What are the best accuracy pellets for the stock Talon SS?
I am new to this forum, but I have been reading it for a few months. I’m 49 years old and I am an NRA Certified handgun instructor. I got interested in airguns about 2 years ago when I wanted to practice shooting in my back yard. I live in Miami, and I have a 100 ft range setup. Quiet is important to me, as I don’t want the neighbors calling our local police about my backdoor range.
I started with a Daisy Powerline 880 in .177 and discovered the challange of accuracy with airguns beyond 25 ft. I bought a Gamo Hunter 440 and then a Gamo Big Cat both in .177 and discovered how hard it was to be really accurate at 100 ft with a springer air gun. I installed a new trigger in my Big Cat, and from a bench rest using my Lead Sled I could get my best groups about 1 inch wide by 5 inches high. I found pellets made a big difference, and I use RWS Superdomes. My guess is it needs a good tuning to be more accurate, but I wanted something better.
After a lot of research, I came across the Airforce line of guns, and got to handle them in Orlando at the SHOT Show in January 2009.
I found an older ( first year of production according to Airforce ) Talon SS on Gunbroker in .22 for $395 delivered and bought it about 4 weeks ago. It came with the scuba tank adapter and I have 4 dive tanks from my diving equipment. After replacing some O rings I get it charged to 3000 psi easily.
I put a BSA Mil Dot 3 x 9 x 50 scope on it and I am geting my best results out of RWS Meisterklugen 14 gr .22 pellets. So far, at 100 ft I have been able to acheive about 1.5 to 2 inch groups. The barrel has no additional baffleing, and I have the power setting at “6” on the control. I an really enjoying the gun and it’s a pleasure to be able to hit almost anything I aim at. I’ve shredded a few tin cans, and I am a convert!
Here are my questions:
1. The Talon SS only has a 12 inch barrel, so is a 1.5 inch group as good as it gets with a stock gun?
2. I know pellets make a difference. Has anyone done an accurracy test using various pellets in the SS?
3. If no one has done a decisive ammo test, what is your favorite pellet for your SS, either unmodified or modified?
4. Will a heavier pellet give more consistant accuracy farther downrange? I understand there is a point with this particular configuration that pellets can be too heavy.
Thanks in advance for your sage advice.
Dan
All Replies
JSB’s / Kodiaks.
Lama would have a fit if he saw that title…. holy grammar nazi batman.
(Can I call godwin on myself in the same post?)
For hunting in the .22 the Pre’d also shoot good in most of our guns.
I tend to go with Kodiaks = HN Baracudas and JBS most of the time.
CP performs pretty well on my setup as well.
Haven’t shot these out of the Talon because the 15.9’s work so well why change.
However, my Rapid LOVES the 18.1 gr JSB’s!
Cris
Amen.
Cris
Kodiaks (or H&N here) are the best I’ve found so far. Haven’t tried the JSB 18.1 grainers but have heard lots of good things about them…
the baracudas are the same as kodiacs. also eun jins in .177 are accurate. yet to try predators..
Thanks for the responses. I am going to order a sampler pack from A o A and some JSP Diablo heavy exacts, based on the video I saw at Pyramid Air on the Talon SS and accuracy.
Dan
To shrink those groups lightly hold the rifle and do not shoulder it tight at all. Let it cradle in your arms.
If you snug up on it the accuracy goes whacky.
As for pellets Kodiak and JSB are good.
Hands down for me the all around pellet out to 100yds is the JSB exact 15.9gr…Readily available…
Probably the meisterkulgens
1.5 – 2.0 inch groups at 100 feet is a rather large group … my .177 shooting crosman premier heavies will shoot groups as small as a quarter inch at 40 yards when the wind is calm and I am on top of my shooting game.
I would expect 1/2 inch groups from your rifle at 50 yards once she is broken in and shooting the pellets she likes best.
My first Talon loved JSB’s and the rest of them all have a preference for Kodiaks or the aforementioned CPH’s.
test
Kodiaks & JSB’s seem to get the most consistent good reviews around here.
I was shooting 1/2″-3/4″ groups with a 12″ .22 Talon last weekend (first weekend with this gun) using JSB 18.1gr pellets @ 40yards.
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I bought some tins of 15.8 .22 JSB’s, and my best group at 100 ft was .4 inches ctc with 5 shots, I am very satisfied.
Dan