, but my .22 RAW wouldn't hold air - arrgh ...
Took the .25 caliber RAW instead and shot ZAN 26.5 slugs at 100 yards - Not Good (scratch those slugs).

Pellets can = 1MOA @ 50 yards
Slugs can = 1MOA @ 100 yards
 
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Yeah rsfrid,
I've gone through about 4 tins of FX Redesigns, they were mostly 5.54 head size, but the weights were all over the place (70 grain spread).
Because my my RAW HM100x shoots 18.1 grain better so far ..... all of my slug comparisons have been done with that pellet.

At 50 yards, the pellets have the edge - not by much, but at 100 yards, the ZAN 23 grain (.217) slugs are better.

I was going out to the range today, but my .22 RAW wouldn't hold air - arrgh ...
Took the .25 caliber RAW instead and shot ZAN 26.5 slugs at 100 yards - Not Good (scratch those slugs).

Pellets can = 1MOA @ 50 yards
Slugs can = 1MOA @ 100 yards
Great to know. I'd like to stretch to 100. So far the 23 grain in 217 doesn't look great from mine. The 17.5 is better (perhaps being lighter they shoot faster? Didn't break out chrony to find out. They sure impacted higher.)