AOA Blog

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always been a little confused about the names on JSB pellet labels. So I checked around with some friends and they weren’t too sure either…

But it was also clear to me that obviously JSB has a system behind the words on its pellet labels. It’s just that I had not been able to comprehend it!

So, some time back, I spoke to Pavel Kolabec – JSB’s main man – and asked for his help to translate the meaning of the words on JSB pellet labels.

As you might imagine, it’s actually quite simple when you know! Pavel did explain also that these names have grown up over the many years JSB has been manufacturing pellets. This means that some of them have a more complex, historical, logic behind the name that I’ve omitted here for simplicity.

So here is your easy-to-follow guide to understanding JSB pellet labels.

Below, the JSB Exact Diabolo 8.44 Grain pellet. Exact means .177 caliber.

Calibers

Firstly, it’s important to know that some of the words on JSB pellet labels actually describe the caliber of the pellets. These words are used in many cases instead of the numeric caliber itself.

However, some calibers are actually identified by numbers. For example .20, .35 etc.

Weights

Some of the words are used to describe the general weight of the pellet. The precise weight is also indicated on the label in Grains and grams, of course. And note that there’s no name on JSB pellet labels for middle weight. It’s a middle weight pellet if there is no other weight name on the label.

Below. The JSB Jumbo Monster is a .22 caliber, super-heavy pellet. In fact, it weighs 25.39 Grains.

Pellet Types

Some of the words indicate the pellet type. These can cover the pellet shape, or its intended use. Like these…

Note that EXACT is also used as an overall brand name on many JSB pellet labels.

More Pellet Types

There are also other descriptive words used for more pellet types. Really, I just broke these out to avoid making the previous table too long and complex to read!

Below. JSB King Heavy pellets are for .25 caliber and weigh 33.95 Grains.

Special Match Pellet Types

Given JSB’s historical background in developing and manufacturing wadcutter pellets for precision match competition, it’s not surprising that there’s also a group of names specifically dedicated to this type of airgun sport.

So that’s it. Really it’s easy and obvious to understand JSB pellet labels when you know how! I hope that this guide will help you in future.

Of course, you can find a wide variety of JSB pellets in stock at Airguns of Arizona.

JSB Hades pellets are a new range of products from the famous Czech manufacturer. Designed specifically for hunting, they have been rolled-out in caliber sequence.

Hades pellets were first announced in .22 and .25 calibers at the 2019 SHOT Show. Smaller – .177 caliber – versions were announced at the 2020 SHOT Show and should be available here in the USA by Summer.

This means that the Hades hunting pellet line-up will be as follows:
– Hades .177 cal. 10.34 Grains weight.
– Hades .22 caliber 15.89 Grains.
– Hades .25 cal 26.54 Grains weight.

Like the .22 and .25 caliber pellets, the .177 cal JSB Hades pellets are dedicated, high impact hunting ammo. The larger caliber versions have already achieved a great reputation with airgun hunters. I’m sure that this will also be the case for the smaller caliber pellets!

Does the Hades design work? Just take a look at the before and after photograph below. That expansion on impact clearly results in a devastating wound channel – exactly what is required for ethical, “one shot kill” airgun hunting.

The Hades design has a heavy head with a long skirt and slight waist. The head is divided into three sections, the intention being that it promotes mushrooming in the target.

However, each caliber is slightly different in profile, as we can see from these photographs. That’s .25 caliber Hades pellets above and .177 cal pellets below.

I tried shooting 15.89 Grain Hades pellets with the .22 caliber Brocock Sniper XR Magnum air rifle as part of its recent review. Accuracy proved to be outstanding at 30 Yards with the Brocock’s power adjuster set in the second position.

Why not full open? Well the Sniper Magnum was actually too powerful for the Hades pellets when shooting at the full power setting. Muzzle Velocity exceeded 1,000 FPS in .22 in full power.

Setting 2 on the power adjuster gave an average muzzle velocity of 927 FPS. That’s 30.32 Ft/Lbs of muzzle energy – a very good value!

I have also undertaken some informal shooting tests with the pre-production sample JSB Hades .177 cal pellets. They have worked well in a variety of air rifles, ranging from a Benjamin Marauder, through a Umarex Gauntlet to a Umarex Fusion 2.

If you’re an airgun hunter – and let’s face it, there’s not many airgunners who are not – JSB Hades pellets are a must to try in your air rifles. An accuracy test will obviously be in order to prove their suitability in your air rifle: you’re likely to be impressed both with the accuracy and impact characteristics as I have been!

Finally, you know where to find these great hunting pellets. It’s at Airguns of Arizona, of course!

Happy New Year to our loyal readers from all the crew at Airguns of Arizona. Thank you for making 2014 a great year! We are looking forward to 2015, and already have big plans and wheels in motion for making this another great year in airgunning. Stay tuned in for up-and-coming posts, and please continue to comment with questions and feedback. We want this blog to be a service to its readers, and we welcome any thoughts or suggestions to make it even better.

Now we can not leave you without a product review of some sorts, so here ya go!

We often focus all our attention on the big items like air rifles and pistols, and in doing so, we overlook the smallest (yet possibly the largest) component to the airgun hobby…the pellets!!!

JSB is one of the premier makers of pellets today, and they are working hard to satisfy every need the market creates. Their latest design was made to focus attention on the .177 precharged market, where high power has been penalized by a lack of quality pellets in a heavy weight. The US is full of power hungry customers, but we are spoiled with an open market mostly without caliber or power restriction, so .177 is not our go-to choice when power is craved. Elsewhere in the world, however, there are limitations on caliber. India restricts all airguns to .177 exclusively, and other countries as well, so JSB was quick to respond to the growing need for a heavy .177 pellet.

For those who stay in tune with JSB’s line of pellets, you are likely saying “What about the JSB Exact Heavy .177 at 10.34 grains?” or “How about those 13.43 grains JSB Exact Monster .177 pellets?” Isn’t that enough weight for these power crazy airgunners???

Pavel Kolebac, Owner/Designer/Pelletmaster Supreme of JSB, took it even further with the new JSB Exact BEAST in .177.

These “little” pellets weigh in at a massive 16.20 grains and will overwhelm most magazines at an impressive 0.31 inches in length.

The shape is what many call “cylindrical”, and is great for long range ballistics. The head is rounded, and the skirt is shallow, making them bullet-like in looks and function. Use of the Beast pellets should be limited to high power Precharged Pnuematics only, and even then we recommend use in .177 rifles designed to shoot at 25+ ft/lbs of energy. These JSB Beast pellets are good news for shooters using magnum rifles like the AirForce Condor, Daystate Air Ranger Extreme, or some of the Korean models. Each tin comes with 250 of these little beasts, and great care was given in packing them nice and secure for safe delivery.

 

Until Next Time,

Get Out and Shoot!