Should I Practice with the same pellets I hunt with?

[Randino]

I'm Practicing for crow hunting with paper targets, should I shoot my hunting pellets, Gamo hunters, and Rockets, or use Gamo Match pellets for paper?

[shadow]

I find out what hunting pellet that my baby put's into the bullseye best and tune that one in. I use it for hunting also but I can use a couple other types also, I just remember the pattern that each pellet makes so when I'm changing up I know where to put the crosshair's. All of my hunting pellet's lay some pretty tight pattern's but if your just starting off, find one hunting pellet that work's well for you and your baby and then you can expand from there. Just my pellet's worth. Ed

[DAMAGE]

That depends everybody does it different I have a custom CFX that is only used for target so I don't have to worry bout that one as for practicing hunting with my  hunting gun the answer is yes I will use the same pellet on paper as for the animal this way I learn more about the pellet and the way it reacts to different weather conditions and things like that thats why I use H&N Crow Magnums for hunting very accurate and I get very tight groups with them but if I like I can change to my target pellets RWS Super Domes because they are the same weight as the H&N the best of both worlds.
Depending what your stores are like try to use better quality than GAMO  pellets I'm nod slagigng them of or anything as some of them do have their purpose but there are many way better quality brands out there.

If only GAMO made their pellets as good as their Rifles they would be really in the game then.

[longislandhunter]

Like Ed I also find out which pellet performs the best and dial the scope in for that pellet.  I keep a folder for each of my rifles.  Inside the folder I keep all the targets from my shooting sessions, along with notes/remarks that I write out after and during each shooting session.  I document simple things like scope adjustments and dial settings, which pellet the gun is sighted in for, did I find it necessary to re tighten any screws, did I apply loc-tite to any screws,,, stuff like that.  When I take a gun out of one of  my gun safes to shoot it I also take out the corresponding folder from my airgun filing cabinet and I take a look at the info inside to make sure I'm up to shooting speed with regard to that rifle.  

The targets in the folder quickly and easily let me see how each pellet type performs in that rifle and also where they group in relation to the bullseye compared to the pellet that the rifle is sighted in for. This permits me to use other pellets should I choose to since I know how to adjust my aiming point,,,, 1 mildot up or down etc.....

Usually you can find a pellet or 2 that has the same POI as your hunting pellet.  If you do, and they are cheaper than your hunting pellet, then you can practice with them.  I don't do much target shooting,,,, like Ed (Shadow) my guns are for hunting, so if I do want to do a short session with a gun I'll usually practice with the pellet I hunt with.  

Anyway, try keeping a folder for each of your guns.  Besides being very practical it also helps increase your enjoyment of the sport and it will help make you a better shooter.  

Jeff

[Randino]

I'm going to try that, ofcourse, its gonna be a small folder since I only have 1 gun ;)

I almost got some predators, but once my dad and I  found out the tin of 200 was $15, so we grabbed the hunters. Is that normally how much good hunting pellets are? I have to stay kinda cheep, but if thats what it takes...

[longislandhunter]

You don't have to buy "expensive" hunting pellets to take game.  Those GAMO hunters will certainly do the job if you get good shot placement.  

Do the predators perform better on tough skinned game like squirrels???   Some will tell you yes and some may tell you no, it all depends on your own personal hunting experiences.  As for me, I certainly do feel that the predators work better on tough skinned game, but that doesn't mean that a GAMO hunter, or CPL, or any other pellet won't take down that same squirrel with one shot.  It all depends on shot placement.  

I've taken plenty of squirrels, even woodchucks with a well placed CPL or a well placed GAMO Tomahawk (which are dirt cheap).  Matter of fact I use the GAMO tomahawk pellets quite a bit to hunt small game and they work well for me.  You can get them at midsouth very cheap.  

If the hunter pellets shoot well in your gun go ahead and use them.  You can experiment with other, more expensive pellets later on down the road if you want to.  

Keep us up to date on your shooting sessions.  I look forward to your next post.  Take care.

Jeff

I'm new to air guns. The last one time I owned a air gun was almost 30 years ago. But since then I have owned a bunch of rim & centerfire firearms. With those I practice with what I'm going to protect my self with or hunt with. I recently bought a CFX with a assortment of pellets of various brands & weights. The pellets were dirt cheap compared to what some of my other ammo costs. 5 cents a pop compared to one of my cheaper calibers that is three times the price. I personally want to know the tools that I use and be confidant in them. So I'll keep practice with what I want to count on. Today I was sighting in my air rifle after getting the scoped zeroed in I notice a totally different grouping from the various pellets I was using. I don't want to have to tweak my scope just to practice. I want to be able to count on my air rifle for every shot. But I'm new... :o

[longislandhunter]

Hi Wally,,, nice to have you on the forum  :)

It's very typical for different pellets to have a different POI  and different grouping patterns.  Whenever I get a new rifle I sight it in using a good domed pellet, like a superdome or CPL, then once I get in shooting good on paper I'll shoot 5 shots from each type of pellet I have in stock to see which one is the best performer.  Once the best performer is identified I'll re-sight the rifle in for that pellet.

Jeff

[shadow]

And then the hunt is on Jeff hehe. Ed

[Tex]

What Jeff said!  Just my opinion and similar to what I do. Some guns will show pretty good variations between pellets, even of the same weight and shape.

Cheers