There
are several different airgun pellet styles available to use with your
air gun and each rifle is unique in that every one has an “ideal
pellet” for accuracy and/or speed. Your desired result will dictate
what kind of air rifle pellet you’ll want to use.
Airgun pellet weight is important because it can affect
velocity, trajectory, terminal performance and flight stability. Heavier
lead pellets tend to be more stable in breezy conditions and retain their
energy better over longer distances. Heavy pellets also hit the target
with more force. Heavier isn’t always better, it is important to
match the weight of the pellet to your airgun’s unique characteristics
and your desired result.
If you’re desired result is accuracy, a convenient
and inexpensive way to find which pellet is uniquely perfect for your
airgun is to try several different pellet shapes. One product made specifically
for this is an RWS
Pellet Sampler. It contains five different premium
pellets that are made to the strictest quality standards. There’s
a good chance you’ll find one of these pellets to provide a very
high level of accuracy.
If velocity is what you’re after, a non-lead,
very lightweight “hyper
velocity pellet” will likely provide
your air gun’s maximum speed.
For specific shooting activities, some shapes may be
better than others. Read further to help you determine which air gun
pellet will be best for your shooting objectives.
For fun shooting or informal practice, an
inexpensive, “7 grain basic pellet” will do. However, choose
a quality pellet, like RWS
Diabolos, that will leave minimal lead residue
in your airgun’s barrel.
For accurate practice and general plinking,
a lightweight 7 grain rifled sport pellet will provide you with an inexpensive
and accurate pellet. One such pellet is the RWS
Hobby which is very economical
to shoot, but still leaves minimal amounts of lead in your air gun's
barrel.
For an air gun hunting pellet, choose one
with excellent knock down power and accuracy. A heavier rifled English
bulldog design provides such performance. English bulldog pellets, such
as the RWS Superdome, are great general use pellets as well. They have
very aerodynamic heads and are good for shooting at longer distances.
The shape causes these pellets to have more knockdown power at the target
than other pellet shapes. Hollow point pellets are also good hunting
pellets because they really expand on impact. Hollowpoints,
like the Super-H-Point by RWS are popular for pest control, however, the hollow
mouth can catch wind and cause the pellet to create open groups at longer
distances.
If you’re looking for a pellet with penetrating power,
a pointed pellet is what you’re looking for. A quality pellet that
has a uniform cone can also enhance performance and accuracy of medium
powered air guns. They have good penetration capabilities for pest control,
but may not work as well as a Superdome
pellet in a high-powered air
rifle.
 For accuracy at longer distances, consider
a heavyweight wadcutter style pellet that’s perfectly balanced
for accuracy. A pellet of this type, like the RWS
Supermag, is ideal
for modern ultra high power air rifles.
Extreme accuracy can be achieved with a match grade pellet.
These professional wadcutter pellets are perfect for competition and
training as well as accuracy and sighting in. The flat head design makes
clean holes in paper targets. These pellets, like the RWS
Meisterkugeln,
can also be used for pest control, but they are not specifically designed
for longer distances. They generally perform best at about 20 yards.
Airgun competition shooters desire the highest match accuracy
possible. For this, a pellet that is consistent in size and
weight from pellet-to-pellet is extremely important. RWS’s R
10 Match Pellets are optoelectronically verified and have a spotless
surface finish. To ensure consistency, many air gun competitors desire
R10 Match Plus
pellets, which are packed in holders that do not allow
the pellets to touch each other, thereby ensuring every pellet is flawless.
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