Hello Gang.
I was able to get another couple of hours shooting time with the TX to do a little experimenting, and to get the gun zeroed in at 10 yards for the sub-division squirrel population reduction project.
I wanted to try a couple of different pellets that are more suited for dispatching squirrels humanely just to make sure that they are still accurate at 10 yards, even though the 7.44 gr. Air Arms would have worked fine. After spending my first few hours with the TX last month, I can now see that my concern about accuracy at this close distance was unjustified. Someone mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the gun should be able to shoot pellet on pellet at that distance. Whoever said that knew what they were talking about.
Also, the Airmax scope had no problem perfectly focusing at that distance.Once I was done playing around for an hour or so, it was time to zero up at 10 yards. I started by using the recommended target pellets for the gun that seem to work pretty well at the longer distances. They are the Air Arms Diabolo Field 4.52mm and 8.4gr. After a few shots to zero in on the bullseye, I fired 5 pellets through the same hole at 10 yds. Can't argue with that.
I set up the FX chrony and here are the results. The velocity took a jump up from my last round of shooting and the variability was a little lower which is great. The only thing that was different this time is that it was much colder (around +4 degrees vs. + 15). Shot count: 10
Low: 916
Hi: 930
Avg: 924
Spread: 14
STD Dev: 3.8
926
923
923
923
926
930
926
928
923
916
This pushed the foot pounds up to 16 for this pellet, where it was at 15.4 in the warmer weather.
Next was the JSB Match Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 4.5mm 10.34gr.
The velocity dropped as expected, but the average foot pounds come in at 16.3, and the variability was getting pretty good. I didn't make any adjustments to the scope at all and proceeded to shoot 5 of these pellets through the same hole. I thought that was pretty cool.
Shot count: 10
Low: 837
Hi: 849
Avg: 843
Spread: 12
STD Dev: 3.3
840
844
840
844
844
842
837
849
844
844
I guess theoretically less velocity = less pass through, plus the higher energy = more terminal damage.
The last ones I tried out was the Preditor Polymag .177 4.5mm 8gr.
As you probably already know, these are hunting pellets with the reputation of losing accuracy once you are beyond ~25 yards or so. Since I'm dealing with squirrels and chipmunks at close distances at this point in time, I thought I'd see how they do. As you can see from the chrony results, the velocity shot up and the energy average calculates out at 15.7 ft.lbs. The difference was in the accuracy and the variability, but at 10 yards it's not a problem at all. I took 5 shots at the target and the pellets moved around about a pellet's width. At the end of the 5 shots I still had one hole in the cardboard but it had opened up to about 1/4". Still more than accurate to deal with critters at that distance.
Shot count: 10
Low: 923
Hi: 949
Avg: 940
Spread: 26
STD Dev: 7.6
923
942
935
944
946
935
942
949
946
939
So I think that I'll use the Polymags for the 10 yard squirrel shots. The variability and accuracy at that distance will be fine and they should result in an instant/humane kill on the squirrels with a head or vitals shot.
Once I get back to the country property in the spring, I'll see how the JSB Exact Heavy pellets do at the mid-range/longer target distances, and I still haven't cracked open the tin of JSB Exact RS 7.33gr pellets yet. Something to look forward to!!
I hope someone found this data interesting. I know I had fun gathering it.