.177 Pellet Gauge Head Size Checker
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: Technical
Forum Name: Pauly's Technical Area
Forum Description: Technical information, Modifications and DIY projects are all in here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=727
Printed Date: 05 Nov 2025 at 7:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.14 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: .177 Pellet Gauge Head Size Checker
Posted By: Myson
Subject: .177 Pellet Gauge Head Size Checker
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2023 at 6:49am
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Help please -
Engineer needed!!! I’ve tried to source a .177 Pellet Gauge head-size checker from overseas but I’m having no luck! The main excuse seems to be: “We don’t ship to New Zealand”? God knows why? The Pelletgage model seems perfect - it has precision holes for headsizes from 4.46mm - 4.56mm:
https://pelletgage.com/shop/ols/products/177-pelletgage" rel="nofollow - https://pelletgage.com/shop/ols/products/177-pelletgage They say it’s made as follows: Using a diode pumped fiber optic laser, intense light is directed by a very fine optical fiber, producing a tiny and well defined cutting beam. The accuracy and repeatability for the best of these machines is 2 microns, or 0.00008. Using a special setup for the exact type and thickness of metal, it is programmed and set, it will cut a perfectly round hole, easily stepping up that ten micron diameter for each aperture. We now have a tool with series of clean, perfectly round apertures stepping from 4.47 to 4.56 mm. After checking with a 40X optical comparator, they are “right on”. Note, the entire incremental span of all ten apertures is a 90 micron range, smallest to largest opening. That’s 0.0035 inches, or about the breadth of a human hair. Could anyone on the forum (with precision drilling gear) make me one similar perhaps?
------------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177 |
Replies:
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2023 at 7:42am
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I tried to order one just now but kept getting having trouble processing card, so emailed them. Will wait for response but as shipping is as much as the product, if there is no one here who can/wants to make one do you want to do a double order with me and split the shipping cost. I'll just register my card with Google and use Google pay. NZ is on shipping list but as transaction didn't go all way through I might not have got the don't ship to nz bit. |
Posted By: Myson
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 5:25am
Good News!  I've found a company in the UK who will send to NZ! They are Intershoot: http://www.intershoot.co.uk/product/pelletgage/" rel="nofollow - https://www.intershoot.co.uk/product/pelletgage/ It's 67 British pounds in total to send here with Tracking - that's about NZD$128. Should be here in 2-3 weeks - fingers crossed. PS: When I asked other overseas vendors why they don't send to NZ, none gave a definitive reply! I don't think they know themselves!!! Bizarre!  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177 |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 5:48am
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Cheers I'll check it out. I think that the laws here around air guns are so all over the place some just can't be bothered. |
Posted By: xyon
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2023 at 2:22am
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I have a set of reamers like these. I had though of trying to make a
plate with 2 holes, optimised for a particular air rifle. One would be a
too big hole and the other a too small hole.  ------------- --- My favourites springer - Diana 52 PCP - FX Wildcat III |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 12:47pm
| How's the pellet sizer working Myson? |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2023 at 3:05pm
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I have a .177 sizing die tool for sale on Trademe if anyone is interested? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/sports/hunting-shooting/reloading/dies/listing/4239800596?bof=SaBEW4f7
------------- Daystate Red Wolf .22 FX Dreamline .22 Diana Outlaw .22 AA S410 .22 HW98 .177 HW30 .177 Diana 340 E-Tec .177 FWB Sport 124 .177 Gamo 900 .22 Baikal IJ-22 .177 Crosman 2240 Custom .22 Brocock GP .22 |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2023 at 4:15am
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So how does that work? ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2023 at 5:20am
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Follow this link to the manufacturer's site for full description. https://www.trrobb.com/product/adjustable-pellet-seaterv1 ------------- Daystate Red Wolf .22 FX Dreamline .22 Diana Outlaw .22 AA S410 .22 HW98 .177 HW30 .177 Diana 340 E-Tec .177 FWB Sport 124 .177 Gamo 900 .22 Baikal IJ-22 .177 Crosman 2240 Custom .22 Brocock GP .22 |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2023 at 5:39am
| Like the principle of keeping the skirt larger. So how much did it tighten up your groups. Does it actual remove the lead or does it compress it into size. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2023 at 5:56am
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I didn't really spend too much time with it as I've moved from .177 to .22, but I can't say it made the crappy pellets I did try shoot any better to be honest. ------------- Daystate Red Wolf .22 FX Dreamline .22 Diana Outlaw .22 AA S410 .22 HW98 .177 HW30 .177 Diana 340 E-Tec .177 FWB Sport 124 .177 Gamo 900 .22 Baikal IJ-22 .177 Crosman 2240 Custom .22 Brocock GP .22 |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2023 at 4:17am
I think the idea is consistency, so same head size into the bore for close enough to same friction - less velocity drop from tighter fitting pellets etc. really just trying to eliminate every 1% of possible inconsistency. I dont know how the Robb one works but I have a small one that you drop a pellet into and push it through - it will basically just shave the soft lead if its oversized, or squish it a little.. ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
kruzaroad wrote:Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2023 at 4:21am
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Yep, there's fixed size push-through items which is what yours sounds like. This is adjustable, the taper is super fine. ------------- Daystate Red Wolf .22 FX Dreamline .22 Diana Outlaw .22 AA S410 .22 HW98 .177 HW30 .177 Diana 340 E-Tec .177 FWB Sport 124 .177 Gamo 900 .22 Baikal IJ-22 .177 Crosman 2240 Custom .22 Brocock GP .22 |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2023 at 2:24pm
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well after head sizing 1800 odd AA .177 pellets today, with a vernier, I'm over it. How did that pellet sizer work you were getting in from the UK work out Myson? I find sizing makes a difference in the sig. May be because it's unchoked. 4.50mm, 4.49mm definitely shoot better groups than 4.52mm and 4.51mm. Will try 4.48mm and 4.47mm now I have an abundance of them measured. Have a enough 4.46mm and 4.45mm to see if it's getting far enough off spec to affect groups now too. But God I don't want go thru that again. Thankful hades 22 only come in 250 pieces tins. That will be the next mission, 400 odd. Gaakk.
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Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2024 at 1:53pm
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Myson, Did you ever manage to get a .177 head size checker into the country? I'd be keen to try one, maybe even one in .22 as well. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2024 at 4:03am
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What size are you after? I make a lot of silver wire and i have a few drawplates for this. I have found that hole number 16 on my 3-6mm drawplate is perfect for 4.52 head size on my pellets. And im pretty sure i have used this for .22 as well. ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2024 at 6:17am
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Nunga, 4.52mm is my preferred size in .177. I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a guage like the pic at the beginning of this post to just drop a pellet through and know what size it is. Would you be able to make a piece of metal with a 4.52mm hole in it? ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2024 at 8:03am
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I do not think i have the equipment to do that. ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 4:59am
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Pete, I could help with that. Even do a range from say 4.47 - 4.57
holes if helps. Add a small lead in radius so they dont get shaved.
But question from a target noob.. the tail end are about 0.2mm larger
(on the slugs I have) than the head. Is the pellet being pushed through
to reduce the tail down to the head size or are you just checking the
heads? |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 7:07am
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Hi ae25, The first picture posted by Myson at the top of this thread is exactly what I'm looking for. It would be a devise intended simply to gauge the head size of a pellet, not to resize the head or the skirt. So the holes would be specific sizes, for example 4.52mm, and if the head is smaller than 4.52mm it would fall through the hole, but as you have correctly said the skirts are usually a bigger diameter than the heads, so the skirt would not be able to pass through the hole and the pellet would be left "hanging" in the hole by the skirt. The pellet would then need to be picked up and removed out of the hole, (not pushed through). You could then try the same pellet in the 4.51mm hole, if the head falls through it is smaller than 4.51mm, if it dosent fall through you know it is a 4.52mm This would make head sizing a tin of pellets so much faster then having to use vernia calipers and measure the diameter of every pellet, one by one. Any chance you have the expertise and tools to produce a gauge like in the first pic of this thread? ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 7:18am
| Tillys gun stock has a pellet gauge he uses and it's basically a tapper slot in a block of metal with sizes marked of I between. I'll see if I can find the video. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 9:40am
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Gotcha. Yep can make. I run a 3axis cnc mill which cuts accurately. I'd suggest a narrower piece of stainless flat bar with the middle pocketed out to 2mm thick. then end plates screwed on to hold it off the table? I'll knock up a drawing and go from there.. see what you think |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 9:54am
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Here is a good article about using the exact pellet gauge that Myson posted a picture of at the start of this thread. https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2015/05/testing-the-177-pelletgage-part-1/ And here is a picture of a different type of pellet gauge. This would be much quicker to use, but I’m not sure how the wider skirt would effect or not effect the head measurement 🤔  ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 10:01am
Ok, so this is supposedly how a pellet slides through this “drop in” type of gauge. The side view diagram shows that the skirt slides through a cut out area, so it’s only the head that gets measured. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 10:51am
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I'd think the hole gauge would be more accurate as it measures roundness rather than two points of contact. If the slug is out of round then the diameter measurement will be wrong on the slot gauge |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 11:42am
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Agreed. Any chance you could make something with holes in it like that? ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 12:44pm
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Yes. Found some 50x3 s/s flat bar at home so ill make something similar for ya. Pellet sits below the bottom with the 3mm stock thickness so can push it back up and grab pellet from the top. assuming that's how its done. though a pocket on the top would help stop dropped slugs rolling off too.   |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2024 at 3:12pm
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Awesome thanks, Looks like it should be perfect 👍🏻 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2024 at 1:22pm
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Could have both styles in one. But youd have to hold the pellet whilst sliding down the slot. Would that be practical?  |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2024 at 3:02pm
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Looking good so far 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 I think the holes would be easier to use as well as more accurate than the “slide”. Probably only need the holes. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2024 at 5:01pm
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All good, I'll move holes in a little too. Might get some machine time tmrw all going well.   |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2024 at 6:26pm
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👍🏻 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 12:59am
| You could engrave "Pete's Pellet Ranger" into it. |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 2:13am
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"Pete's Pellet Picker"? ------------- |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 8:43am
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Peter picked a pack of pellets...... Someone slap me.
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Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 8:48am
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Petes pellet proofer |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 10:47am
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Pete's Picker of Perfect Pellets to Pole-ax Peter Rabbit the Pesky Paddock Pilferer Now I'm getting way too carried away... Timaru trips to fish-slayers tend to do that to me. Can't wait to get my hands on that Cyclone on (probably) Friday. You bastards are already costing me money but hey my tax money is way better spent on air guns right? First clear night I'm going bunny prospecting followed by some door-knocking. Interesting you experienced guys saying the bunnies are at their thickest soon after dusk... ------------- |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 10:55am
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Hell yes. That's what tax returns are for. From what I've read rabbits eyes are maximised for twilight and once it gets dark arnt as effective. Doesn't seen to stop them though. |
Posted By: JasonEdward
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2024 at 5:43pm
| Sadly no tax refunds lately but Im spending pingers put away for tax payments... |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2024 at 4:18pm
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Hi ac25, Hope you are well? Have you had a chance to look any further into the pellet gauge design? Be interesting to see any prototypes you might have had a chance to play with. Many thanks, Pete. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2024 at 5:06pm
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Hi Pete, just waiting on an evening where I can squeeze it in the machine between jobs. It's all cad and cam'd. if you wanted a row of 4.51 up the centre or extra engraving etc let me know.  |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2024 at 5:12pm
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I think it looks awesome just as it is 👍🏻 Many thanks. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2024 at 12:23am
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Envious (but in 22 way) Should be a great asset to you pete. Goodbye slow vernier or micrometer,hello speedy sheet of metal. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2024 at 3:38am
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I think ac25 might get 15 or 20 orders comming in 😂 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: ae25
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2024 at 4:23am
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Making a .22 gauge for myself also. Once tested and proven, I'll see what I can do for pricing a batch if theres that much interest. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2024 at 4:25am
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I'll be interested if you do. |