Washing Pellets??

[JohnWicck]

Mod edit: moved to correct forum


So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing
Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 
On another note, I shot my HW-100 for the first time and I must say it’s a very impressive and enjoyable rifle to shoot. It sighted in quickly and holds a tight grouping. 
The instructions seem to stress the use of Diablo Pellets. I’m sure their are as many opinions on pellets as their are manufacturers but since the HW100 has been around and has a track record, I was wondering if there is any scientific reason for them to say that. 
Thanks Ed 

 

[biohazardman]

Some pellets are filthy with lots of tiny lead shavings included in the tin. Others are relatively clean. My JSB pellets are usually pretty clean so I just roll them in some silicon oil to lube them and shoot them. Groups are a little tighter with the lube and the barrel needs cleaned far less often.

Diabolo pellets are the standard for airgun pellets and are the pretty much what most everyone uses in competition and in general. Slugs are great if you find one that shoots well in yer gun.

 

[vinny]

No they haven’t lost their minds, yes it makes a difference, open a new tin and look at the bottom of the can all the lead dust and shavings. Ya don’t want that crap in your gun , many sides and opinions to this. This is my opinion. Many treads on this topic. 

 

[M0ist0ne]

I don't want this stuff down my barrel, just my personal take on it

 

[triggertreat]

Only until you wash a tin of pellets (regardless of brand) will you see clearly why you are washing them. There is more lead dust and flakes than can be seen from just looking in a tin. Much of this is caused by the processing, handling and shipping of these. I don't necessarily wash every tin, but should as I know the barrel will be lead fouling much quicker if I don't. A very light burnishing of some sort of non-petroleum lube on the pellets does wonders for consistency and reduced lead fouling. I like using silicon oil or grease.

You can try some pointed pellets or whatever, but you will be the most pleased with the Diabolo shaped results.

 

[vinny]

Just an add on to my previous comment, after I wash them in hot water with a touch of dawn dish soap and rinse thoroughly I put them thru a “salad spinner” yup that’s what I said. A hand full at a time completely removes the water then lube them, Walmart was selling the spinners for $5 so I bought a few , just don’t use them for food afterwards gets all the water out of the skirts. Works great. 

 

[elh0102]

IMO, JSB pellets don't need washing. I have some old, brown box Crosman Premier pellets, some of the best ever, but also some of the dirtiest, and when I shot them regularly, I always washed and then lightly lubed them. Whether even the dirtiest benefit from washing, I'm not sure. The stuff you wash away is going down your barrel anyway, it's all pellet material. So I don't think it's an issue as far as barrel maintenance is concerned. If it improves accuracy, then maybe it's worth it. Even when I shot the Crosman and washed them, I can't say it improved accuracy. 

 

[JohnWicck]

Thanks guys 
iI had no idea but I certainly will make a regular habit of it. Doesn’t seem like that much effort to keep the barrel happy. 
Hey! I feed my 1911’s only the best. Sometimes I think they eat better than me

 

[vinny]

Also keeps tons of crap from building up in the moderator 

 

[elh0102]

Also keeps tons of crap from building up in the moderator

That may be the best practical reason to do it, never thought of it. 20+ years ago, when I shot a ton of the brown box CP pellets, it was all outdoor range competition, and no one used silencers.

 

[Peskådot671]

So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing

Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 

Yes, they've lost their minds. When you're down with the sickness (Airgunitis), you do things chasing perfection lol. Let me know when you start weighing, head-sizing, and rolling your pellets.

 

[elh0102]

Well, I think both may be kind of true. When you are considering competing at the highest level, maybe everything is "a thing". 

I've been involved in the shooting sports for over a half century, rifle, pistol, shotgun, air gun. From my experience, two things are consistently true about the champions in all disciplines. One, they practice hard, and are very good. Two, they are a little nuts. I don't mean that in a bad way, they just focus on every little detail, and the cumulative effect of all these little things adds up and builds confidence. Does washing pellets make a difference for 99% of us? I doubt it. But if you think it helps, then it does.

 

[JohnWicck]

So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing

Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 

Yes, they've lost their minds. When you're down with the sickness (Airgunitis), you do things chasing perfection lol. Let me know when you start weighing, head-sizing, and rolling your pellets.

Lol ! Not likely 
I have plenty hobbies and have observed that many people take it to the extreme. 
I’m new to this whole thing and pretty much starting at ground zero. I’m open to listening to all opinions so thanks and I appreciate your input. 

 

[JohnWicck]

So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing

Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 

Yes, they've lost their minds. When you're down with the sickness (Airgunitis), you do things chasing perfection lol. Let me know when you start weighing, head-sizing, and rolling your pellets.

Lol ! Not likely 
I have plenty hobbies and have observed that many people take it to the extreme. 
I’m new to this whole thing and pretty much starting at ground zero. I’m open to listening to all opinions so thanks and I appreciate your input.

So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing

Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 

Yes, they've lost their minds. When you're down with the sickness (Airgunitis), you do things chasing perfection lol. Let me know when you start weighing, head-sizing, and rolling your pellets.

Lol ! Not likely 
I have plenty hobbies and have observed that many people take it to the extreme. 
I’m new to this whole thing and pretty much starting at ground zero. I’m open to listening to all opinions so thanks and I appreciate your input.

Well, I think both may be kind of true. When you are considering competing at the highest level, maybe everything is "a thing". 

I've been involved in the shooting sports for over a half century, rifle, pistol, shotgun, air gun. From my experience, two things are consistently true about the champions in all disciplines. One, they practice hard, and are very good. Two, they are a little nuts. I don't mean that in a bad way, they just focus on every little detail, and the cumulative effect of all these little things adds up and builds confidence. Does washing pellets make a difference for 99% of us? I doubt it. But if you think it helps, then it does.

Totally agree!
What works for thee, may not work for me. 
Being a student of various forums I’ve learned to listen and learn but not before putting it through the rinse cycle to understand what works for me.

thanks

 

[dan_house]

So I’m surfing Utube and I see this guy washing and lubing his pellets. They I see another video of the same thing

Have these guys lost their minds or is this a Thing?. 

Yes, they've lost their minds. When you're down with the sickness (Airgunitis), you do things chasing perfection lol. Let me know when you start weighing, head-sizing, and rolling your pellets.

darn, ya beat me to it



all depends on yer expectations, your gear and your level of motivation…..

 

[BEN342R]

I don’t bother with it myself-doesn’t seem to hurt my rifles any at all. Every time I pull the trigger on my Lothar Walther barreled gen 2 Marauder, something dies. The only benefit I can see is to eliminate blowing lead dust all over your property-even then, I probably won’t anyways. I will clean my barrel as needed but that is rarely necessary

 

[Saltlake58]

It's whatever works for your gun. Some like washed lubed pellets, some don't. I personally wash and lube just to keep the crap out of my gun. Less garbage to clean.

Hot water, plenty of dish soap. rinse well, lay out and I use a hair dryer. I like the salad spinner idea. Anyway, then saturate a paper towel with Pledge (lemon smells good) and roll the pellets in the Pledge for a minute, and I'm done.

From there I weigh and separate (yes, I do weigh). Last tin of JSB 33.95 .25 cal pellets I weighed anywhere from 33.4g to 34.7g. That's 1.2 grains, doesn't sound like much but translates into 28 fps on the chronograph for me. So, I separate to .either .1 g or .2 grains depending on my mood. It really does help the accuracy on distance shooting.

 

[Ron9894]

I have tried numerous brands and weights of pellets in my marauder field and target. I shoot alot and the Crosman 14.3 ultra magnus are IMO the best bang for the buck in my marauder. A third of the cost and just about as accurate. I always wash them and roll them around in a zip lock bag with a touch of Silicone spraylube. If you don't you get a serious case of grey finger. But as far as better accuracy I don't really think it does much. Pellets being pellets a bad one is going to fly a little wheather its lubed or not. Your better off making sure the skirts aren't bent. Cheers!

 

[ksandin]

I have tried numerous brands and weights of pellets in my marauder field and target. I shoot alot and the Crosman 14.3 ultra magnus are IMO the best bang for the buck in my marauder. A third of the cost and just about as accurate. I always wash them and roll them around in a zip lock bag with a touch of Silicone spraylube. If you don't you get a serious case of grey finger. But as far as better accuracy I don't really think it does much. Pellets being pellets a bad one is going to fly a little wheather its lubed or not. Your better off making sure the skirts aren't bent. Cheers!

Amazon had Crossman hp 14.3 for $6.33 a tin with prime shipping. If I slow them down then my Air Wolf groups them surprisingly well. I was getting grey fingers and washed and lubed them and they wound up looking like regular lead pellets. Then I read they are graphite coated. I washed all the factory coating off and lubed them and they didn't shoot any better. The other tins I bought I may just try the salad spinner idea to get any lead flakes and debris off but leave the graphite on.

 

[Ron9894]

I have tried numerous brands and weights of pellets in my marauder field and target. I shoot alot and the Crosman 14.3 ultra magnums are IMO the best bang for the buck in my marauder. A third of the cost and just about as accurate. I always wash them and roll them around in a zip lock bag with a touch of Silicone spraylube. If you don't you get a serious case of grey finger. But as far as better accuracy I don't really think it does much. Pellets being pellets a bad one is going to fly a little wheather its lubed or not. Your better off making sure the skirts aren't bent. Cheers!

Amazon had Crossman hp 14.3 for $6.33 a tin with prime shipping. If I slow them down then my Air Wolf groups them surprisingly well. I was getting grey fingers and washed and lubed them and they wound up looking like regular lead pellets. Then I read they are graphite coated. I washed all the factory coating off and lubed them and they didn't shoot any better. The other tins I bought I may just try the salad spinner idea to get any lead flakes and debris off but leave the graphite on.

That is an interesting idea with the salad spinner. Let me know how that does for you. I was buying those Hollow points at Walmart for 6.24 plus tax but they ran out and I switched. If that works I may switch back they are about 3 $ a tin cheaper than the ultra magnums. I'm still tinkering but I am finding that they seem to like about 775FPS out of my marauder F&T.