Airgunning is growing in popularity and many new shooters are catching on to the growth. Another thing in the airgunning sphere that is growing is the capabilities of these new airguns. Today’s airguns are more powerful, more accurate, and more diverse every year.  What more could you ask for? 

How about airgun slugs? 

Yes, airgun slugs are a thing now. Some big bore Pre-Charged Pneumatic airguns, like the Umarex Hammer, are designed to shoot nothing but slugs. However, most PCPs are designed to shoot pellets, but both ammunition and airgun manufacturers have started to explore the possibilities of airgun slugs in smaller caliber offerings. 

Years ago you couldn’t just go to Amazon and load up your cart with airgun slugs. They didn’t exist. A few enterprising manufacturers began experimenting designs and tunes for their airguns This wasn’t an easy or cheap job, but these guys did succeed. Now, most PCP air rifles can shoot these special slugs that are designed for airguns.

Air rifles like Umarex’s Gauntlet or the Zelos perform very well with appropriate caliber airgun slugs.  

Who are Airgun Slugs For?

Airgun slugs are great for airgunners looking to shoot or hunt at longer ranges. Airgun slugs fly through the air better than traditional pellets at longer ranges, so more energy and accuracy is retained down range. To maximize this effect, you might need to do some tuning on the rifle to compensate for a heavier projectile.

Some competitions will allow airgun slugs to be used in certain events like long range precision or big bore precision. You won’t see airgun slugs used on the benchrest or in a field target competition, but you might see them employed for long range precision shooting events.

Do not try to use airgun slugs in a break barrel or gas piston style air rifle. This may result in getting a slug stuck in the gun’s barrel. This is due to both the barrel design and limited power output common to traditional style air rifles.  Also, some lower velocity PCP air rifles might struggle to shoot an airgun slug. It is best to avoid using slugs in these models.