Pellet Weight vs. Velocity - Striking the Perfect Balance

[JustNeedORingSize]

One of the most enduring discussions among airgunners revolves around pellet weight and velocity, and I think it's high time we bring that debate here.

There's no doubt that both factors greatly affect accuracy and power. Some argue for the merits of lighter pellets, which generally reach higher velocities and provide a flatter trajectory, making aiming a bit more straightforward. Meanwhile, advocates for heavier pellets cite their better wind resistance and potentially greater impact energy due to their increased mass, even if they fly at lower speeds.

So let's get into it:

1. Do you generally opt for heavier or lighter pellets in your shooting, and why?
2. What's your experience been with different pellet weights in terms of accuracy?
3. How do you find the 'sweet spot' for your specific airgun when it comes to pellet weight and velocity?
4. Any specific brands or types of pellets that you swear by?
5. How do different shooting contexts (target shooting, hunting, plinking, etc.) influence your pellet choice?

Looking forward to some enlightening debates.

 

[PumaCarl]

.25 caliber, pellets, 34gr over 25g all day, everyday, twice on Sunday!

 

[MikeAllen]

Yep - .25 caliber 33.95/34 grain FX preferred. Yes, JSB also but I find the FX head size to be a little more consistent.

 

[drpietrzak]

In my .177 I prefer around 10.3 grain projectiles. Accuracy?

 

[bigHUN]

To OP
You asking just way too many questions in a single post, but let see it this way:
You don't chose the pellets, the barrel does. Also if we talking locked or variable distances.
I have found huge differences between same weight but different Brands, or even same Brand different weights.
Need to shot many-many thousands of pellets to find what is a "sweet spot".

 

[Spartan]

"I think it's high time we bring that debate here."

It's already debated here every few days at least, in some form, in perpetuity.

I'm genuinely curious. What is your reasoning behind these recent posts? They are very well constructed, but just very bizarre for an informal forum such as this. They sound like case study discussions out of a freshman textbook.

 

[cavedweller]

I choose pellets that are backyard friendly, so jsb 10.34 in 177 caliber is the ideal size flying at 880 fps. It also mirrors my HFT interests.
If I was hunting for food I’d choose .30 for humane take downs.
I’m not into shooting birds or anything else I don’t intend to eat so other calibers aren’t necessary for me.

 

[JimD]

My starting point in picking a pellet is to pick a weight that my new gun will shoot 800 to 900 fps with the tune it comes with. I change tunes too but I try to make the regulator setting it came with work first. My P35s all needed the hammer spring better matched to the regulator setting. But the 177 and 22 both shoot somewhat heavy for caliber pellets between 800 and 900 fps so I have not changed their regulator. I dropped the regulator of my P35-25 because it was pushing the light 20 grain H&N FTTs over 900 fps and I was worried about long range stability. They're going about 880 now. I've gone up and down with the regulator of my Avenger and I am probably not done with it. It is so long I don't shoot it much.

I find that a good "quick and dirty" test is to check the extreme velocity spread on 10 pellets (usually while shooting groups). If it is not well under 10 (usually they are under 5) I reject the pellet regardless of the groups. H&N Baracuda Power in 177 shoot pretty well despite a ES a bit high but Match shoot better. I find the ES is always low for pellets which shoot accurately (low for that gun). If it is "high", like teens for 10 shots, it might shoot OK at short range but will have vertical problems at long range. Sometimes "bad" pellets have really high ES, like 25 or 30. No need to waste more time on them.

I try JSB made pellets in my guns but only the Avenger really likes them. I get better accuracy with a H&N pellet in my other 4. I don't think JSB are bad pellets but I do not find them to be better than H&N in most of my guns. H&Ns are also cheaper, even the match ones and have better tins. But if I get a gun that likes JSBs it will get them. To me, JSBs include FX and AA. I don't find big differences between the JSB manufactured brands but I tested some of both in my Avenger and it liked the FX 25.9s better. I only shot JSB 33.95 and they shot pretty well but you use up a lot of air getting them up to speed and I didn't see the point. So I shoot FX 25s in that gun. For small game it is more than adequate. If I ever decide I "need" 50 fpe I will retune for the 33.95s.

I shoot only dimple domed pellets. I've tried a few slugs but they are harder to tune for, I think, and for what I do, I don't really have a need. I don't think that, in general, airguns "need" or are better served by expanding pellets. Penetration is not huge with domed and would be significantly reduced by expanding ones. If I wanted to shoot small birds of chipmunks or something they might be useful.