JSB Predators

[daved]

Did a little more shooting with the 350 last night.  Now that I'm getting more comfortable with the gun, I thought I'd fall back and try some pellets that didn't seem to work as well before.  Predators and Kodiaks were my choice last night, with Superdomes as my control.

Kodiaks are still not working for me, can't seem to get them under 2" at 20 yards.  Will keep trying.  The Predators were a little more interesting.  These are starting to feel like "almost, but no cigar" to me.  On paper, I'll stack 2, then spread the last 3 around.  The next group will open up even more.  I also did some informal longer range plinking, and I think the same thing was happening.  At this point, I would not consider them a hunting quality pellet, just because I can never be sure if they are going to hit where I'm aiming them.  It's especially frustrating because both times I've tried these, the results were the same.  First two shots stacked right at POA, then who knows.  That said, if I can ever get them to settle down, they do seem to pack quite a punch.  Will do some chrony testing on everything this weekend.  Can't wait 'til the new scope gets here, still not sure my scope isn't partly to blame.

BTW, I'm finding that a medium hold with the forearm rested at about the balance point seems to be giving me the most consistent accuracy with the 350.  At least, that's what works with the Superdomes.  This also seems reasonable for a hunting rifle.  I tried a super light hold last night, still rested, it might have been slightly more accurate, but who could hunt that way?  More later.

Dave

I had the same problems, then found out it was a number of things i was doing wrong (useing a hard rest for example). Those jsb's in my gun are dead on the money. I used to go out and do some pest control and put 10-20 pellets in my pocket, just incase. Now i takea couple predators with and hit my mark every time. But each gun likes different ones.

[longislandhunter]

Dave,

Seems strange that both times you've shot the predators the first couple are dead on, then as you shoot the groups open up more and more. Can't be a coincidence. Sounds like a pattern to me.  Perhaps recoil vibration is effecting POI alignment with the scope after a couple of shots?  I am certainly no expert on anything air gun related but it just doesn't sound to me like it's the pellets.  I have a feeling that once you mount that new scope on the gun you may, just may, find the predators shooting quite differently.  Then again, I could be entirely wrong.  Guess we'll find out after you mount that new glass.  

I made a "review" post yesterday on the .177 predators after I tried them out in my Crosman 1377c pistol.  They were awesome, ragged one hole groups dead center bullseye at 20 yards.  That was the only gun I tried them in due to time constraints, but can't wait to try them in my .177 rifles.  Also want to get some in .22 for the .350 and the Gamo 1250 to try out.  If they shot that well out of my  short barreled 1377 pistol I'm assuming they should give similiar results out of a long gun, at least I'm hoping so.  

I'm just thinking that logic would dictate that if the .177 predators are aerodynamically stable enough to perform so well out of my 1377c, then the .22 caliber should exhibit the same aerodynamic properties since proportionally the aerodynamic design qualities are the same. Same principle used by aircraft and ship builders when they construct "to scale" models.

Anyway, like I said, I'm no expert on anything so all my theories may be just that.  The important thing is that  you're having so much fun with the gun.  I look forward to your posts each day.  Keep up the good work.  Hopefully I'll be able to find someone who has the .22 predators in stock so I can order some, then we can swap data concerning their performance in our 350's.

Jeff

[daved]

Hey, Jeff,

Yeah, I agree the behaviour is strange, and I think it could be the scope.  We'll see once the new glass gets here.

I read your review, good one.  I may have to get one of those 1377's myself :-).  I need to get some Predators in .177 myself, see how the CFX likes them.

The aerodynamics of the Predators is interesting.  Visually, they are very long, with a high waisted, long tailed look  The polymer tip only adds to that look.  They are also a tight fit in the 350, so I suspect the head diameter is on the high side.  I need to check and see if they are available in different head sizes, like the other JSB's.  Haven't chronied any of the new pellets yet, maybe tomorrow if the honey-do list doesn't get too out of hand.  Looking forward to you getting some in .22 as well.  Later.

Dave

PS Yes, I AM haviing a blast with the new rifle, and I look forward to anything you care to post also.

[Gene_SC]

Something I found. May be of some interest to you Dave...

http://www.velocitypress.com/predator.shtml

Gene

[daved]

Thanks, Gene, that was cool.  Nice bonus, in that he was using a 350 to do the testing.  Guess that qualifies as double cool!

Dave

I recntly discovered that my diana 52 likes more pressure against my shoulder than I'd been using,and different pressure depending on the pellet make/style.Just one thing to try...

[daved]

Howdy, Scot,

Yea, I've seen some of that with the 350 as well.  And as the pellet weight go up, the hold firmness needs to go up as well.  I still haven't been able to get Kodiaks to shoot well in this thing.  Not sure I want to, the recoil gets pretty fierce with them.  I'm kind of in limbo at the moment, waiting on the new scope, and hoping it stops raining once it gets here.  Later.

Dave