GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => China Gate => : rr_shooter May 24, 2009, 01:45:19 PM
-
A short time ago, on a tip from another GTA member (thanks, Jeff!), I purchased an “old-style†TF-97 in .22 caliber in a closeout sale from Compasseco. Having only owned only guns in .177 caliber, I was heretofore unaware of the lack of selection of ammo in other calibers in local shops. After the rifle arrived, I scoured the stores to find suitable ammunition. After hitting the local Walmart, Academy, and Dick’s sporting goods stores, I was only able to find Daisy Precision Max in pointed and wadcutter varieties, and Benjamin hollow points (labeled “PCPâ€). I presume the Benjamin pellet is just a re-branded Crosman Premier HP, based on visual inspection.
Having read comments from others about the Daisy pellets, I prepared for the worst as I opened the tins, and was not disappointed. I was amazed at the number of pellets with dented and chipped skirts. “Precision†is obviously a misnomer in describing this product.
Even so, I figured I’d cull the worst and shoot the rest during the break-in period for the rifle. After putting about 100 pellets through (unfortunately, I don’t get a lot of spare time to shoot), I decided to try the Benjamins.
The Daisy pellets grouped surprisingly well, and, with the better manufacturing tolerances of the Benjamin pellets, I expected even better results. I was very surprised to find just the opposite. The groupings were much worse, and even more disturbing, the size variation seemed to be much greater with the Benjamin pellets than those from Daisy. I’d have to force about every fourth or fifth pellet into the breech, and that would inevitably end up as a flyer at about 10 o’clock. I’ve had absolutely no such insertion issues with the Daisy pellets.
I’ve attached a photo showing my best group with the Daisy wadcutters. It was shot at 30 feet with iron sights from a sitting position (6X Bugbuster scheduled to arrive Tuesday). I took a picture of the grouping in the duct seal, as the paper target shredded from lack of a backer board. I know the old adage about “the best pellet being the one your gun shoots bestâ€, but I figure I can get better results using pellets manufactured under better quality control.
Has anyone else had similar issues with Benjamin pellets? Do the Daisy pellets shoot well, in spite of their apparent inconsistencies? I’d like to try other brands, but after the experience with what I would consider a “better†pellet, I’m hesitant about ordering other brands.
-
Can't say anything about the Benjamin pellets but the Daisy Flats are a pretty good pellet. They surprise me too. I have not had the problem you mention about quality control with them as every container I have purchased have all been good pellets. They fly straight and I can see that in your picture. Fact my XS B3-1.22 likes them the best. There was a post awhile back and they were favored by many shooters. I find that the RWS brand of pellets, Dome and Hollow Points do very well also. Frank
-
RR Shooter, If the Daisy pellets work for you then don't be concerned because they do. I too have a very limited selection of pellets to choose from locally. In fact the same limits you find for yourself in .22 cal . Daisy brand and the Benjamin PCP. As has been stated by many before me " some guns prefer certain pellets over others". If you are accurate with Daisy pellets be happy. They are easy to find and cheaper than RWS, Beeman, Benjamin PCP and the like.
My rifle prefers the Benjamin PCP pellets but I will shoot the Daisy. Don't like them ( Daisy ) but I will use them. What I shoot with Daisy is best called Patterns, as in shotgun pattern.......not Groups.
Good Shooting by the way.
-
The Daisy's were one of the first pellets my buddy and I tried when we got our air rifles last summer. I agree, they seemed to be poor quality but shot very well. We tried the Crossmans and they did worse. We ended up trying about 25 different varieties of pellets and we both agree that the RWS seem to be the most consistent and also shoot the best. The pointed, domed and HP all shoot the best groups in both of our guns.
We did it the hard way, by buying whole tins and splitting them or bumming some from anyone we could. We shot group after group after group and even traded guns and shot more groups to test these pellets. We found a guy in Portland, Darrell's Air Guns, that sold us some 50ct sample packets. We split them 25/25 and got to see how they fared.
I just saw this last night on GTA. I wish we would have found this pellet sample pack a year ago. http://www.straightshooters.com/straightshooters/sssampler.html
If you need some different pellets to try, I have a few varieties left and could send you a few in an envelope to try. Let me know.
Doug