Tumbling Pellets

[imorik]

Noticed while shooting at paper targets at 10m that I'd shot 2 of the individual targets twice. On closer inspection the twice shot targets were actually one pellet hitting the target sideways on (either that or I'd hit the target 12 times with 10 pellets ).

What would cause some pellets to 'tumble' and others not .

If it helps I was using .177 (4.52) JSB 8.44's and shooting standing/unsupported using a 400GML with approx 160 bar fill.

[Fluffybuck]

Normally, I'd either call it a "flier", or a bad batch of pellets, or the gun doesn't like the pellets.
Try them at a longer range and see how they group.

[AD_K]

If this rifle is a 12ft/lb rifle and you are shooting it at 10 metres. It is entirely possible that the pellets are bouncing (rebounding) off the back plate and coming back through the target.

Are you using a back plate / back stop at 10 metres?

[Phil Russell]

A thought: are you sure they are tumbling? I have experienced, I think, a non wadcutter pellet producing a hole in a paper target that could resemble a tumbler with a torn hole with ragged edges. A lot depends on the quality of the paper as well ... some paper targets are not too good for showing clean punched holes even with wadcutters.
Have you tried wadcutters?
Cheers, Phil

[imorik]

If this rifle is a 12ft/lb rifle and you are shooting it at 10 metres. It is entirely possible that the pellets are bouncing (rebounding) off the back plate and coming back through the target.

Are you using a back plate / back stop at 10 metres?

A 12 ft/lb rifle (11.4 ft/lb with the JSB's). No backplate, target mounted on a box full of carpet cut offs so no rebound, shot indoors. Target printed on fairly thick matte photo paper. The pellets that flew true gave fairly clean holes, the two 'fliers' gave almost a perfect pellet shape sideways on (one a bit ragged).

[Mattockswinga]

Could they have hit anything in the air to set them off tumbling? flies etc, EXTREMELY unlikely I know......