Slugs vs Pellets, I'm wondering . . . .

[bltefft]

Hey all,

I have air rifles in three calibers - (.177, .22, 25) - and have only shot pellets out to them. Except for those lead-free pellets, my air rifles are not picky about which pellet they shoot, but then again, I don't shoot a wide variety of pellets, either - seems like I like heavier pellets.

.177 Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum, 10.5 gr - Best for me

.177 RWS Meisterkugeln, 8.2 gr

.22 H&N Sport Baracuda Match, 21.39 gr - Best for me

.22 JSB Exact Match Jumbo Express Diabolo, 14.3 gr

.22 Crosman Premier Ultra Mag, 14.3 gr

.25 JSB Exact King Heavy Diabolo, 33.95 gr - Best for me

.25 H&N Baracuda Hunter, 27.47 gr

I'm a back yard plinker and never shoot farther than around 35 yards (from my garage entrance up into the woods behind my house).

I was wondering if slugs would be any more accurate than pellets. I'd read that slugs are great to shoot over long distances because they maintain more of their energy when striking the target. But I'm thinking I'm not shooting far enough away to make use of them.

What say you?

 

[Rodeo]

Stick with pellets. At the distance you are shooting slugs would not be any more accurate than pellets.

 

[bandg]

Stick with pellets. At the distance you are shooting slugs would not be any more accurate than pellets.

Agree completely. The range noted seems to be well served with pellet performance. Slug advantages should show up at much longer ranges than that noted.

 

[Solo1]

It all depends on how well your guns shoot slugs. To me the biggest difference between slugs and pellets besides retained energy is the slugs ability to resist wind drift. A 5 mph wind will carry a .177 10.5 gr pellet over twice as far off course as a 12.5 gr .177 slug @ 50 yards. Check the bc of the ammo you want to shoot. It really matters!

 

[bandg]

It all depends on how well your guns shoot slugs. To me the biggest difference between slugs and pellets besides retained energy is the slugs ability to resist wind drift. A 5 mph wind will carry a .177 10.5 gr pellet over twice as far off course as a 12.5 gr .177 slug @ 50 yards. Check the bc of the ammo you want to shoot. It really matters!

I don't think that "how well your gun shoots slugs" is the primary issue here. OP said he NEVER shoots beyond 35 yards. 50 yards is irrelevant for his conversation. Also, maybe try a comparison with a 13 gr. pellet that is available to the 12.5 gr. slug. At 35 yards (and even at 50 yards) it doesn't seem there is much if any practical gain in trying to shoot slugs over pellets. I have 12.5 gr. NSA slugs and they do shoot very well. No reason for me to shoot them inside 50 yards, however. JMO.

 

[dizzums]

i wouldnt waste money .. most pcp's ive seen anyway, shoot around 1/2" groups or better with a standard weight pellet at 30 ... beyond that my assumptions are that it depends how the gun is tuned and theres going to be a sweet spot with weight vs speed that works well with a given gun ..

 

[sillymike]

Depends what your goals are

- Slug will let print smaller groups at longer distances... so will rimfire... and so will centerfire.

Just pick you poison and run with it. Personally, I like the convenience/fun of cheap backyard plinking. So pellets it is.

 

[bandg]

"Depends what your goals are"

Exactly. And OP stated his goals of shooting to around 35 yards, so it seems no realizable gains could be seen with slugs.

 

[FrankinFairfield]

A 25 grain air gun pellet fired from a rifle will not go as far as a 25 grain slug.

Why?

The pellet has a skirt.

The skirt is hollow and is designed to draw air into the skirt as a safety issue, to slow it down and restrict range.

So your pellets cannot hurt people, animals, etc.,by accident.

 

[bltefft]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I'll be sticking with pellets. As I thought, slugs would not be significantly any better than pellets for the distances I shoot.

Bobby

 

[Solo1]

Here ya go watch this this is at 30 yds

https://www.airgun101.com/component/allvideoshare/video/wind-reads-and-gray-squirrels-is-strelokpro-accurate-is-the-tatsu-quiet-enough-to-shoot-a-double?Itemid=564&fbclid=IwAR0cUqKzYLK4PObsCpGIybU2zkmEwQPBIbAe500_EqD0MX5R1AOMu90cb-M

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Some long distance shots in the wind in this video. A good example of drift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt_3DyBkT0c&t=309s

 

[bltefft]

Nice videos guys.

With my targets up in the woods behind the house, I really don't think wind comes into play, the targets are shielded from the wind by the trees surrounding them.

 

[mtnGhost]

If you're frustrated because you're hitting the squirrel's right testicle instead of his left one at 35y, then slugs might be something to consider.

 

[HeyU]

R your rifles PCP,s or Springers,or other ? If it's a PCP Well it really don't matter since the range is limited to 35yds. ( As a side note,,my Hatsn FlashPup threw the JSB Knock-Out slugs .(217) with lethality to 25yds. With Springers,your in range up to 35 yds.(BUT) you need to do due diligence in finding the most accurate AND lethal pellet your rifle uses. I would be looking for the most accurate pellet. I suggest H&N FTT,,(Field Target Trophy)all 3 head sizes ( 5.53 / 5.54 / & 5.55/ (.///JSB 14.?grain/ ///Hades 15.89gr///JSP RS 13?gr