After work each day I was able to get in some soul soothing shooting and a little hunting, mainly with the FWB 300 S.
As some would recall I have been exploring the precision, accuracy and ballistic characteristics of the low powered spectrum and girly .177 calibre to see what the limits really add up to.
This 300 S is shooting 655 fps for 8.0 fpe with JSB 8.4 grain round nose Exacts BC 0.022 and 0.053 at the farm’s altitude so I guess it is a fairly low powered rifle when long range is discussed.
Here is a summary of my FWB 300 S results in answer to the question as to whether this rifle and pellets have sufficient power to shoot standard silhouette competition ( with the longest shot as the 45 yard standard ram ). Daisy has been toying with the idea I know.
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Tim Johnston USA recently and kindly sent me three rams and ten chickens, beautifully made, all the way to Australia – thanks Tim! ….. He sent some to Lewis too. They are beautifully made with the feet welded through the base plates rather than just on top.
Tim’s three rams were shot at 45 yards from the bench and were knocked down with authority: POI velocity = 524 fps; POI KE = 5.1 fpe; Momentum 0.024 Lbf-s
Pic of three rams replaced on the stands after the knock downs. No rams stayed on after being hit, even near the edges ( see my sister-in-law Janis’ efforts on 5 rams).
Pic # 1a. Sight down 7 clicks from 50 yard zero.
Pic # 1b.
My question then was : How much pellet momentum and KE really are required to knock down a standard air rifle silhouette ram?
Five rams ( the three with horn cutouts are Tim Johnston’s, the others are Aussie made- all standard ) were set up at 70 yards. Five shots fired from the bench in quite calm air. All fell when hit: POI velocity = 463 fps; KE = 4.0 fpe; Momentum = 0.017 Lbf-s.
Pic # 2. Sight up 34 clicks from 50 yard zero.
Rams set at 81 yards; same result: KE = 3.3 fpe; Momentum = 0.016 Lbf-s.
Pic # 3. Sight up 56 clicks from 50 yard zero.
Rams set at 90 yards; same result: KE = 3.28 fpe; Momentum = 0.016 Lbf-s. ( 6 shots, one missed ).
Pic # 4. Sight up 76 clicks from 50 yard zero.
Note the 5 shot group on the pig swinger above the rams. If your eyes are good you will make out the pellet strikes. This was a 5 successive shots group. Conditions were ideal. We get some good days at the farm in Autumn.
Conclusion: This FWB 300 S shooting 8.4 gr Exacts at 655 fps of BC 0.022 has quite adequate momentum to knock down standard silhouette rams at the International standard 45 yard range even when the POI is poorly situated in relation to the target. Note the edge hit on the back of the ram by Janis which still toppled the ram.
At 70, 80, 90 yards retained momentum is still adequate even with near edge shot placement ( note near edge impacts on eye, face, neck and belly at the longer ranges which still fell the rams ) and despite the pellet still retaining some reasonable proportion of its momentum after striking the target. Transfer of momentum from the pellet to the target is what accelerates the target off the stand thus momentum conservation is probably the key factor here rather than retained Kinetic energy.
I have more to report on long range precision and accuracy with this rifle out to 100 yards; and on pellet stability to 147 yards ( Neil in UK may find interest ) ....... also for Ogre some long range starling shots and extended rabbit kills !!!! ............. Take care and please don't hesitate to comment or add your own experiences. Kind regards, Harry.
