What IS the best weight of pellet for FT/HFT???

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  • čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
  • Once upon a time it was easy to know what weight of pellet to shoot, mainly because there wasn't much choice! These days, of course, there are a huge variety of pellet shapes, weights and sizes to choose from. Most however still roughly conform to less than 8gn, around 8gn or more than10gn in .177 calibre. So which to choose? I've shot all three weight variations in a combination of guns over the years but I'd be lying if I said that any great thought had gone into why I was shooting each at that particular time; I tended to just go with whatever was most commercially available at the time. So this video is a tentative attempt to put that right and do some proper research. It's not exactly perfect but it's my experience and it certainly made me think by the end of it; hopefully it might spark the curiosity in you too?
    Lastly, this one was a pig to make, I bit off way more than I could chew and it was an abject lesson on where my limits are after only 5 vids! None-the-less, I think it stands up. If you make it to the end then I thank you and commend you as a true airgun fanatic. Enjoy!
    *The Inside Edge video’s are made by me, on my own, so please bear with me, hopefully I’ll get better over time; after all, it’s about the journey, not the destination! LOL
    *Any opinions expressed in my video’s are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any companies or manufacturers mentioned.
    *Any music used comes from royalty-free sites, such as CZcams Studio.

Komentáře • 65

  • @Steve-Cross
    @Steve-Cross Před 9 měsíci +6

    There are obviously pros and cons to using 10 or 8 grain pellets. The lighter pellets will obviously have a flatter trajectory, whereas the heavier pellets won’t be affected, by the wind quite as much. That is basically the deciding factor when it comes to pellet choice on competition day. If there is a stiff breeze, I would use the heavies. I do prefer the lighter pellets though. I use QYS streamline 8.48gr. Unless it is blowing a gale, they handle a breeze very well.

  • @svenalferink6562
    @svenalferink6562 Před 11 měsíci +3

    Thank you Dan for your great videos. My remark on this one is that
    I think we should judge the horizontal spread (drift) by measuring it from the vertical center line. Not by measuring the total left to right spread as you did in the video. Reason for this being that the shots to the left of the vertical line will be caused by a different wind direction than the shots on the right hand side of the vertical line. At 55 yards it looks like the 7.9 grain pellets have been shot in a left to right wind only while the 8.4's have had wind from BOTH sides during the shooting of the group. And as wind is the most difficult factor to judge in a competition the pellet that takes the least wind effect will be the best choice. My conclusion would then be that the 8.4 grain is the overall best pellet considering wind spread and drop.
    I did a quite elaborate testing of 8.4 and 10.3 grain JSB pellets this year. I shot 16 groups of 10 shots each over three different windy days with 2 batches of each weight at a distance of 55 yards. The 8.4 and 10.3 groups were shot alternating on each day. The outcome was that the difference in horizontal spread over all groups shot was only 1 millimetre between the 8.4 and 10.3 grain pellets. My conclusion is that there is not any significant difference in wind drift between 10.3 and 8.4 pellets.

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 10 měsíci +1

      A good point 👍🏻
      In my anicdotal experience, the 10.3s allow you to 'play the percentages' s bit more in a low to mderate wind but after prob 10 mph, there is no difference.
      They can allow you to stay (ahem) inside edge 😎 as oppose to having to commit, as you might with an 8.4.
      The chsllenge with this test was getting to shoot all 3 weights through the same gun on the same day, at the same power.
      I got close but it wasn't a perfect test.
      I think we sometimes magnify the differences between different weights in our minds. For example, I just shot the European FT Champs and was worried about shooting them at the >25° angles I knew would be there - I had even toyed with the idea of going back to 8.4s just for this shoot - but in the event I just followed my Chairgun generated click chart and all was well.
      Thanks for watching 😊

  • @rapalaron6348
    @rapalaron6348 Před 9 měsíci +3

    Great informative video 👍 Many thanks for showing and never run out of pellets mate😁

  • @stephencope7178
    @stephencope7178 Před 17 dny +1

    Whilst a 55 yard indoor facility is a rarity, it would be a more accurate comparison, as the wind is not a constant and skews the results to a good degree.

  • @waynerobinson2656
    @waynerobinson2656 Před rokem +2

    Enjoyed your experiment very much. Would be interesting to see what 10.3 would actually do when sized/weighed.
    Thanks for posting.

  • @philhudson5398
    @philhudson5398 Před rokem +1

    Lots of food for thought, really interersting video, thanks Dan!

  • @hedgerowpete
    @hedgerowpete Před 9 měsíci +1

    An amazing video, brilliant topic and content and great and clear testing. many thanks.

  • @johngray5128
    @johngray5128 Před rokem

    Keep them coming Dan .....that was an excellent watch.

  • @user-bu6on2pp7e
    @user-bu6on2pp7e Před rokem +1

    Nice one Dan, interesting result, like you said it depends a lot on what your barrel likes!

  • @tv-cx8gv
    @tv-cx8gv Před měsícem

    Good test.

  • @archermanbob
    @archermanbob Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thanks very interesting Video! Gives me inspiration to go do this experiment for myself.

  • @user-xv1dj8ut9e
    @user-xv1dj8ut9e Před rokem +1

    Enjoyed that, cheers Dan!

  • @thomasmatthews4766
    @thomasmatthews4766 Před 8 měsíci +3

    The Best one is the one you get used to !

  • @jameshoward9700
    @jameshoward9700 Před 7 měsíci

    Mate, valiant effort! Nice one. Something we all ask ourselves, but few make a scientific effort to test. I certainly have made the effort and can conclude this: we're chasing our tails! Except for indoor match shooting, there are simply too many variables for the shooter to asses or control. 'Gun, conditions, pellet' sounds simple, but each is a category in itself that we simply can't control 100%. And velocity measurements don't help, because they are neither totally accurate, nor tell the whole story. Eg, did the pellet sped up because the pellet was lighter; the wind shifted; the wind dropped; the sun came out; the barrel feed up; the reg let out more air; the hammer hit harder etc etc etc! Rifle shooting is about control and we kid ourselves we can control everything and achieve perfection. We can't.
    But this realisation does help us. It indicates we should avoid extremes. Pellets that require perfect construction, perfect gun output and perfect environmental conditions. To me, that's very light pellets or very heavy ones. Light pellets are too crucially affected by wind and construction deviance - as you say, their slight benefit of trajectory is a controllable variable that competition shooters should be beyond. Also, I think they're really designed for lower power (German domestic) target guns. On the flip side, heavy pellets are resistant to construction deviance, cross winds and tail winds; but they suffer badly from anything that causes velocity to drop and flight instability to increase (mainly power fluctuation or head winds) - their trajectory (or drift) then becomes too hard to control. 10+gr is a heavy thing for a Sub-12 and I think they're just too marginal in most guns (except Continental or FAC guns, for which they're really designed).
    So for me, with a Sub-12, off the shelf rifle, in outdoor, highly variable wind/temperature/humidity, shooting uphill or down, the middle is the happy place. Either 8.5 (JSB or H&N Baracuda 8) or 9.5gr (I'm leaning 9.5 QYS SH or H&N BFT), in a modern design from a reputable brand. Pick the most consistent (not necessarily the most accurate in perfect conditions) pellet for your gun and try to stay above the temptation to join a polarised crowd!

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci

      Very interesting. I would echo alot of your thoughts there.
      I've long said that FT is a sport about the management of variabes. Pellets are ultimatey the weakest link in the chain; one single-use, throw away component. But massive gains if you canget this part of your kit right ✅️ 👍🏻

  • @harryarteza3435
    @harryarteza3435 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Great video thank you

  • @TripleGRogerLait
    @TripleGRogerLait Před 7 měsíci +1

    Nice vid Dan . Like it buddy . 👍👍

  • @philipbooth9755
    @philipbooth9755 Před 10 měsíci +2

    Without putting a lot more pellets per group, it’s difficult to make any conclusions with drift, as the wind will vary with every group shot. It would be interesting to shoot another group with slugs, as they tend to Buck the wind better.
    Thanks for the exercise though

  • @biagiocozza8875
    @biagiocozza8875 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Thank you for a great video. I imagine the Anschutz air rifle likes 4.50 size pellets better than 4.52 size pellets. The 10.3 gr pellets are all 4.52, that is why the accuracy might be lacking with those 10.3gr pellets. Very interesting

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci

      Thanks 👍🏻
      Actually, whenI was shooting 8.4s, both my 9003 and old 2002 preferred a tighter fitting 4.53.
      I think you just need to try a few different batches and see what suits your barrel.

  • @BarnyDaddy
    @BarnyDaddy Před 5 měsíci +2

    I use JSB 8.64 4.52mm

  • @markhomer5704
    @markhomer5704 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Excellent vid .. and super interesting .. subbed .. brillant stuff ..
    Ps , tend to ( mostly , but not exclusively ) use the QYS 9.56 grn .. especially at the range up too 55mtrs .. gives a good balance of accuracy in still and slightly windy conditions ..

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci +1

      I also like the QYS 9gn, in the Streamline design. I very nearly changed to them earlier in the year but decided to go with what I knew, in the shape of the JSBs.

  • @archermanbob
    @archermanbob Před 4 měsíci +1

    Great Hat !

  • @joelgoodwin6303
    @joelgoodwin6303 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Love the hat Dan 😉🤣

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci

      😆 well spotted Joel! Its one of my favourites and sees regular action on the FT circuit; for which I have you to thank of course 🙌🏻

  • @alfredotito2143
    @alfredotito2143 Před 7 měsíci +2

    Good video. In this case if I do want more speed with 8.44. Should I increase the regulator pressure or lower it? Thank you

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci

      Hi, if you're shooting 8.4s now then, if you want more speed, you could increase the Reg pressure.
      However, I'd start by increasing the tension on the hammer (if you can) first.
      Tip: heavier pellets generally want a slightly higher Reg pressure.
      Have fun and thanks for watching 👍🏻

  • @ChristosTm300
    @ChristosTm300 Před rokem +1

    Most of the time in longer than those distances and maybe at those ft or hft distances,a good patch of any weight is preferable than the perfect in theory !

  • @ridehoodcliff
    @ridehoodcliff Před 8 měsíci

    I would do the same experiment two plus more times under consistent conditions to really get a good base line to go off of.

    • @Beesa10
      @Beesa10 Před 3 měsíci

      Repeating the experiment and gathering more data for comparison would help but keeping things consistent ie eliminating unwanted variables as much as possible is a significant challenge. This was a commendable effort.

  • @stevenpritchard3519
    @stevenpritchard3519 Před 5 měsíci +1

    I’d suggest the fairest way to compare pellets outdoors is by using 3 identical rifles all fired together. Wind will affect them at same time. Using only one rifle the wind can change between barrel cleaning etc giving false results. Just saying.

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 5 měsíci

      Yes, its not an exact science. Sadly I am but one man! 😎
      There are so many variables in our sport, which is what makes it such much fun...and frustrating LOL

  • @imdadalinaz
    @imdadalinaz Před 4 měsíci

    Increase the size of the transfer port and the size of the hole from where air bleeds while pressing the trigger to 4 mm , install a heavy hammer spring along with a heavy hammer, use jsb slugs @100 meters single hole , then u can go all the way upto 20 gr slug

  • @Pokemjon
    @Pokemjon Před 7 měsíci

    Very informative👍 subed👍

  • @kris2435
    @kris2435 Před 4 měsíci

    Thanks for sharing 👍
    Any charges in your pellet selection since the video?
    For FT I shoot heavies in my lg110,
    8.44 in my hw97 and RS in my fwb300

  • @Happy-Me.
    @Happy-Me. Před 7 měsíci +1

    If you were using a Springer the 7.9 may be a good bet!

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci +1

      Springun shooting is a dark art! 😄

    • @joemerican5781
      @joemerican5781 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@theinsideedge0707 We would happily welcome you to the dark side, young padwan.

  • @Joselucarabinaspcp
    @Joselucarabinaspcp Před 5 měsíci

    Excelente video amigo like para ti y nuevo suscriptor,desde el canal amigo pcp joselu🤝

  • @Airgunfunrich
    @Airgunfunrich Před 10 měsíci +1

    Same manufacturer should also mean same lead composition you would think

  • @wayneweihrauch2923
    @wayneweihrauch2923 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Results might be totally different in your gun.

  • @siypic
    @siypic Před rokem +1

    Marginal gaines......I'll go with that.... good vid DE

  • @dougdiver8637
    @dougdiver8637 Před 10 měsíci

    hello Dan,a quick question,,,why you used your Dad's gun,,rather than your own?? Thanks

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 7 měsíci

      Hi, because it has an extrnally accessible hammer adjuster.
      My 9003 doesn't, so I would have had to take it out of the stock each time to change the power so as I was shooting each pellet at the same ft lbs energy.
      Plus, my rig was shooting really well at the time and I didn't want to disturb it! 1😇

  • @imdadalinaz
    @imdadalinaz Před 4 měsíci

    You need to practice more , crank up the power at 900 fps accuracy will be much better, your gun has a shorter barrel like pistol also its sub 12 ft pound which sucks

  • @RaoulDuke333
    @RaoulDuke333 Před 4 měsíci

    I’m in Fareham, do they still have hft here ?

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 4 měsíci

      Hi, hmm, Im not sure. Try Southampton Buccaneers:
      sbftc.co.uk/
      Have fun! 😊

  • @rudymsmith
    @rudymsmith Před rokem

    i am assuming these were all shot at

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před rokem +2

      10.3s at 11.5 ft lbs. I had trouble getting the power that high on the 8.4s and 7.9s, so they were both shot at 11ft lbs. Close enough to each other that I dont think it had a bearing anyway.

    • @jamesgreen9665
      @jamesgreen9665 Před 11 měsíci

      If you'd of listened you would of heard what the power was

    • @leehadlington4498
      @leehadlington4498 Před 10 měsíci

      Okay Danster, 25m benchrest ? I’d be going with the 7.9, but then drift wise, it seems 8.4s would be a better choice ?

    • @jamesferguson2353
      @jamesferguson2353 Před 10 měsíci

      What@@jamesgreen9665

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 6 měsíci

      Apologies, I dont know why I didnt see your comment earlier. Hmm🤔 I've not shor BR but...as you're shooting at a fixed distance, I would say weight is less relevant and its more about shot to shot consistency, which comes from minimal pellet to pellet variation. That said, if outdoors, then wind is a factor...so 8.4s a good compromise or starting place, for sure.
      Thanks for watching, glad it was thought-provoking 😀

  • @BarrieCopeland-je6lh
    @BarrieCopeland-je6lh Před 4 měsíci +2

    Jesuz, dude what an awful scope or and rifle. I put 10. 34gr on top of each other at all those ranges. Why is your zero so low ? Keep practicing fella.

    • @theinsideedge0707
      @theinsideedge0707  Před 3 měsíci

      Yeah, I was disappointed with them too. But mitigating circumstances, as I said in the vid.
      I've always used a 35 yard zero. Most in FT run with a 25yds zero now, as its usually 'the bottom of the curve' and you only ever dial up. Im just a bluff old traditionalist at heart 🤣

    • @BarrieCopeland-je6lh
      @BarrieCopeland-je6lh Před 3 měsíci

      @theinsideedge0707 Hey brother, good days n bad days. Rough with the smooth. Sometimes, reality is harsh. But don't give up or in. You have a great platform. So be great.

  • @taunteratwill1787
    @taunteratwill1787 Před 3 měsíci

    The UK with their castrated air guns. 😂

  • @chopperchopper1418
    @chopperchopper1418 Před 9 měsíci

    Not one single exspert on UT clearly exsplanes how to adjust the trigger pull on a 177 cal swarm . New longer screw , bla bla bla. Didn't ask for new tires 🤨 !. Remember setting fuel jets on a carb ? Half turn or full turn ect. Yall should work at the VA . 🙄

  • @davidoldboy5425
    @davidoldboy5425 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Oh dear, a truly scientific test takes no account of personal opinions i.e. wind and tumbling etc. A true test should first be indoors with no external forces and gun clamped, then same outside in windy conditions or even rain at 90 degrees to see how pellets are affected, if they are at all.

    • @BionicRusty
      @BionicRusty Před 7 měsíci +1

      I’ll look forward to your video. 👍