We are about to see a point of inflection in the industry of Airguns.

It seems the industry is moving in that direction and slug barrels do shoot pellets just as well but the power to sling slugs accurately also means it can shoot heavier pellets! PCP's are also getting more efficient with air usage as a result.....I like what is happening!

We've yet to see any follow-up from FX on the new pellet/slug they announced a while back, that was going to change everything.

I am very new to the airgun world and noticed the deflection to some degree in the designs and marketing by the makers. The gap looks to get wider in the future, both in guns and with an actual separation of projectile type in the competition venues. Time will tell. If I were the one writing the rules, I probably would not make rules that tell the competitor what kind of projectile they shoot, rather set the rules for the equipment and the energy level. Look at the PGA. If someone figures out how to make a golf ball that performs better, or a putter grip method that is more consistent, often they ban it. Seems counterintuitive to me.

Personally, I think what will happen is the market opening up to shorter barreled rifles and different twist rates being used. Just my musings though

Yeah hopefully the cost for slugs will come way down. If they end up costing the same (or very close), I don't know why I would choose to shoot pellets over slugs (assuming the gun was capable of shooting both.)

timmah said:

Yeah hopefully the cost for slugs will come way down. If they end up costing the same (or very close), I don't know why I would choose to shoot pellets over slugs (assuming the gun was capable of shooting both.)

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NSA slugs are pretty much the same price as JSBs at least in 30 caliber

I enjoy shooting slugs but I also enjoy some friendly backyard target shooting competition. In that case it's usually a fairer contest to turn down the power and shoot pellets instead of slugs. Also less filling up the guns.

Both honestly have their place. Pellets have been shown to keep up with the slugs in quite a few ways. There will always be people that want to shoot nothing but pellets, and those that want nothing but slugs. I honestly feel the ability to customize a gun the way you want it.... is HUGE! Look at what Daystate did with the RedWolf, and then with the DeltaWolf. One is easily capable of swapping calibers and the other it is possible, but more involved. Look at any of the M3 rifles... you can easily have a small 500mm compact backyard pellet shooter, as well as a 700mm slug blaster in the same rifle. A really good example of this is the Crown Continum! You get a short barrel for plinking, then you also get a much longer barrel you can set up for slugs.

The ability to customize the rifle to suit your needs I feel is going to be the way most manufactures are going to head. This way they can cover EVERY customer instead of just a few. More adaptable means more people will be looking at your products.

silvershooter589 said:

NSA slugs are pretty much the same price as JSBs at least in 30 caliber

I enjoy shooting slugs but I also enjoy some friendly backyard target shooting competition. In that case it's usually a fairer contest to turn down the power and shoot pellets instead of slugs. Also less filling up the guns.

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Ah yeah, I guess that's true. Slugs will generally be more air hungry than pellets, and you can shoot pellets at slower speeds. So I guess pellets do have their place in the lineup.

Geezerhood said:

I am very new to the airgun world and noticed the deflection to some degree in the designs and marketing by the makers. The gap looks to get wider in the future, both in guns and with an actual separation of projectile type in the competition venues. Time will tell. If I were the one writing the rules, I probably would not make rules that tell the competitor what kind of projectile they shoot, rather set the rules for the equipment and the energy level. Look at the PGA. If someone figures out how to make a golf ball that performs better, or a putter grip method that is more consistent, often they ban it. Seems counterintuitive to me.

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Maybe they ban things so as not to have to redesign the courses for more property longer shots longer put's ?

timmah said:

Ah yeah, I guess that's true. Slugs will generally be more air hungry than pellets, and you can shoot pellets at slower speeds. So I guess pellets do have their place in the lineup.

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True on that. Twice the shot count in my 30 calibers. Then again, comparing them at the same weight (say 50 grain pellets and 50 grain slugs), you'll do about the same either way. I'm don't fine tune everything but I like to shoot projectiles close to 900fps regardless of the weight.

In my opinion we are already there. You want a slug gun just go to FX. All the options and parts are there. Perhaps some day they will do as Emu says and list engineered slug guns as a separate category rather than have standard models that are built to be enhanced.
Other makers will get on the wagon when the market share reaches what ever point motivates them to specialize in slug shooting. That day is coming faster than I would have thought.
When I first got into air guns I saw two directions for air guns to go. The Daystate electronic or the manually regulated path. I don’t think that division is done developing yet but I think the OP is right in the projectile type being a larger division.
I have a 25 pellet gun and if the wind is not too bad and I am not shooting past about 70 yards the more complicated and higher powered M3 stays in the case. If the wind is kicking or if I am shooting mostly past 70 yards the slug gun comes out.
I don’t ever see me without at least one of each in the future.

Yes as @Chukar60 says we are there. Before dropping $$$$$ an air hungry slug gun, (re)consider 22lr. A lot of great pellet shooters our there for 500 - 1500, Also a growing field of 22lr guns in the same price range.

I dropped back to airguns for pellets, 22lr for 100+ yards. Much happier. The FX caliber or pellet / slug change [retuning] is easier but still a PITA. Dialing in the ammo/tune, then buying and corralling all the gear + keeping the air flowing gets costly and complicated. I do enjoy it but lately as time gets tight I prefer the relative simplicity of the powder burners.

Point of inflection? I’m totally inflected on shooting pellets. Particularly for the reasons I got into airguns in the first place… shooting in tight locales with buildings, equipment, livestock, etc. No slugs for me.

you can never tell i dont think, but bottom line imo for anyone that shoots alot except a brave few niche crowd, do NOT shoot at past 50-75yds much .. spending all day traversing 1/4 mile to check and set up targets doesnt equal fun or actual pesting ..period .. you get on the internet and forums its deceiving because you got alot of 'look at me's' talking like all thats hapoening is 400y pellet guns haha .. that isnt reality ..

Shooting slugs is for an elite group of high income air gun owners that can afford all the modifications required to change an air gun setup form pellets to shooting slugs effectively.

Slugs are not economical, expensive and require frequent air refills (Low shot count).

The rifle works harder as it operates close to the maximum of its design tollerances.

Pellets are the future, not slugs.

The manufacturers should offer guns tuned for pellets or slugs. Personally, I feel that the useful limit of an airgun is 100 yards. Sure, you can hit targets at longer ranges if you shoot at it enough times.