More .177 Caliber Slugs Becoming Available

So far, the smallest airgun caliber has not seen much action in slug availability. But more .177 caliber slugs are hitting the market, as we can see at Pyramyd…

Although .177 is not – so far – a popular caliber for slug shooting in the USA, it can be done with great success.

For example, look at some of Soren Drost’s 100-Meter groups when shooting .177 caliber slugs in the HAM Community. He’s producing 12-shot groups of not much more than thumbnail size at 110 Yards using JSB slugs in a BRK Ghost!

Soren shoots .177 caliber slugs with high power PCPs due to the laws in his native Denmark. There, airguns of any power are allowed, but only in .177 caliber. Hey, it’s no more crazy than airgun laws in other countries!

In accordance with it’s practice in other calibers, H&N has a range of airgun slug weights available in .177 caliber. Starting at 10 Grains weight, they offer the potential for slug use with even moderately-powered air rifles – so long as the barrel likes them, of course!

H&H also has slugs in 13 Grain, 16 Grain and 20 Grain weights for .177 caliber. The company’s advice is that – if possible air rifles with a power output exceeding 22 Ft/Lbs should be used – at least with the heavier slugs. But that’s not a big obstacle as many .177 caliber PCPs in the US are capable of such muzzle energies, or somewhere close to it.

H&N also claims that slugs in .177 caliber can be accurate out to 100 Meters (110 Yards). That’s definitely matched by the experience of Soren, mentioned above.

JSB has 10.3 Grain slugs available in a “Mark 3” configuration. These offer – the manufacturer says – improved accuracy and expansion.

Another way to go could be the ZAN Projectiles slug sampler pack. Here one pack of 200 slugs contains 50 each of the following weights: 10, 13, 16 and 20 Grains. Hey, those are the same weights as for H&N…

So maybe US airgunners should consider slugs even for .177 caliber and not see .22 caliber as the minimum size. There would definitely be some experimentation involved, but Soren has shown us that it can be done!

BUY FROM PYRAMYD​

H&N Slug HP, .177 Cal., 20 Grains, Hollowpoint, 250ct 0.177​

The post More .177 Caliber Slugs Becoming Available appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

 

[Madhatter]

I've been shooting the JSB 10 grain slugs out of my Hatsan 125 sniper with good results. It's kicking them out in the mid 900 fps.

 

[Danman]

Buying a .177 pcp (mostly to shoot slugs) crosses my mind often I will admit. Brk Sniper, S510 Sporter, a .177 barrel for my Ghost....etc. I never do though because the main reason I shoot .177 is for safety and don't need the extra power at that moment. If shooting slugs, I'd want more power, mass, expansion, B.C. etc. So I end up sticking with pellets in my two .177 springers.
My brother is shooting the 10gr Jsb slugs in 4.51 out of his Diana 350mag for 925fps, he no longer uses his pellets at all.

 

[brel1600]

I got into .177 about 8-10 months ago (from .22) and now that’s all I shoot! 95% slugs, they are just as accurate, out to 110 yards, as my .22’s

 

[Smok3y]

The idea of a 177 slug shooter is actually on
my list of next rifles, as I want something new and this would be new to me. I do like that we have a a decent selection to choose from in ammo nowadays. I received some 177 slugs on trade with my last 177 and they are just taking up space on the shelf. I need a new 177 that can handle them.

My biggest problem is choosing which rifle to go with. I want to stick to the rifle platform over bullpups. I’m really curious what the Black Wolf looks like next week, to see if it is a possible fit for my next 177 slug gun.

 

[hameditor]

The idea of a 177 slug shooter is actually on
my list of next rifles, as I want something new and this would be new to me. I do like that we have a a decent selection to choose from in ammo nowadays. I received some 177 slugs on trad with my last 177 and they are just taking up space on the shelf. I need a new 177 that can handle them.

My biggest problem is choosing which rifle to go with. I want to stick to the rifle platform over bullpups. I’m really curious what the Black Wolf looks like next week, to see if it is a possible fit for my next 177 slug gun.

I think you will like the new Daystate air rifle. We will have full details in HAM, of course

 

[Farmplinker2]

Kill "tin" cans at longer distance?

 

[Ezana4CE]

Are .177 slugs sized strangely like the range of .22 slugs (.217, .218, .219, .223, etc)? Are barrels made pretty uniformly so that .177 ammo works in most .177 barrels?

 

[Danman]

Are .177 slugs sized strangely like the range of .22 slugs (.217, .218, .219, .223, etc)? Are barrels made pretty uniformly so that .177 ammo works in most .177 barrels?

Jsb offers 4.51 and 4.52. The 4.51KO slugs did not fit in my TX (L.W. barrel). And I wasn't about to jam em in. Can't speak to other brands...

 

[jps2486]

I shoot 100 yd EBR with an FX Impact M3 in .30 cal or sometimes an M2 in .22 cal along with everyone else. I was getting tired with mixed results because the winds here in Wisconsin are so variable and unpredicatable. Just for yucks, I had Martin build a .177 cal RAW HM1000x because Air Force does not offer it in this caliber. He tuned it to shoot over 30 fpe. I've had good results with Zan 13.4 gr slugs at 1010 fps. After the gun arrived, I mounted a scope, zeroed it in and shot a couple of targets. The next weekend, I shot in a match and came in third and did the same thing the following month. My scores weren't much different than the other shooters using 22s and 30s. The guy that reads the wind best wins.

 

[JoeWillie]

Martin (Airguns USA) know’s what he’s doing and builds not only accurate guns but actually makes the beautiful stocks you see on his website. He’s also a great guy to talk to and do business with! AAA

 

[ctshooter]

There are plenty of 177 slugs on the market at the moment. What I would really like to see is some sizing options in 177. Even though 177 is small - there are bore variances just like any other caliber. I have a wide barrel where 177 slugs can nearly slide through.

 

[Doc Holiday]

Question for all slug shooters. What is the minimum power requirement of .177, 22, 25 & 30 cal to shoot slugs accurately in a gun? Example: would a Beeman R9 be powerful enough in 177 & 22? Or are slugs just for high powered gun? I just don’t know the cut off

 

[Madhatter]

Question for all slug shooters. What is the minimum power requirement of .177, 22, 25 & 30 cal to shoot slugs accurately in a gun? Example: would a Beeman R9 be powerful enough in 177 & 22? Or are slugs just for high powered gun? I just don’t know the cut off

I tried the 10 gr KO in my Diana 48 and it didn't work. My hatsan 125 sniper pushes them fast enough to stabilize them at 940 fps.

 

[Doc Holiday]

I tried the 10 gr KO in my Diana 48 and it didn't work. My hatsan 125 sniper pushes them fast enough to stabilize them at 940 fps.

Thank you. I would have guessed the 48 was powerful enough. There are guys claiming the Gamo Fusion Mach 1 is powerful enough. Getting 850 fps with the 177 slugs. But you can’t believe everything you read.

 

[Madhatter]

I'm at 5270' asl so that kills some of the power that the 48 produces.

 

[mike56]

No , What we need is slug 177 guns or 177 slug barrels, Made just for slugs, Anything else is a hit and miss thang...
Mike

 

[Danman]

Question for all slug shooters. What is the minimum power requirement of .177, 22, 25 & 30 cal to shoot slugs accurately in a gun? Example: would a Beeman R9 be powerful enough in 177 & 22? Or are slugs just for high powered gun? I just don’t know the cut off

Definitely not a one-size-fits-all question/answer but a good starting point is; 900fps+
My .22 S510 will shoot small 20- 23gr slugs to 800-860fps. They are decently accurate but they don't outshoot pellets so... no sale as there is no benefit! My Ghost has more than enough power, but alas a pellet only slow twist barrel(1:30 L.W.) Slugs definitely work out of some springers but they should be on the top end in power. Slug downsides usually being: speed loss vs pellets, more expensive to buy, quicker barrel fouling, difficult/impossible to find a combo that works in some airguns. Not everything I just said is true for every scenario/gun of course! I'd start by getting chrony numbers on similar weighted pellets for some ideas on whether your gun stands a chance to shoot slugs. Example: If your shooting 8.44gr Jsbs Diabolos @850fps(my TX200)...lol...forget shooting slugs out of it.

 

[Madhatter]

As has been said, it's the twist rate that makes or breaks whether a gun will shoot slugs accurately. The longer the slug the higher the twist rate that is needed. It has nothing to do with the weight. Yes the heavier a slug is the longer it will be but think about lead free slugs and pointed boat tail slugs. Those 2 require a faster twist rate at the same weight as a flat base round nose slug.

 

[Danman]

As has been said, it's the twist rate that makes or breaks whether a gun will shoot slugs accurately. The longer the slug, the higher the twist rate that is needed. It has nothing to do with the weight. Yes the heavier a slug is the longer it will be but think about lead free slugs and pointed boat tail slugs. Those 2 require a faster twist rate at the same weight as a flat base round nose slug.

Exactly. FX recommends getting a slug liner for the Impact if you are shooting heavy (ie longer) slugs. Their standard twist liner is supposed to shoot lighter slugs just fine.