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jstnevns · New Member

Hey guys I just bought a shadow sport for rabbits and squirrels. Its a big step up from my crosman 760. The problem is it seems like I have to use the same kind of pellet to keep my scope zeroed in. I like to use crosman premium hollow points. But then I fired the pba ammunition that came with it and it does shoot faster. What should I stick with. Because I also like to target shoot and plink at stuff and when I shoot pba it shoots higher at 20 yards then the lead hollow points do. so should I stick with those hollow points or the pba. problem with pba its expensive I dont want to spend 7.99 on a 100. my guess it would be the lead ones because I hear they do have more of a mushroom effect on a animal. But just give me your opinion on it. Thanks guys.

dedpool · Veteran Member

if you like the hollowpoints, zero it for them and ignore the PBA

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Each and every pellet in each an every individual gun is going to act/shoot a bit differently- even the same pellet in two guns of the exact same make and model will shoot slightly differently.

That being said- trying different pellets is one the things most people do to find the "optimum" shooting pellet for their specific gun.

As you bought your gun for hunting/pest control, the Hollow Point pellets are probably well suited for this. If you like them, like dedpool mentioned stick with them and sight your scope for use with them. Every time you use a different type or brand of pellet (even another manufacturers hollow point) you will have to re-sight for use with that pellet.

If you like to plink with the gun when not hunting and want to use a different pellet- you can either re-sight or adjust for where those pellets end up (in your case the PBAs landing higher at 20yds) in your shooting.

Good luck and happy shooting!

The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

why is it you like hollow points?

if the others enhance the velocity then go for them.

Thread Hijacked

leadman · Veteran Member

what one is more accurate? keep in mind that sub 500 airguns wont mushroom the cph very well. also keep in mind that the pba pellets are lighter so wont carry the energy that well but they should have better penetration at closer ranges due to the fact that they are a harder pellet so if you keep your shots close and say headshots you will likely do better with them in a sub 500 fps gun

23ib0d0n · Moderator

PBA don't retain energy very well. Probably not so good for the gun either {like dry firing} but the shadow is pretty well made and after a tune shoots mid weight pellets in the 15~16fpe range very accurately.

Bob and Gene have built many gamo that can give good german guns a run for their money. I have some myself . . .

jstnevns · New Member

Well I found another pellet besides the hollow point. I tried useing the hollow points but they weren’t consistant so I changed to the gamo match pellets and it seemed to work pretty good. Could hit a pellet tin top from about 40 yards away. I hear they are ok for hunting from reviews people have wrote on them.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

"Match" pellets, or flat-headed 'wadcutters' as they are known are not the best pellets for hunting. They are designed for accuracy when shooting at relatively close targets (i.e. 10m). They will retain accuracy well beyond 10m but are not very good for hunting- their flat head doesn't penetrate very well for killing prey quickly.

Years ago some people believed wadcutter or 'match' pellets were great for everything- but that's an 'old school' way of thinking. You could try a pointed pellet or a round-headed Gamo Hunting pellet and see how they work for you as well.

leadman · Veteran Member

i normally use wadcutters for birds out to 30 yards as they are easy to kill and they deliver more fpe to the target especially when you put them in backwards but then a 1/2 inch group opens to about an inch and a half at 30. i would never think of using them to take fir though.

another thing i find works really well is find a pellet with a fairly large skirt, i use cphp or cp pointed pellets. drop a dab of super glue in the skirt and crap a steel bb in there. you will hear/feel a little click when the bb is set. now let that sit for a bit. you now have an 18+\- grain pellet that when it hits teh target the bb splits thru most the pellet causeing the pellet to expand greatly

AirGunEric · Site Admin

How does the BB in the rear of the pellet affect the barrel rifling? Ever notice any change in accuracy once you switch back to plain pellets?

leadman · Veteran Member

it doesn't even touch the rifling, if it touches it you didn't push it in the skirt far enough and that is the trick, ive even stopped gluing them in just press it in until you feel\hear a little click and its set. out of my modded 2240 at 40 yards it is hitting about 1 inch lower

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Interesting! Any particular brand/type of wadcutters that work the best doing this?

leadman · Veteran Member

ooh man i just read the title dont do this with .177 only .22 wow i feel dumb.

for the pellet in the skirt trick i normally used .22 crosman premier hollowpoints or crosman premier pointed pellets

23ib0d0n · Moderator

Just ran across these pages and thought it applicable information

http://home.hiwaay.net/~ispellan/PelletTest01.html

http://home.hiwaay.net/~ispellan/PelletTest02.html