The only match pellets I shoot are those from RWS.
Meisterkugeln 7.0 and 8.3.
I believe (I do not know this for sure) RWS starts the swaging process making R10 pellets and as the dies become worn, they make the Meisterkugeln and then they make the Basics before the dies wear out.
If that is true, then the R10 pellets would be closer to 4.49 with the pellets becoming larger s the process moves towards the Basics.
I do know the 7.0 Meisterkugeln fit a bit looser (some wasted air blowby) than do the 7.0 Basics.
I have not, I typically by 4.52, or 4.50 if thats all available. The few pellets I have mic'd in the past, in a tin, a larger sample may be closer to nominal, then as you move your Lcl and Ucl down the bell shape curve, the stragglers become clear.
I have found many wadcutters shoot good in these, JSB makes yellow and blue lids, HN match rifles and finales, HN pistols shoot good, RWS R10 shoot real well, and don't rule out the Shaks by JSB.
Add much distance, and JSB Rs or AA falcons shine, even out to 50 yds in no wind conditions.
Jason Garvin
Frank and r1lover:
RWS and most companies I know use the same dies for all of their ammo, if the dies are worn they are taken out of the production line. The way companies classify their pellets is by statistical sampling each batch, if it passes certain parameters the lot becomes R-10 and if it barely misses the mark the entire lot will be Meisterkugeln and so forth down the line. This is why many times there is no difference in between the precision of these two pellets. Two parameters used are at least head size and mass but could be others, if for example the sample passes the head size test but not the weight consistency, the batch will become Meisterkugeln...But then if you buy this lot and weigh them, you will upgrade those Meisterkugeln pellets to basically more consistent R-10's or better.
If we were talking Rimfire ammo, the same criteria is applied: Eley Tenex has slightly tighter parameters than Eley Match and both can be as precise.
The head diameter printed on the tins is just a reference, useless to what I am concerned...it the tin says 4.52 it does not mean that they are indeed 4.52's...If you want to precisely know the head size of your batch you will need to measure each and every pellet and for doing so there are many options: A Pellet Gauge https://pelletgage.com/ is the simplest and cheaper alternative that provides very precise results, then you can increase your budget and do it with optical comparators, laser micrometers, air gauging, etc. If you measure an entire tin you will get about 3-5 different head sizes and the distribution will usually be a Normal Curve (Bell curve)...Let me give you a recent example: JSB's 8.34's domed head...I got head sizes from 4.48 to 4.52 and the tin is marked 4.52...After sizing 4.50's were the most, then about the same number of 4.51's and 4.49's, then a little less of 4.52's and 4.48's ...The the tin is marked 8.34 gr. and I got weights from 8.20 to 8.55 and a few 8.70's and 8.10's also distributed in a normal curve... I usually size about 10 tins at a time so I have large batches of the same head size and then I weigh each batch of the same size and store them in small containers to be used in competition....For any company to classify pellets by exact weight and head size becomes very expensive but it is done and this is why you see $50.00 plastic boxes containing 100 or 200 pellets mainly used for serious competition.
We shoot Benchrest and we all head size and weigh our pellets, there is no other way of getting the most accuracy of a gun without this procedure but it is tedious and monotonous...
There is no recipe for the correct head size in FWB 300's...I have two of those 300 S guns and both like different sizes: One loves 4.49's and the other likes both: 4.51-4.52's ...As in any gun, it all depends on the bore dimensions of the barrel and the only way to find out is by shooting sized and weighted pellets at the distance you will be shooting.
Lastly, shooting wadcutters beyond 10 Meters is not a good idea...The reason for a flat head in a wadcutter is for the pellet to cut a round hole in the target (helps in scoring and helps the shooter to see his shots), at short distances it doesn't affect accuracy but at longer distances it will. I have shot wadcutters to 15, 20 and 25 meters from the bench and the precision varies depending on the wind. No wind you get lousy precision, terrible shotgun pattern when it is blowing...
Best regards,
AZ
