has anyone seen the new hybrid slug?
I watched a video from Airgun-101 which featured the slug. It’s a hollow-point with said BC of 0.08. Lots of shooting in the video. bit expensive at $15.00 per 100 slugs. I don’t think I should post a link here, so I’ll simply say it’s good to see this new twist for the community. I wonder if my Short can handle it.
darryl
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a good slug comparison video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vlQuaAFBIo
Darryl
Hello again,
My little adventure hasn’t made much progress. I’ve been waiting on Nielsen to produce a .215 slug, but I’m not sure when/if that will happen. I’d thought he was waiting on tooling. Meanwhile, I can now say that using Petr’s barrel to shoot the H&N .217 21-grain slugs has turned out not so bad. Over-doing the Flitz and JB bore paste has greatly reduced the choke’s tightness,which the slugs don’t mind at all. the JSB Jumbo Heavies seem to object (larger groups than the slugs). I don’t shoot the Nielsen .2165″ (17.5 grain) anymore.
Today I had a chance to get a few shots off at 30 yards. The slugs have a different trajectory than the pellets. They shoot the same POA as the JSBs indoors (I checked; I was hitting the same hole with the slugs as made by the JSBs). It’s a small shooting space, < ten yards. In my experience with the Short’s rail and my scope (SWFA 16x Mil-Mil) I could set the indoor POA at one mil below the crosshairs, and be pretty much on POI at 30 yards with the cross hairs on target, shooting AA 18 grain pellets. The slugs seem to be hitting about one foot higher than the POA. I don’t think the Short’s scope rail was made for slugs. But what to do? Any suggestions?
Darryl
PS I attached an image that shows some indoor shooting. The scope can’t focus below 10 meters so my aim point is always blurred indoors. Still, I’m able to get things close. H&N .217″/21-grain slugs. Not bad for sitting in a swivel chair. 🙂
hello all,and Merry Christmas to those little elves among us!
I am sharing this information from my Gmail account re: Nielsen slugs, in quotations:
“Highlighted reply
Heath Halfhill
12 hours ago
longbowdt Nelson slugs are soft lead and way softer than say Crosman Pellets. I have never shot them. Matt Dubber said in one of his videos how soft the Nelson’s are and that’s why they expand so well now compared to when they were new out. Besides, the barrel on an Airgun is probably good for a million or more shots even at higher velocity’s I think. I believe Tom Gaylord said that about the life of a Airgun barrel being a million or more shots.”
On gmail, I am longbowdt, as well as one You Tube. Here is the link to that video, and comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEg3DNW6u4&lc=z23ycfxriueoer42qacdp435oc1g4pknq0wzd4ib5y1w03c010c.1577238817135309
I had assumed the Nielsen slugs were much harder because of the effort it took to load even the .2165 slugs as compared to the H&N .217 slugs. I can feel the greater resistance when closing the cocking lever. So what could be the cause of this resistance? Any ideas?
thank you,
Darryl
miksatx, we have a deal. Glad I saved your addy. It’s been a day here!
Darryl
Probably lead up the barrel faster. Made you a offer on your Nielsen slugs? If I get them I’ll see how well they shoot out my polygon barrel on my standard. Got the barrel back from the machinist Friday night. I’ll probably end up just resizing them down to .215 like my cast slugs.
Nope. Not yet, miksatx. It’s not been good shooting weather here. The Sun is out today. It’s 50 out too but my I’m a bit tied up at the moment. Soon, I hope. The new barrel shoots the JSBs in a tighter group (indoors) that can be overlaid with the groups from the older barrel and still be seen clearly and completely. That’s a hopeful sign. IN both barrels the H&N 21 grain slugs group tighter. I hope these results will translate one I can shoot outside again. Right now I’m waiting on Santa to bring me a large package (so I can grab it before the porch-Pirates come patrolling).
miksatx, what do you make of the Nielsens being harder to shove through the barrel? Definitely high friction with them. Must be hard on the rifling
Darryl
Have ya shot any of the 216.5s at any distance yet?
I’ve been lucky in not dropping tins that didn’t have the screw lids. Rather be lucky than good. 😉
But getting back to the slugs, do you think using the harder Nielsen slugs would be detrimental to the barrel? I admit I was initially surprised that the cocking lever requires that bit more effort to close when using the Nielsens. Not to go OCD on it, but I’m not a slug shooter by history, and so am curious (and maybe a little concerned) about barrel wear with the harder material. I do think the H&N slugs may be slightly softer, but I really can’t tell. To repeat myself, they require less effort to close the cocking lever. Things that make you go “hmmmm…”
Darryl
PS I started this thread because I am interested in the new presentation of slugs for regular airgun barrels. It’s a new thing. I don’t recall seeing anything that hints at problems. But then the Boeing 737-Max isn’t flying either. I wonder if the FX slugs are made of a softer lead composition, or if those slug barrels are made to a different spec than “regular airgun barrels?
I have to admit the tins with the screw on lids are awesome…
You know I have read online comments, where some actually couldn’t stand the lid that screw on.
I am just guessing they never dropped one on the ground that didn’t have the screw on lid. Then had to pick all them up, dirt sticks and all.
Now rowdy, don’t go getting all “Hoot” on us! 😀
Nielsen still beats that 4-tin pricing at .05 cents per round. Can’t argue manufacturing. Every little bit extra adds to the price (screw-top tins, and printed two-color labels…cha-CHING!!!!).
Having said that, here are some observations. The Nielsen slugs are very uniform in size, .2165/5.50 mm on the money. The H&N .217/5.51 mm are also equally on the money. Measured at the base, of course. The Nielsens require a tiny bit more effort in cocking, and loading a slug into the breech, compared to the H&N slugs. This suggests to me that Nielsen uses a harder material (higher tin content?). For being roughly the same diameter (-.0005″) as the H&N slugs. With the new barrel the Nielsen slugs don’t group as well, and the group is more horizontal while the H&N group is a bit vertical. The Nielsens being harder, I wonder about increased friction in the barrel. I’d have to wear away more rifling to decrease that friction to near the H&Ns, and risk losing accuracy in the process. So I won’t go that route. I think a mild polish to help the H&Ns a bit might be worthwhile, but only a polish. No removing material. Just shine it up a little. Remember, I’m shooting indoors here. And the JSB 18s shot just a hair better. Less friction, I assume.
Darryl
Now wait a minute, you order 4 tins at 14.75, you get one free! That all breaks down to .059 cents per round! 🙂
Price does not concern me really. Whatever I come across that shots really good and its weight is what I want, it’s a done 🙂
Happy Holidays you gearheads ! 🙂
Season’s Greetings everyone. I hope the New Year will find you all prosperous, and your aims are true.
Just to toss it out there, I’ve done the math, and have found that the Nielsen slugs are actually a better buy than the H&N slugs are. I’m sure it have a lot to do with one coming in a resealable plastic bag (Nielsen), while the other comes in a tin with a screw-on lid and labels on the front and back. Of course proof is in the shooting, and that remains to be seen, but a properly sized slug wigging 17.5 grains may be the magic elixir for moderately-powered PCP guns. So, again, glass half full. My new order of Nielsen slugs arrives today.
I’ll let you know what’s up with them in a day or so. Stay tunes. 😀
Darryl
Almost forgot the pricing differences.
H&N tin of 200 is $15.75 (about 8 cents per slug)
Nielsen bag of 400 is $18.99 (about 5 cents per slug)
Printing itself is expensive, and making the screw-top tins, plus paying import taxes, etc, all have to be paid for somehow. Even a 10% discount on the H&Ns doesn’t compete with the Nielsen slugs for price/quantity. I say try them and FX, and buy the one that shoots best in your gun. I’m sure it will be worth it to you.
A quick update. miksatx’s barrel arrived and I’ll be putting it through it’s paces when the weather warms up. A big “THANK YOU” to him for helping me out.
a big shout-out to rowdy too, for sending me a first-aid kit for my ailing barrel (which perked up a bit after a lead diet).
I placed an order with NSA (Nielsen) for some 17.5 grain slugs at .2165. These should fit my barrel, since they are .0005″ smaller than the H&N.217 slugs, which fit well in my Short. Similarly I have offered the remaining Nielsen .2175 (5.55 mm) slugs up for sale in the classified. See there, if interested.
I’ll report back to let you know how these Nielsen slugs work. Ought to be something special since miksatx’s barrel is the newer longer barrel for the Short (by about 1.25″). That should add a new “twist” and maybe a few extra fps to boot! Glass half full! 😀
Season’s Greetings All!
Darryl
My barrel seems to be leading in nicely, but I think it’s not got enough left to bring back the one-hole 5-shot grouping. I don’t want you guys to think I’ve given up, though. The H&N slugs still have my interest. I’ve found a recent video from Airgun Depot (smoke de pot, Bob!). Here (see what you think): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZH6TaIc3s Comments, please? I know I’ll buy more just because even now they are still more accurate than pellets through my crippled barrel. Glass half full.
Darryl
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Pretty interesting.