They can work, but you have to pay attention to slug weight, compared to the power of the gun.
I'd love to, but it is an expensive exercise. I'm sure that is what is keeping a lot of folks from answering this question in all calibers.
In .177:
"This is our best slug for break barrel guns."
I'd also try the 10gr, similar to the popular heavy weights in .177
This would be a crap shoot, as they weigh 12.5gr. A good test for a powerful PCP:
https://nielsenspecialtyammo.com/collections/177-caliber/products/12-5-gr-hp-fb-178-cal
@sonnysan are you a maker of these? Nonetheless, it all seems pretty cool
To everyone, my whole questioning/reasoning for this post is, some of us have "magnum" springers. And as we all well know that every rifle is different and likes different things. Things such a holds and ammo choices. So why limit yourself to just say JSB or H&N for that matter. Just saying.
I have limited experience, but I'll pass it on. Decades ago, I experimented with some slugs from a DIY mold. These were about 32 gr., and shaped a bit like the old style Sheridan pellets- conical nose, cylindrical body, short driving band at the rear. I was shooting these out of a Crosman 140, so not a power house. These were not real accurate, but they never destabilized, and hit with a pretty good thump at close range.
Move to the present. I don't own a magnum springer, so my observations are based on a 20 FPE gun. The FX Hybrids work pretty well, but I don't have hard data on accuracy. They do expand. I tried the NSA 17.5 gr., and they are pretty accurate. Unless you do the "screwdriver mod", they don't expand at these 700 fps velocities. One that wouldn't work for me were the H&N Rabbit Magnums (at 25 gr, and slug shape, it qualifies as a slug in my book). They were, for me, one of the least accurate pellets that I've ever shot, and keyholed on a regular basis.
With that, some work and some don't.
Josh,
Over the last 2 years or so, I spent much time, energy and effort attempting to get slugs to shoot at or under 12ftlb for Field Target use. I gave away all kinds of weights and designs at every match and competition I went to. I probably gave away between 5 -7000 of them.
From all of the feedback I got from the recipients of my slugs, I found something that I would not ever expect. Seems that springers rated between 14-16 ft.lbs, had good results with my 15 grain slugs. Not all of them, but a decent number. Some didn't like them at all.
A hunter Field Target competitor from my club here on Long Island, uses them out of his TX 200, with great results. It's actually more accurate than any diabolo pellet he's tried.
At the end of the day, there's no rhyme or reason for a pellet to work, or not, in any given gun. Slugs in general like higher velocities than pellets, so to find that they did work in some springers, was a shock to say the least. I wouldn't have thought it.
Tom Holland
Field Target Tech
Fieldtargettech.com
Josh,
I have a lot more tinkering to do, different weights to try, different designs, different barrels. Have 9.26 grain cup base hollowpoint slugs working halfway decent in my TM1000 at under 12ftlb. By the time spring and warmer weather roll around, should have something that will work out well
Tom Holland
Field Target Tech
Fieldtargettech.com
@xbowairsniper1200 I would think that they would work in something like a Diana 54/56 or one of those heavy shooting webleys though.
