Ghost Ghost .25 and Slugs

[Billm]

Being new to both the Ghost HP and the .25 caliber I am really curious about slugs. I’ve read a lot of posts here and on other forums that mention that the Ghost does not currently do well with slugs. Removing both shooter skills and weather, what are reasonable expectations for 100yd groups with slugs for any .25 rifle in the $2000-$3000 price range. How does the Ghost HP .25 compare to rifles that are considered accurate with slugs. I’m just trying to understand what the generally accepted practical benchmark is?

 

[Solo1]

Being new to both the Ghost HP and the .25 caliber I am really curious about slugs. I’ve read a lot of posts here and on other forums that mention that the Ghost does not currently do well with slugs. Removing both shooter skills and weather, what are reasonable expectations for 100yd groups with slugs for any .25 rifle in the $2000-$3000 price range. How does the Ghost HP .25 compare to rifles that are considered accurate with slugs. I’m just trying to understand what the generally accepted practical benchmark is?

Without a slug specific barrel don’t waste your money trying to shoot 25 cal slugs with the ghost. I have a 25 barrel for 1 of my ghosts and it shoots pellets very well but wont shoot slugs. I do have a 28” 177 barrel that shoots slugs very well but i don’t want to buy a 28” 25 cal to experiment even though aoa says they (28”) are slug barrels. I bought a tiapan vet 2 tactical in 25 and it shoots 33 jsb and 34.9 nsa very well

 

[CTAirgunner]

Here is my approach.. and its not always a good one because airguns and pb'ers differ not only in the propellant but how much force the propellants make. A 357 magnum produces like 44000 psi in the chamber, an air rifle is sending 2-3000 psi behind the bullet. So I think that PB bullets form to the barrel better due to the extreme force behind them when the round goes off, I do not believe the same thing happens with airgun projectiles and that is why you'll find a lot of big bore airgun guys actually oversizing their rounds to the bore of their barrel so they make good contact with the rifling.

I think thats why my approach isn't always the best, but I am just thinking aloud here and trying to help so forgive my ramblings because I haven't been able pin point what works in some and why it doesn't work in others.

First thing you need to know is the rifles barrel twist rate, take that information and right it down, then you need to know the diameter of the barrel, this is done by slugging the barrel, or you can ask around and get a ball park. Once barrel specs are acquired, look at the round you are choosing, match the diameter of the round to the barrel, then get the BC of the round (some are published but bc changes in flight as well.... this is still something I have yet to fully understand)....

Take that data, and plug it into a stability factor calculator and then plug your info into ballistics calculator to see what will work for you.

I really do not like the idea of buying this ammo, that ammo, this ammo, that ammo, till you find what one works, you could literally spend 500 dollars in ammo before finding the right one.

Here are my two favorite calculators

First one is a stability factor calculator

If the stability factor calculator comes up with a poor SF its probably not going to do well...

Twist Rate Stability Calculator

Our newly updated Twist Rate Stability Calculator not only tells you what your SG is, but it also lets you know if you are reaching your optimized BC.

bergerbullets.com

Second one is a ballistics calculator

Ballistics Calculations

 

[Danman]

Being new to both the Ghost HP and the .25 caliber I am really curious about slugs. I’ve read a lot of posts here and on other forums that mention that the Ghost does not currently do well with slugs. Removing both shooter skills and weather, what are reasonable expectations for 100yd groups with slugs for any .25 rifle in the $2000-$3000 price range. How does the Ghost HP .25 compare to rifles that are considered accurate with slugs. I’m just trying to understand what the generally accepted practical benchmark is?

You may get a nice group here and there with your stock HP Ghost and slugs once but it won't be repeatable. Ever. Long slow twist barrel & massive pressure, + angry choke = heavy pellets only. The 5 shot slug groups I get will have 3 real tight and close to bull. Then 1 will be left and low other will be right and high. They simply will not stabilize, do not waste your time/$.
But...if you do...post up your results! I'm always interested. Watch AimSmall on YT, his series on the Ghost. He runs every slug out there , nothing worked. Great pellet pusher though! @CTAirgunner is onto something....

 

[CTAirgunner]

You may get a nice group here and there with your stock HP Ghost and slugs once but it won't be repeatable. Ever. Long slow twist barrel & massive pressure, + angry choke = heavy pellets only. The 5 shot slug groups I get will have 3 real tight and close to bull. Then 1 will be left and low other will be right and high. They simply will not stabilize, do not waste your time/$.
But...if you do...post up your results! I'm always interested. Watch AimSmall on YT, his series on the Ghost. He runs every slug out there , nothing worked. Great pellet pusher though! @CTAirgunner is onto something....

I had an Alphawolf in .22 , it had the polygonal barrel, it would not shoot 1 single slug well, you could hear them tumbling , sounded like a Storm Trooper laser lol

 

[Solo1]

Well all the ballistics are well and good but i tried a good many slugs thrugh mine and the pellet groups were always better same with 22. The 22 shoots mrds as well as anyone shoots mrds. Mrd just seem to have the occasional flyer. On a calm day 1” groups with pellets in 25 are fairly easy.

 

[Billm]

You may get a nice group here and there with your stock HP Ghost and slugs once but it won't be repeatable. Ever. Long slow twist barrel & massive pressure, + angry choke = heavy pellets only. The 5 shot slug groups I get will have 3 real tight and close to bull. Then 1 will be left and low other will be right and high. They simply will not stabilize, do not waste your time/$.
But...if you do...post up your results! I'm always interested. Watch AimSmall on YT, his series on the Ghost. He runs every slug out there , nothing worked. Great pellet pusher though! @CTAirgunner is onto something....

I’ve watched some of his videos. Even if my shooting skills allowed (they don’t), the weather here would prevent me from shooting really consistent tight groups. I average 5-15mph winds from 7 am to 7pm. I’ve attached the winds from yesterday in my backyard. I don’t really have a need for slugs other than to buck the wind. I do like the challenge that 100yds presents lol. I was just curious what defined: “doesn’t shoot slugs well”. Sounds like consistency and group size. More than anything, I’m just trying to keep it fun

 

[Danman]

I’ve watched some of his videos. Even if my shooting skills allowed (they don’t), the weather here would prevent me from shooting really consistent tight groups. I average 5-15mph winds from 7 am to 7pm. I’ve attached the winds from yesterday in my backyard. I don’t really have a need for slugs other than to buck the wind. I do like the challenge that 100yds presents lol. I was just curious what defined: “doesn’t shoot slugs well”. Sounds like consistency and group size. More than anything, I’m just trying to keep it fun

In all honesty I never really take pictures of my slug groups with it....it's that bad. And I hate burning through slugs knowing they won't work. I can set up a paper target @ 50y and know exactly what to expect. I once shot Mrds out to 100Y....10 shots and every single one hit my 5.5x5.5in venturi paper target. Now I want to try this with slugs! I wonder how many would actually hit? If u zoom in you can see how great the slugs were @ close ranges
Notice the 3 basically same hole @ 40Y

 

[Billm]

I was like: 10mm Is bad, really? Then I realized it was at 10yds lol.

 

[Corvid_Hunter]

I thought I remember seeing somewhere that there were fairly good results with the 29gr NSA (29.5gr?) slugs. Could be wrong on that one.

 

[Solo1]

I thought I remember seeing somewhere that there were fairly good results with the 29gr NSA (29.5gr?) slugs. Could be wrong on that one.

The problem is a tight choke and 1in 30” twist not the best for slugs but great for pellets

 

[CTAirgunner]

I have a Ghost 25 hp on the way, im glad to have read through this thread

 

[Danman]

I have a Ghost 25 hp on the way, im glad to have read through this thread

Whaaaa... so much for keeping it cheap
Sure love mine, do you plan to shoot slugs out of it?

 

[CTAirgunner]

Whaaaa... so much for keeping it cheap
Sure love mine, do you plan to shoot slugs out of it?

Sometimes some hard work and dedication pays off!! Keep an eye out for Peri and I chooootin some paper , something I've missed for quite a while.

 

[Pumacarl]

I’ve watched some of his videos. Even if my shooting skills allowed (they don’t), the weather here would prevent me from shooting really consistent tight groups. I average 5-15mph winds from 7 am to 7pm. I’ve attached the winds from yesterday in my backyard. I don’t really have a need for slugs other than to buck the wind. I do like the challenge that 100yds presents lol. I was just curious what defined: “doesn’t shoot slugs well”. Sounds like consistency and group size. More than anything, I’m just trying to keep it fun

The wind is really a huge reason to use slugs even that are not quite as accurate as a pellet up close. I am going to probably take a lot of abuse for generalizing this, and I am talkin just plinking 'not hunting', but let's say at 100y you get a 1 moa pellet group and your slugs will only do 1.5moa but have a 3x higher bc and you've got a 5-15mph full value wind. Now shoot your best groups at 200y with both and watch what actually happens. I'd bet in most cases, that involved pellets and slugs under 50gr, the slugs would take the lead, unless you were the best wind doper in history. If you are really interested in playing around and past the usual 100y, slugs even if they don't start out quite as accurate control the variables down range better. At least, that's how it seems to me.

 

[Solo1]

The wind is really a huge reason to use slugs even that are not quite as accurate as a pellet up close. I am going to probably take a lot of abuse for generalizing this, and I am talkin just plinking 'not hunting', but let's say at 100y you get a 1 moa pellet group and your slugs will only do 1.5moa but have a 3x higher bc and you've got a 5-15mph full value wind. Now shoot your best groups at 200y with both and watch what actually happens. I'd bet in most cases, that involved pellets and slugs under 50gr, the slugs would take the lead, unless you were the best wind doper in history. If you are really interested in playing around and past the usual 100y, slugs even if they don't start out quite as accurate control the variables down range better. At least, that's how it seems to me.

I’ve found generally speaking that even at 100 once the wind really starts to pick up they are better. A 5-7 mph wind really shows the difference

 

[CTAirgunner]

unless you were the best wind doper in history.

You know , after shooting at NAC I realized I needed more wind work, shooting 100 yard bench rest targets in the wind as practice , without using the sighters, really actually helps.

 

[Solo1]

It’s amazing once you get used to it! But then it’s ever changing!

 

[Luis Leon]

I have a Ghost 25 hp on the way, im glad to have read through this thread

Looking forward to reading your thoughts after you put that Ghost through your testing regimen…