Sonoran First Attempt With slugs - BRK Sonoran .30

[Billm]

I just shot my first mag of slugs with the Sonoran. I personally have no need for slugs at the current time. I’m doing this “just because”. So, don’t take my info as a scientific endeavor. But, I like to share my experiences. I’m open to any input, suggestions or criticisms. To me it’s a learning experience. My only goal is to get the smallest group possible. I only have one tin of JSB .30 Knockouts .50.15 gr, so it might be a short thread until I get some more slugs. I shot 350+ pellets within the first 24 hours of receiving the Sonoran.

I didn’t change anything on the rifle or the scope from when I shot the AEA 50.5gr pellets. I fired two shots at 101 yds, the point of impact moved up about 1-2inches and about 4” to the right. I dialed in 13 clicks to the left. The POI shifted to about 1.5” left of POA. I shot a five shot group. Slight crosswind, 101 yds and it registered 870 fps. The group was loose with one flyer to the right. The total group CTC was about 2.5”, without the flyer about 1.5”. I’m pretty sure I pulled the shot with the flyer. That’s a large loose group compared to the pellets, but better than I’ve achieved with my other rifles. I’m going to increase the reg and see what happens. I didn’t pull any patches.

 

[Billm]

I raised the reg to 190 bae - waste of time, as the velocity decreased. I’m now getting vertical stringing. I suspect the vertical stringing is from technique. Although it looks like two groups LOL, it’s one 8 shot group. The two groups is probably wind drift. The last 8 shot group was shot at two different velocities max power 860 fps and power wheel -2 at around 845 fps.

 

[robertwalsh1981]

Awesome information! I have been eyeballing the Sonoran as a potential path forward for longer range shooting/Coyote abatement. If I am unable to get my Ghost to shoot slugs acceptably at the 100-150 yard range.

I just have to pace myself as my wife might have a problem with me purchasing a second expensive air rifle less than 6 months after I got the Ghost...

 

[Solo1]

It’s been my experience that slugs are more affected by form and pellets are more forgiving. Now i could be totally wrong stating this but for me this seems to be the case. Thats not bad though for your first go with them

 

[Mvideira]

Looks like SUbMOA just came out with a slug barrel for the ghost from what I understand they come in 116 twist and 124 now which one to get is a question.

 

[Solo1]

Looks like SUbMOA just came out with a slug barrel for the ghost from what I understand they come in 116 twist and 124 now which one to get is a question.

Do you have contact information for this?

 

[Mvideira]

Do you have contact information for this?

Call airgun of Arizona. I spoke to them yesterday. Told me they have them. They also have an adapter to install a moderator.

 

[Billm]

It’s been my experience that slugs are more affected by form and pellets are more forgiving. Now i could be totally wrong stating this but for me this seems to be the case. Thats not bad though for your first go with them

Concur. The vertical stringing seems to have dissipated, I can get consistent 5-8 slug barely sub-MOA (.9ish) groups except that there is always one flyer that takes it out to 1.5”. But, better than I’ve achieved with my Ghost .25. I always have erratic wind, but usually it’s a variable crosswind. Today it kept switching from crosswind to headwind. I don’t have much experience with headwinds and air rifles at 100yds. But, the headwind seemed to make the slugs and pellets more erratic. It’s been fun for sure.

 

[Billm]

Awesome information! I have been eyeballing the Sonoran as a potential path forward for longer range shooting/Coyote abatement. If I am unable to get my Ghost to shoot slugs acceptably at the 100-150 yard range.

I just have to pace myself as my wife might have a problem with me purchasing a second expensive air rifle less than 6 months after I got the Ghost...

I bought my Ghost two months ago LOL. I’m starting to think It’s a coin toss of which one I like better between the two of them. I have a .25 Ghost HP and so I can’t really fairly compare them power wise, but I suspect the Ghost is more powerful. But, I’ve been told that the Ghost .30 is underpowered. And so I’m not really sure. My Sonoran .30 is hands down more accurate at 100 yds than the Ghost .25 with pellets or slugs. I have not been able to hit the advertised 90 ft-lbs YET I’ve maxed out at 85.8 ft-lbs.

 

[Solo1]

Call airgun of Arizona. I spoke to them yesterday. Told me they have them. They also have an adapter to install a moderator.

Thanks for the info! Just ordered a 30 cal sub moa 1-16 slug barrel from aoa for $550. They didn’t have any 22 at present time.

 

[Billm]

I made the mistake of running four dry patches through the barrel and the groups opened up a little. That was after 400+ pellets/ slugs over two days.

 

[Solo1]

I made the mistake of running four dry patches through the barrel and the groups opened up a little. That was after 400+ pellets/ slugs over two days.

I get the feeling that your barrel might benefit from a light polish. 1 flyer every mag and now this makes me thing there might be a little bur near the muzzle. But don’t blame me if im wrong ! Lol

 

[Billm]

I get the feeling that your barrel might benefit from a light polish. 1 flyer every mag and now this makes me thing there might be a little bur near the muzzle. But don’t blame me if im wrong ! Lol

lol, I’m a little nervous of doing something that I can’t come back from.

 

[Solo1]

lol, I’m a little nervous of doing something that I can’t come back from.

Well thats the thing about polish its a very mild compound think 1500 sand paper

 

[Billm]

Ok, I’ll take a look at it

 

[Solo1]

Ok, I’ll take a look at it

If you decide to do put it on a bore mop with your finger to have a little on the whole mop and start with 20-30 strokes on the whole barrel then clean with your favorite cleaner you can always revisit if you feel it needs more

 

[Mvideira]

Thanks for the info! Just ordered a 30 cal sub moa 1-16 slug barrel from aoa for $550. They didn’t have any 22 at present time.

I’m assuming the 1-16is for slugs??

 

[Billm]

I’m assuming the 1-16is for slugs??

Yes, 1:16 is the preferred twist rate for slugs.

 

[Pumacarl]

I made the mistake of running four dry patches through the barrel and the groups opened up a little. That was after 400+ pellets/ slugs over two days.

I don't think you made a mistake at all. The old mindset, shooting pellets, was to lead up your barrel to a certain point and it would shoot better, well that was with pellets. Slugs, seem to me, to be about ten times more sensitive and you are not going to have the intervals between cleaning or the need to lead up your barrel barrel much, if at all to get accuracy. I think that you might want to just choose to shoot one or the other though. jmo

 

[Pumacarl]

I raised the reg to 190 bae - waste of time, as the velocity decreased. I’m now getting vertical stringing. I suspect the vertical stringing is from technique. Although it looks like two groups LOL, it’s one 8 shot group. The two groups is probably wind drift. The last 8 shot group was shot at two different velocities max power 860 fps and power wheel -2 at around 845 fps.

I am a little confused by what is happening here. Your speeds don't seem to be high enough to create a subsequent instability. You can have that happen going into the transonic zone, but you weren't near that, it looks like you need to clean the barrel to me. jmo