Panthera I Jumped In!

[Pumacarl]

Shooting at my 240y spot this evening I started with the AirMarksman 40.1gr and just couldn't dial them in. So, I put in some H&N Precision and first shot, paint can blows up! I might just forget about all the ELR slug types for a bit. Of everything that I've tried, for some reason, I hit with the H&Ns the easiest and most consistently. It is almost like I am just luckier with them. I was repeatedly hitting the cans like nothing. I like shooting the 40gr too. They fly at 970fps and seem to shoot smoother, if that makes any sense. The Precision are doing 1040fps and a little snappier, and I hold a line less for the wind. All the H&N though have been very consistent and I'm going to just stick with them this year. I need to shoot something I trust or I won't shoot well either. I don't want every time behind the gun to be an experiment.

I do need to experiment with the AirMarksman though, at some point. My Strelok data definitely needs some tweaking. I think their B.C. numbers are a smidge high, and I have to choose a profile that works better, maybe two for different ranges. I have been trying RA4 but might go back to G1. Rimfire ammo that uses RA4 doesn't have close to the same B.C. as the AirMarksman so it could be apples and oranges. My Strelok numbers using H&N and G1 are close to perfect and I don't need to tweak them at all, which is really nice.

I think that I'm getting right around 28 shots a fill. Might be a few more, it's hard to tell because my pressure guage doesn't seem to be very precise. I think the FX guages need to go. I don't want battery powered ones but I do want more responsive and more precise markings with a finer needle. Anyone got a stand out analog guage recommendation? I'm all ears.

 

[Solo1]

I like huma gauges they have worked well for me even the smaller 1’s i put on the drs. Those h&n slugs were developed for the fx by gehart so they should work. Try 1.5-1.7 on the 40 airmarksman see if that works. I put the . In the wrong spot should be .15-.17

 

[Pumacarl]

Try 1.5-1.7 on the 40 airmarksman see if that works. I put the . In the wrong spot should be .15-.17

Yeah, just my observation at range in the wind, I didn't think the drift of the AirMarksman was half of the Precision's, which by their numbers it should have been. The H&N are doing the .14 they claim, and I got them for less than half the price of the AirMarksman. So you can see where I'm going with this.

Now, shooting the high b.c. rounds is fascinating though, just comparing them to each other, and then to normal .105 traditional b.c.'s it really highlights the difference. I think the ZAN ELR (uncoated) are up in the .2+ range but for the price and the fact that my barrel doesn't seem to like them as much as the H&N, they are a pass for me now. If I ever see member testing of the heavy hyper lines that is good and consistent, I will definitely try those again. I love the idea, but not the batch I got.

 

[BenjeneerJohn]

My King also likes the 22cal 30g H&N slugs. I am averaging .35" groups with them at 50 yards.

John

 

[pfddi]

I put a Sekhmet digital on my DRS 700mm with the SHP. My eyes are getting worse and the digital are very easy to see!

My DRS loves the H&N Precision slugs. It also does well with the JTS 28.24 and the KO .217 28.55g slugs. They H&N are going about 980 and the other 2 are a touch over 1000 fps. I got a .44" group at 100 yards yesterday with just a slight wind with the H&Ns.

 

[Solo1]

I put a Sekhmet digital on my DRS 700mm with the SHP. My eyes are getting worse and the digital are very easy to see!

My DRS loves the H&N Precision slugs. It also does well with the JTS 28.24 and the KO .217 28.55g slugs. They H&N are going about 980 and the other 2 are a touch over 1000 fps. I got a .44" group at 100 yards yesterday with just a slight wind with the H&Ns.

Whats your reg at to get 980?

 

[pfddi]

Whats your reg at to get 980?

~145 bar. I like to stay under 150 on my FX guns. They seem to just work longer without problems at or under 150. I have my M4 at 130 bar with a 600mm STX heavy barrel and it shoots pellet and light slugs great also. I have a PHC in .25 that I have at 140 bar and it is also very accurate and reliable with 34g JSB/FX pellets.

 

[Solo1]

~145 bar. I like to stay under 150 on my FX guns. They seem to just work longer without problems at or under 150. I have my M4 at 130 bar with a 600mm STX heavy barrel and it shoots pellet and light slugs great also. I have a PHC in .25 that I have at 140 bar and it is also very accurate and reliable with 34g JSB/FX pellets.

Thats not a pro right?

 

[pfddi]

Thats not a pro right?

Correct. Mine is a Classic.

 

[Pumacarl]

Today I let someone else shoot the gun. It's always interesting to me to see how others do shooting my stuff because that really tells me if I have it dialed in or if I'm fudging the hell out of everything and calling it good. The lies we tell ourselves crap. Anyway, it went well. It was breezy, and the wind was switching around but would go dead for a moment when changing. I was watching Old Glory, behind us, on the flag pole and when it would drop tell him to shoot. Worked like a charm! Shooting at just over 150y across a semi-wind protected hayfield at reaction targets I have hanging in the treeline. We tried for a further target across an open section of the field, and I have engineer tape on that target, but the wind never stopped long enough to take advantage of it and we couldn't see the slug to correct.

Even if I had the exact dope I still think the swirling wind would have prevented most hits anyway. The next windless day we have I am going to get some good data on what's possible, but that wasn't today. I'm happy with the H&N, nice and predictable. I was going to change out my hammerspring to the Huma one, but I think that I'm just going to leave it alone and just shoot the gun for a while like it is.

The next test that I am going to start running is cold shot accuracy and velocity. I was watching a video of the viking airgunner where he had calculated the micro adjustment needed for his cold shot to be on target. If I discover that I need a purge shot, I will try calculating for that myself. I also want to figure out how many slugs I can shoot before I need to clean my barrel. I will use all of the H&N heavy slugs that I bought that I won't be using to determine that, the 34 and 36gr ones, and the 42gr AirMarksman. The woodchucks will be out soon.