Trying some new pellets

[GunnyMack]

New H&N .177 10gr slug for my RWS
New Lyman sabot slug for my Savage 220

I shot the H&Ns the other day, a little off my zero by about 1" left and a tad low at 15yds( my typical distance for bird feeder raiding tree rats)

The lyman is designed for smooth bore using a regular wad. I had a good idea that the rifled barrel on my Savage 220 would probably not play well with a regular wad- I was right. I loaded 6 this morning and at 50 it shot about a 4-5" 3 shot group.
I just loaded 3 more, 23.5gr Longshot, gas seal, 4 -1/4" card wads then slug with a 2 piece sabot made from a hull.

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[gamekeeper]

I'm still experimenting with .22 pellets in my Remington Pest Controller but a shortage of Squirrels means I am only shooting paper targets
I would love to try some slugs but apparently not legal on deer over here.

[Bill in Oregon]

Will, I have had great luck with H&N as well as JSB pellets of the years -- and Air Arms, as well, but they are made for AA by JSB, I believe.
Look forward to seeing your results with the new wad arrangement with that big Lyman slug.

[GunnyMack]

Hey Bill! I'm on to something with this new load.
3"hull, 23.5gr Longshot, a BP gas seal, four ¹/⁴" card wads under the Lyman slug. I used 2 pieces of hull cut for length of slug and reduced the OD to just cover the diameter of the slug as a sabot.Roll crimp.
I shot this today from my Savage 220 ( rifled barrel), at 50yds .
I need to pour some more slugs and continue testing at 100yds.

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[Scott Tschirhart]

I wish I had a shortage of squirrels.

I’m killing them almost daily and I can’t seem to slow them down.

[GunnyMack]

I just shot one myself, with those new slugs I got. It was DRT when Sage got to it for the retrieve. She was almost unable to control herself as I opened the window for the shot! If I had opened it all the way I think she would have jumped out!!

Here I start shooting the squirrels when I see 8 or more under the feeder. I should probably shoot more of them... I'm convinced they are freeloading liberals surviving off my hardwork!

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm convinced they are freeloading liberals surviving off my hardwork!

I agree!!!!

[Bill in Oregon]

Will, that is a very promising slug group at 50. Looking forward to seeing your 100-yard results.

[marlinman93]

I've found that 10 gr. and heavier pellets give me the most consistent groups, so that's all I use. A little slower fps, but better accuracy.

[GunnyMack]

Bill, I just poured some more slugs for further testing. The hollow base Lyman mould sure is a pita! First one i poured the wood knob on the base pin broke in half. I had to cool off the base pin so I could work on a new wood handle.

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Then I realized the new knob doesn't fit under the pot! So now I scrambled to find my dipper so I could pour. I'll go back to re-engineer the knob.
I also poured some .257" 65gr to try in the 92.

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[Bill in Oregon]

I agree that hollow-based molds are a pain to use. I now try to avoid them. But that Lyman sabot slug sure hits like a hammer.

[GunnyMack]

Yes indeed Bill! I figure that great big flat point is going to deliver huge amounts of kenitic energy!
I hope this weekend I can do some more testing.

[Bronco]

Has anyone tried that slug in a smooth bore shot gun! I just ordered a 410 slug mold of that configuration and was wondering how it performed in a smooth bore. If so was also wondering what the stack was made of .

[GunnyMack]

Bronco, the 12 and 20 are both designed to use a regular shot shell wad. I've shot the 12s from a smooth bore just to try them. Never really tried them for accuracy.
I've been playing with a couple different 20ga slugs for my full rifled Savage. It loves the 3" Remington Acutip slugs but at $5+ a pop I needed an alternative as the Remington slugs are very difficult to find.
My first try with these Lyman sabot slugs was nothing to write home about. I used a AA wad , the rifling tore the wad to shreds and it was proven by the target.
This latest load shows real promise at 50 so next I'll stretch them out to 75 then 100. I need minute of deer( 3" or less at 100) to be comfortable using them.
Most load data is for a fold crimp but I'm using a roll crimp with a 2 piece 'sabot' of 20ga hull I cut from a used hull. I cut the hull the length of the slug, then cut into 2 pieces and remove about 1/16" from each piece, wrap around the slug and load it.

I'd be glad to hear how the 410s work for you!

[Bronco]

Will update when the mold arrives and I start casting and loading some! I found a used NOE two cavity mold, looks like the same configuration as your, for $70.00 including shipping. It will be my first brass mold!

[GunnyMack]

Great deal !