talyllyn
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Post by talyllyn on Feb 22, 2021 22:06:58 GMT
This is just some observations from my experience of using deformable BBs. I have used Excite Smart Shot Copper Coated Lead (750 per tin) Excite Smart Shot BBs by Thorness, on Flickr Excite Smart Shot BBs by Thorness, on Flickr Excite Smart Shot BBs by Thorness, on Flickr These are quoted as 7.4 grains and "Will suit all airguns designed to fire Steel BB's." The diameter seems to be about 4.36mm. I have used them successfully in my Umarex P08 Blowback where accuracy seems to be as good as steel BBs with no appreciable difference in POI between the two at 6 yards. They deform quite well and I've not had any come back at me (yet!). Smartshot by Thorness, on Flickr I've also used them in my Schofield revolver and this confirms the feeling that the Schofield packs a bit more punch Schofield smartshot by Thorness, on Flickr The other type of deformables I have are Gamo Lead Balls (500 per tin) Gamo Lead BBs by Thorness, on Flickr Gamo Lead BBs by Thorness, on Flickr Gamo Lead BBs by Thorness, on Flickr These weigh 8.17 grains and "These are true .177 4.5mm Lead BB's." The diameter comes out at 4.48mm so they are that bit bigger as suggested. As these obviously won't work in the P08 I've only tried them in the Schofield. JSR state "THEY WON'T WORK IN GUNS DESIGNED FOR STEEL BB'S" Schofield Gamo lead by Thorness, on Flickr as you can see they flatten well and again I've not seen any bouncers. An unshot comparison: Comparison of Gamo and Excite by Thorness, on Flickr And shot: Shot BBs by Thorness, on Flickr Impact face by Thorness, on Flickr The 6 on the left are from the Schofield , the 3 on the right from the P08. Both types grouped as well as each other from the Schofield but with a small difference in the POI. The Gamo Balls are about 2/3rds of the price of Smart Shot. Both types come in a screw top tin. Cheers Don Edit: Just for comparison: Umarex Steel BBs measure 4.38mm and weigh 5.60 grains.
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Modski66
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Post by Modski66 on Feb 22, 2021 22:40:54 GMT
Excellent comparison, very interesting and informative!
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Doyley83
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Post by Doyley83 on Feb 22, 2021 22:41:26 GMT
Great writeup mate. I've never tried either of these but I'll definitely have a try of the Excites
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twodoctors
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Post by twodoctors on Feb 22, 2021 22:56:36 GMT
Thanks talyllyn.
I would add that the Excite Smart Shot does not work consistently in the Ruger Mk 2. It does work in the KWC Mauser M712 just fine.
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Post by HeadHunter on Feb 22, 2021 23:30:13 GMT
Great to see some information on the two most popular lead bb's, some great pictures there and it answered a lot of the questions that I'd previously thought about, especially when it comes to sizes.
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Post by honestjohn on Feb 24, 2021 10:04:42 GMT
Thanks for an excellent review Talyllyn. I discovered yesterday that I’ve got about 3 tins of these copper coated jobbies that I’d forgotten about! I found them when I knocked them off a shelf whilst reaching for something and one tin came open and spilled its contents all over the floor . In the light of your report I’m going to give them another go and see if I can use them against steel knockdown targets in my indoor range. I currently only use bbs into paper or reactive targets on rag boxes.
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twodoctors
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Post by twodoctors on Feb 24, 2021 10:10:12 GMT
Thanks for an excellent review Talyllyn. I discovered yesterday that I’ve got about 3 tins of these copper coated jobbies that I’d forgotten about! I found them when I knocked them off a shelf whilst reaching for something and one tin came open and spilled its contents all over the floor . In the light of your report I’m going to give them another go and see if I can use them against steel knockdown targets in my indoor range. I currently only use bbs into paper or reactive targets on rag boxes. They can still ricochet John. Be careful when you use them indoor. It deforms, so takes some of the energy out, but it will still bounce off somewhere, just a lot less than steel BBs.
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talyllyn
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Post by talyllyn on Feb 24, 2021 11:35:38 GMT
Thanks for an excellent review Talyllyn. I discovered yesterday that I’ve got about 3 tins of these copper coated jobbies that I’d forgotten about! I found them when I knocked them off a shelf whilst reaching for something and one tin came open and spilled its contents all over the floor . In the light of your report I’m going to give them another go and see if I can use them against steel knockdown targets in my indoor range. I currently only use bbs into paper or reactive targets on rag boxes. I've never tried them against a knockdown target but as Adrian has pointed out they may still ricochet as the knockdown moves before taking all the energy out of the shot. That must have been annoying spilling a tin - I bet they rolled everywhere!
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Post by Wild Bill on Feb 24, 2021 13:16:38 GMT
I use the lead ones in shell firers but I have had jams using them im most semi auto's. Not tried the Copper ones but will give em a go. Nice write up.
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Post by honestjohn on Feb 24, 2021 16:03:44 GMT
So all fired up (pun intended) with this thread I thought I would have another go with these. I had completely forgot that I had them. In my indoor range, I have one of those knockdown Zombie things with the pellet catcher, a similar duck one, a bell target with 2 bells and three funnel type card holder pellet catchers. When I want to use one of my 3 blowback bb firing guns I lift off the knockdowns and fit cardboard boxes with rags in them. These can take card targets or the splatter burst stick on things. I have tried these copper coated lead bbs in all three guns. P08 Luger, H&K USP, and of course my Colt 1911. You can’t not have at least one 1911 can you. Any way, I started with the Luger. I only put a maximum of 10 and more usually 8 in any of the magazines. The Luger performed brilliantly with these copper covered balls. Every bit as accurate as steel bbs and no mis feeds except when the gas was going. My H&K USP was superb. I had forgotten just how good this gun is. Accuracy was superb, and I was knocking over the ducks and zombies regularly. I even rang the bell through the largest hole on the bell target three times on the trot. I haven’t done that before with a pellet firer! ..... I know, I know, but I’m not the best shot! My 1911 also cycled perfectly with these, no miss feeds or lock ups. This has been a revelation to me and I shall be using these again very soon. I’m even going to drag my bandsaw out so I can get to the few hundred on the floor behind it where I dropped the tin! Thank you to 2 doctors and Talyllyn for pointing out that you will still get ricochets. In honesty I didn’t get many and what did come back at me was pretty spent. My targets are all in pellet catchers and they seemed to work well. The biggest danger of a serious ricochet seems to be when the target has been completely missed and I’ve hit the white melamine backing board. His isn’t hard enough to completely squash the bb and I had it come back at me with quite a bit of welly. This only happened once and was with the first shot on a new gas cap. Definitely usable indoors with my target arrangements, just got to remember to use my safety glasses! I’m going to see my eye surgeon tomorrow, don’t want to go with a bb wrecking his handwork so far !
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talyllyn
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Post by talyllyn on Feb 24, 2021 21:23:33 GMT
Glad you had fun with them! If you can get hold of some proper floor boards (i.e. not chipboard) you will find it a bit more absorbing than a coated shelf.
The proper wood "gives" a bit more than chipboard type shelves.
I've had a pellet whiz past my ear after a bad miss when using a kitchen cupboard shelf as a back stop in the garage.
Cheers Don
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Post by HeadHunter on Feb 26, 2021 8:53:45 GMT
So all fired up (pun intended) with this thread I thought I would have another go with these. I had completely forgot that I had them. In my indoor range, I have one of those knockdown Zombie things with the pellet catcher, a similar duck one, a bell target with 2 bells and three funnel type card holder pellet catchers. When I want to use one of my 3 blowback bb firing guns I lift off the knockdowns and fit cardboard boxes with rags in them. These can take card targets or the splatter burst stick on things. I have tried these copper coated lead bbs in all three guns. P08 Luger, H&K USP, and of course my Colt 1911. You can’t not have at least one 1911 can you. Any way, I started with the Luger. I only put a maximum of 10 and more usually 8 in any of the magazines. The Luger performed brilliantly with these copper covered balls. Every bit as accurate as steel bbs and no mis feeds except when the gas was going. My H&K USP was superb. I had forgotten just how good this gun is. Accuracy was superb, and I was knocking over the ducks and zombies regularly. I even rang the bell through the largest hole on the bell target three times on the trot. I haven’t done that before with a pellet firer! ..... I know, I know, but I’m not the best shot! My 1911 also cycled perfectly with these, no miss feeds or lock ups. This has been a revelation to me and I shall be using these again very soon. I’m even going to drag my bandsaw out so I can get to the few hundred on the floor behind it where I dropped the tin! Thank you to 2 doctors and Talyllyn for pointing out that you will still get ricochets. In honesty I didn’t get many and what did come back at me was pretty spent. My targets are all in pellet catchers and they seemed to work well. The biggest danger of a serious ricochet seems to be when the target has been completely missed and I’ve hit the white melamine backing board. His isn’t hard enough to completely squash the bb and I had it come back at me with quite a bit of welly. This only happened once and was with the first shot on a new gas cap. Definitely usable indoors with my target arrangements, just got to remember to use my safety glasses! I’m going to see my eye surgeon tomorrow, don’t want to go with a bb wrecking his handwork so far ! Now that's music to my ears John.....I've wondered about using the smart shot in my USP (a superb gun) for firing at my metal knock down moving targets and you've answered that perfectly, plus as a bonus they work in the Luger and the 1911's too !!! I can feel a purchasing spree coming, thanks for the info buddy, happy days ! honestjohn How many bbs were you loading into the USP (?15?), I'd only put 8 in the Luger and 7 in the 1911 anyway but just curious to see how many you were loading into the USP.
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CaptDAR
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Post by CaptDAR on Feb 26, 2021 9:12:11 GMT
Im like you Shaun when loading mags and just put in the real steel number. Except when using my 1911s when I use 8 instead of 7. My US instructor taught me to double tap.
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Post by HeadHunter on Feb 26, 2021 9:31:18 GMT
Im like you Shaun when loading mags and just put in the real steel number. Except when using my 1911s when I use 8 instead of 7. My US instructor taught me to double tap. With 1911s it's okay to have 8, 7 in the mag and 1 'up the spout' " Cocked, locked & ready to roll"....The perfect way to start your day
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Post by HeadHunter on Feb 26, 2021 9:44:52 GMT
Just ordered 2 tins of the 'smart shot' from JSRs, looking forward to getting these early next week for a spot of auto shooting fun on my moving knock-down target. Lets see how quickly I can get through 1500 copper coated lead bbs shall we ? lol Expensive little buggers but if it means that I can use them in my autos for my knockdowns then they'll be worth every penny.
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