FAL Shot
Well-Known Member
Out of all the pellets I have tried in my BSA Lonestar .25 cal PCP rifle, the JSB Exact King and H&N Baracuda are far and away the best and most accurate for long range hunting. Haven't tried the new Crosman .25 cal, but hope they are in the Premier league and not their standard grade league.
The JSB can states a weight of 25.4 grains. I weighed pellet after pellet with almost no weight variation. I weighed 10 of them, and my digital scale said 254 grains, exactly on the money. I weighed 10 more and this time it said 254.2 grains, for an average of .02 grains high for each pellet.
It's hard to find centerfire bullets that accurate in weight, and these are 4 cent pellets.
The H&N Baracuda (Beeman Kodiak, or Bisley something-or-other in the UK) which is sold all over the world for much longer under many private labels, has been the gold standard in high powered PCP air rifle for a long time. Beeman states 30.7 grains on their tin, I believe. H&N states 31.02 grains on their tin. Could it be that Beeman is buying the peewees???
Rarely do the Baracuda pellets come up to full weight in my experience. I have also seen a grain in weight variation in a single tin. That's a bit over 3% at 31 grains. The strange thing is that the peewees still shoot rather accurately in the Lonestar. PCP air rifles are unique in that heavier pellets result in an increase in power, reverse for lighter pellets. Unlike Springers that have a tuned optimum pellet weight where power is lost on either side of optimum weight.
Now, under no wind conditions (rare in Montana), the JSB Exact King (Quarterbore Special to some) pellets shoot a bit faster and more accurately. That is understandable due to the lighter weight and tighter weight tolerances. However, the greater BC of the longer and heavier Baracuda pellet still allows it to outgroup the JSB pellet at long distance on windy days.
Just my 2 cents, YMMV. Haven't used the Eun Jin 44 grain pellets as they are hard to source. In fact, I have to mailorder the JSB and H&N pellets. Crosman, Benjamin, RWS, and Gamo up to .22 cal are only available locally. Total disregard for the .25 cal air rifle, which is the best for long range Montana type air rifle hunting.
The new Benjamin .25 cal pellets are reputed to be good. They also seem a bit more expensive than JSB and H&N .25 cal. RWS is WAY more expensive and certainly no better. You can't get better than JSB (Czech Republic made, same as CZ rifles) at this time, as far as consistency and precision are concerned. Like a CZ rifle, a lot of bang for the buck in those pellets.
H&N is just as precise as JSB if you weigh them out. I save the peewees for target practice and plinking.
H&N Field Target Trophy is the gold standard for Springer air rifles, so don't buy Baracudas if you have a Springer. You will lose major power if using Baracuda in a Springer. If using FTT in a 50 foot pound energy class PCP like mine, they will go supersonic, make a ballistic crack, and be inaccurate. However, if you hit something at close range, rather devastating for an air rifle as the pellet will break up inside small game like Stinger Segmented. Baracuda will stay together and exit a prairie dog at 100 yards shot though mid body.
FWIW, .25 cal springers are around 25 foot pounds of energy, far below what PCP rifles achieve, and 2 pounds or more heavier to carry.....not to mention far less accurate than PCP. Friends don't let friends buy springers, and least if long range work is in order.
The Lonestar shoots 0.5" groups or better (especially with the silencer attached, around 0.35") at 50 yards on a still day with JSB or H&N pellets per above. Try that with your springer before you call one accurate. Got rid of my gas ram springer (coil spring springers are even worse) and don't want to see another one.
The JSB can states a weight of 25.4 grains. I weighed pellet after pellet with almost no weight variation. I weighed 10 of them, and my digital scale said 254 grains, exactly on the money. I weighed 10 more and this time it said 254.2 grains, for an average of .02 grains high for each pellet.
It's hard to find centerfire bullets that accurate in weight, and these are 4 cent pellets.
The H&N Baracuda (Beeman Kodiak, or Bisley something-or-other in the UK) which is sold all over the world for much longer under many private labels, has been the gold standard in high powered PCP air rifle for a long time. Beeman states 30.7 grains on their tin, I believe. H&N states 31.02 grains on their tin. Could it be that Beeman is buying the peewees???
Rarely do the Baracuda pellets come up to full weight in my experience. I have also seen a grain in weight variation in a single tin. That's a bit over 3% at 31 grains. The strange thing is that the peewees still shoot rather accurately in the Lonestar. PCP air rifles are unique in that heavier pellets result in an increase in power, reverse for lighter pellets. Unlike Springers that have a tuned optimum pellet weight where power is lost on either side of optimum weight.
Now, under no wind conditions (rare in Montana), the JSB Exact King (Quarterbore Special to some) pellets shoot a bit faster and more accurately. That is understandable due to the lighter weight and tighter weight tolerances. However, the greater BC of the longer and heavier Baracuda pellet still allows it to outgroup the JSB pellet at long distance on windy days.
Just my 2 cents, YMMV. Haven't used the Eun Jin 44 grain pellets as they are hard to source. In fact, I have to mailorder the JSB and H&N pellets. Crosman, Benjamin, RWS, and Gamo up to .22 cal are only available locally. Total disregard for the .25 cal air rifle, which is the best for long range Montana type air rifle hunting.
The new Benjamin .25 cal pellets are reputed to be good. They also seem a bit more expensive than JSB and H&N .25 cal. RWS is WAY more expensive and certainly no better. You can't get better than JSB (Czech Republic made, same as CZ rifles) at this time, as far as consistency and precision are concerned. Like a CZ rifle, a lot of bang for the buck in those pellets.
H&N is just as precise as JSB if you weigh them out. I save the peewees for target practice and plinking.
H&N Field Target Trophy is the gold standard for Springer air rifles, so don't buy Baracudas if you have a Springer. You will lose major power if using Baracuda in a Springer. If using FTT in a 50 foot pound energy class PCP like mine, they will go supersonic, make a ballistic crack, and be inaccurate. However, if you hit something at close range, rather devastating for an air rifle as the pellet will break up inside small game like Stinger Segmented. Baracuda will stay together and exit a prairie dog at 100 yards shot though mid body.
FWIW, .25 cal springers are around 25 foot pounds of energy, far below what PCP rifles achieve, and 2 pounds or more heavier to carry.....not to mention far less accurate than PCP. Friends don't let friends buy springers, and least if long range work is in order.
The Lonestar shoots 0.5" groups or better (especially with the silencer attached, around 0.35") at 50 yards on a still day with JSB or H&N pellets per above. Try that with your springer before you call one accurate. Got rid of my gas ram springer (coil spring springers are even worse) and don't want to see another one.
Last edited:
