Pellet batches

[cptman]

Do different batches of the same brand of pellets make that much difference? Or is it a myth.

[FPoole]

Massive differences at 55 yards. You can go from .5" groups at 55 yards to 2"+ groups just by changing to a different Die#.

[NeilMac]

^^^^ This ^^^^

In my experience this applies to JSB's, Air Arms and H&N's.

[angrybear]

If you look at the skirt different batches can be quite different in profile, depth & skirt thickness all of which can effect the balance, velocity, flight stability & accuracy.

Equally some that appear quite different are as accurate as any other.

[ChrisC]

It makes so much difference that my last pellet purchase was 25 boxes of JSB's(50 tins per box) of 2 tested batches...and a few years before 30 boxes.

Last year a group of HFT shooters tested the 2018 batches of JSB's (12 in total) to see what we could get as a bulk buy. 8 different shooters (including Uk and world champs) kept their preferred batch secret until everyone had tried the 12 batches. All the shooters said that either batch 54xxxx18 or 46xxxx18 were the best so we bought loads of those.

Most wouldn't bother but some barrels can be pellet fussy and a certain batch can give good groups and predictable movement in the wind. The vast majority of my shooting is Hunter Field target, with some field target and the occasional hunting trip. Accuracy and predictability are paramount for target shooting as i've twice missed out on being HFT world champ by a pellet 'splitting' the edge of the kill, sometimes it's something as close as that....2.25mm of lead. Finding that certain batch can be the difference.

[aris]

How do you store your pellets long term so they do not oxidise?