Benchrest Slug shooters being left out?

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

With the majority of shooter’s going over to slugs, why isn’t there any slug classes for benchrest at Extreme Benchrest, or RMAC? Seems like pellets are becoming obsolete expect for stuff like field target and 50m benchrest. I’m interested in competing, but have not desire to buy a benchrest rifle for just pellets. Would like to see a slug class for Extreme Field target as well. Maybe let slug shooters compete with pellet shooters?

 

[Centercut]

We did have two events this year that were slug Benchrest. In OR, it was 100Y same targets as EBR. In UT it was Qual round at 100Y, finals at 150Y. Same targets as EBR.
Putting pellets and slugs together wouldn’t work. In the qual round at UT, the top 4 scores were 245, 241, 238 and 236. Pellets wouldn’t have a chance in hell. The 150Y finals winner shot a 229. Same target as we shoot pellets in EBR.
I agree though, we do need to have more slug type BR events over 50Y.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Some local level, high power / long distance field target events do allow for a slug class. The UFT events in Ohio & Arizona for sure.
FWIW, very skeptical that we've reached a majority of airgun users switching to slugs full time, or even part time. Most air rifles in the wild are poor candidates for slugging; it's only in the last handful of years that most manufacturers started producing guns designed to be slug friendly.

 

[Danman]

With the majority of shooter’s going over to slugs, why isn’t there any slug classes for benchrest at Extreme Benchrest, or RMAC? Seems like pellets are becoming obsolete expect for stuff like field target and 50m benchrest. I’m interested in competing, but have not desire to buy a benchrest rifle for just pellets. Would like to see a slug class for Extreme Field target as well. Maybe let slug shooters compete with pellet shooters?

Something to think about too is a good bunch of guns can be purchased either-or.....you can swap a barrel of your choice later, FX, AF, Daystate/Brk, Skout, etc all can be barrel swapped, some easier than others. That way if you love the gun you can keep it and swap to a different caliber, barrel length, power level, and projectile! Seems pretty good to me
I'd also agree slugs should not be competing at distance with pellets shooters, once there's a decent breeze pellet shooters are at a massive disadvantage....then in that case everyone would shoot slugs at competitions!

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

Some local level, high power / long distance field target events do allow for a slug class. The UFT events in Ohio & Arizona for sure.
FWIW, very skeptical that we've reached a majority of airgun users switching to slugs full time, or even part time. Most air rifles in the wild are poor candidates for slugging; it's only in the last handful of years that most manufacturers started producing guns designed to be slug friendly.

You are right, I am just thinking situated in my area most of the guys at my club have switched to slugs. I do believe most high powered Airgun shooters will switch to slugs. It’s just a matter of when not if.

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

Something to think about too is a good bunch of guns can be purchased either-or.....you can swap a barrel of your choice later, FX, AF, Daystate/Brk, Skout, etc all can be barrel swapped, some easier than others. That way if you love the gun you can keep it and swap to a different caliber, barrel length, power level, and projectile! Seems pretty good to me
I'd also agree slugs should not be competing at distance with pellets shooters, once there's a decent breeze pellet shooters are at a massive disadvantage....then in that case everyone would shoot slugs at competitions!

I’ve tried switching stuff around for slugs and pellets and just don’t get the results I need for competition.

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

We did have two events this year that were slug Benchrest. In OR, it was 100Y same targets as EBR. In UT it was Qual round at 100Y, finals at 150Y. Same targets as EBR.
Putting pellets and slugs together wouldn’t work. In the qual round at UT, the top 4 scores were 245, 241, 238 and 236. Pellets wouldn’t have a chance in hell. The 150Y finals winner shot a 229. Same target as we shoot pellets in EBR.
I agree though, we do need to have more slug type BR events over 50Y.

I’m very interested in those competitions. Since slugs are so much better I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time when these competitions start having the same number of slug events as pellet.

 

[wolfmangreg]

It is a bit shocking that there isn't a bench rest slug category at EBR, RMAC, PAC etc. They're put on by the biggest retailers of airguns/ammo/accessories in the country, and are absolutely intended to be, at least in part, product showcases. Lots of slugs available on their websites, and more & more rifles touting their slug prowess. Would think there'd be a rush to be the first major to have a slug br comp???

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

It is a bit shocking that there isn't a bench rest slug category at EBR, RMAC, PAC etc. They're put on by the biggest retailers of airguns/ammo/accessories in the country, and are absolutely intended to be, at least in part, product showcases. Lots of slugs available on their websites, and more & more rifles touting their slug prowess. Would think there'd be a rush to be the first major to have a slug br comp???

It is shocking and a lot of shooters are shooting slugs exclusively now.

 

[Centercut]

It is a bit shocking that there isn't a bench rest slug category at EBR, RMAC, PAC etc. They're put on by the biggest retailers of airguns/ammo/accessories in the country, and are absolutely intended to be, at least in part, product showcases. Lots of slugs available on their websites, and more & more rifles touting their slug prowess. Would think there'd be a rush to be the first major to have a slug br comp???

Agree. Maybe PAC could go first, since they only have a few events, and are more of a “semi” major.

 

[Franklink]

Some local level, high power / long distance field target events do allow for a slug class. The UFT events in Ohio & Arizona for sure.
FWIW, very skeptical that we've reached a majority of airgun users switching to slugs full time, or even part time. Most air rifles in the wild are poor candidates for slugging; it's only in the last handful of years that most manufacturers started producing guns designed to be slug friendly.

Yes. Yes. And yes.

I am also skeptical that we've reached a majority of airgunners launching slugs.

If I was faced with a choice of slugs or pellets, I'd keep pellets.

Slugs are a pain in the ass.

Slug downsides...
Expensive. At least for the high BC slugs.
Heavier air usage than pellets.
Safety. Downrange energy retention.
And the biggest....success rates with slugs. Slugs are the absolute opposite of pellets when it comes to plug and play. Quality pellets will more often than not shoot pretty well from quality airguns. Quality slugs will more often than not shoot like $hit from quality airguns.

I own one gun that shoots slugs at an acceptable level of accuracy, and even then that slug gun is only 35fpe. I own 10ish airguns that will shoot multiple flavors of pellets at an acceptable level of accuracy. And that's not for lack of trying. I've ran a whole bunch of slugs through a whole bunch of barrels.

Slugs are the path of most resistance when reinventing the rimfire wheel.

I like airguns for what they are. Precision and accuracy out to about 100 yards. Lots of trigger time. Low cost per shot ratio. Quiet. Enjoyable.

Sorry bout the rant. Perhaps just a bit (re) bitter (ed) up today after running a bunch of slugs through yet another new barrel yesterday and only seeing the typical slug outcome: subpar accuracy.

 

[pan60]

if accuracy is subpar why is ther such a move to slugs?
is it just the exceptions to come and not want to miss the band wagon?
I can see some hunters wanting slugs ( not for tree rats ) for more energy.

 

[Franklink]

if accuracy is subpar why is ther such a move to slugs?
is it just the exceptions to come and not want to miss the band wagon?
I can see some hunters wanting slugs ( not for tree rats ) for more energy.

Lots of my sourness about slugs is that I've tried to mostly shoot them from pellet guns. Often, but not always, choked barrels at reasonable power levels. And most, but not all, of my slug testing has been what I call first gen slugs. The cone shaped types. We're talking probably 50 barrels at this point. Two decent shooting barrel/slug combos. Two.

And I'll add here that this is long range accuracy I'm talking about. I live on two acres, two long skinny acres. I've got 135 yards off the back porch on my own property, and a couple hundred onto the neighbors property, and permission to shoot that direction. So new gun or barrel comes through for testing and it goes straight to the back porch for long range accuracy assessment.

What I call second gen slugs, the Altaros type, seem to offer a bit better success rate than what I've seen. Although I have tried Altaros from a couple barrels and been typical-for-slugs disappointed. So, say Altaros really are as good as folks say, and maybe/maybe not with a better success rate than I've seen with most slugs.....now you're paying 3-4x as much as we pay for even expensive JSB pellets. Which gets you into du jour rimfire specialty ammo prices.

So yes, I think some of it is not wanting to miss the bandwagon/the industry hype train pushing to get us to open our wallets.

If I NEEDED rimfire power levels, I'd shoot a rimfire. And not being a felon, would go through the necessary tax stamps to keep it quiet. As it is though, airguns are enjoyable for what they are for me, not what the industry is trying to turn them into.

To get back to the OPs original question.....I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing more slugs allowed at the big industry showcase matches, cuz like I already said, consumerism. And what wins on Sunday, sells on Monday.

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

Yes. Yes. And yes.

I am also skeptical that we've reached a majority of airgunners launching slugs.

If I was faced with a choice of slugs or pellets, I'd keep pellets.

Slugs are a pain in the ass.

Slug downsides...
Expensive. At least for the high BC slugs.
Heavier air usage than pellets.
Safety. Downrange energy retention.
And the biggest....success rates with slugs. Slugs are the absolute opposite of pellets when it comes to plug and play. Quality pellets will more often than not shoot pretty well from quality airguns. Quality slugs will more often than not shoot like $hit from quality airguns.

I own one gun that shoots slugs at an acceptable level of accuracy, and even then that slug gun is only 35fpe. I own 10ish airguns that will shoot multiple flavors of pellets at an acceptable level of accuracy. And that's not for lack of trying. I've ran a whole bunch of slugs through a whole bunch of barrels.

Slugs are the path of most resistance when reinventing the rimfire wheel.

I like airguns for what they are. Precision and accuracy out to about 100 yards. Lots of trigger time. Low cost per shot ratio. Quiet. Enjoyable.

Sorry bout the rant. Perhaps just a bit (re) bitter (ed) up today after running a bunch of slugs through yet another new barrel yesterday and only seeing the typical slug outcome: subpar accuracy.

I’ve had that experience with light slugs, but with heavy slugs it has been very easy for me. Anything 35 grains and up shoots great out of my Epic and Mora. Out of the box they both shoot the new .22 cal 40 grain ACE slugs within MOA at 200 yards and one hole at 50 yards. Tuning for them was a breeze. I use to shoot .30 cal pellets and let me tell you I’ll never go back.

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

if accuracy is subpar why is ther such a move to slugs?
is it just the exceptions to come and not want to miss the band wagon?
I can see some hunters wanting slugs ( not for tree rats ) for more energy.

The accuracy has been incredible for me and tuning has been very easy. I have old posts on here about having trouble tuning a BRK Ghost with .25 cal pellets. Ever since I’ve moved to heavy slugs tuning has become a piece of cake in my experience. Just gotta have a gun that can push them fast.

 

[Pumacarl]

I don't see an issue at all. You can't have it both ways. On the one hand pellet guys say, 'slugs suck anyway, they don't shoot in my gun, at 100y it doesn't matter anyway,' and then the next thing they say is that it wouldn't be fair. Wait a minute, are slugs more accurate or not? Maybe your pellet gun is more accurate than the next guys slug gun, maybe not. Let the match decide. Let people shoot whatever they want and we will all see really quickly what works and what doesn't. Why would anyone want to shoot a match with anything but what they believe to be is the most accurate system that they can field? If I have a lights out slug gun, I wouldn't want to have to shoot pellets, and vice versa. Let everyone go for 250 25x with whatever projectile they want. I really don't have a dog in this fight, but as an outsider looking in, I don't see trying to find out who can shoot their absolute best, with the best equipment available, to be a problem. Quite the opposite, not allowing it, just holds everyone back from realizing what is actually possible.

 

[Franklink]

I don't see an issue at all. You can't have it both ways. On the one hand pellet guys say, 'slugs suck anyway, they don't shoot in my gun, at 100y it doesn't matter anyway,' and then the next thing they say is that it wouldn't be fair. Wait a minute, are slugs more accurate or not? Maybe your pellet gun is more accurate than the next guys slug gun, maybe not. Let the match decide. Let people shoot whatever they want and we will all see really quickly what works and what doesn't. Why would anyone want to shoot a match with anything but what they believe to be is the most accurate system that they can field? If I have a lights out slug gun, I wouldn't want to have to shoot pellets, and vice versa. Let everyone go for 250 25x with whatever projectile they want. I really don't have a dog in this fight, but as an outsider looking in, I don't see trying to find out who can shoot their absolute best, with the best equipment available, to be a problem. Quite the opposite, not allowing it, just holds everyone back from realizing what is actually possible.

Let me try again.

An exceptional slug:barrel combination will absolutely shoot better at long range than even the best long range pellets. That's as simple as BC.

The issue arises with the low percentage of slug/barrel combinations that are exceptional, at least in my personal testing.

Pick ten average quality airguns and shoot pellets through them at...say even 75 yards. Most, if not all ten of them are going to group pretty well.
Pick ten average quality airguns and shoot slugs through them, at the same 75 yards. Chances that slim that even one of them is going to shoot accurately enough to have any further interest in shooting them.

Supposedly the odds are better with Altaros-types (hasn't been the case for me). But then your paying 3-4x as much as the cheap pellets that shot quite good in 9 or ten of the guns in the 10-gun comparison above.

 

[Franklink]

I’ve had that experience with light slugs, but with heavy slugs it has been very easy for me. Anything 35 grains and up shoots great out of my Epic and Mora. Out of the box they both shoot the new .22 cal 40 grain ACE slugs within MOA at 200 yards and one hole at 50 yards. Tuning for them was a breeze. I use to shoot .30 cal pellets and let me tell you I’ll never go back.

So you have a special use case. 200 yards is far beyond typical airgun distances. And yes, your air-powered rimfires (40 grain .22s) are probably pretty rimfire-like, in the ballistics realm.

You have essentially duplicated rimfire performance.

 

[Airgunsruinedmylife]

So you have a special use case. 200 yards is far beyond typical airgun distances. And yes, your air-powered rimfires (40 grain .22s) are probably pretty rimfire-like, in the ballistics realm.

You have essentially duplicated rimfire performance.

The guys shooting .30 cal 66 grain AEA pellets are making crazy power and shoot well out to 200 yards. Slugs should just be allowed, and all the guys shooting high powered FX’s, Epics, Skouts, and RTI’s at my club have all had an easy time tuning them for slugs. In fact hardly anyone at my clubs shoots high powered guns with pellets besides the guys who go to EBR. Times have changed and slugs are going to take over the scene in the high powered realm of airguns. Not a matter of if, but when.

 

[Franklink]

The guys shooting .30 cal 66 grain AEA pellets are making crazy power and shoot well out to 200 yards. Slugs should just be allowed, and all the guys shooting high powered FX’s, Epics, Skouts, and RTI’s at my club have all had an easy time tuning them for slugs. In fact hardly anyone at my clubs shoots high powered guns with pellets besides the guys who go to EBR. Times have changed and slugs are going to take over the scene in the high powered realm of airguns. Not a matter of if, but when.

Specifying that we're talking about the "high-powered realm of airguns" yes, I can agree with you there. Slugs are the future of high powered airguns. They don't have much to contend with, since the prior high-powered airguns were big bored that got a couple shots per fill.

The industry has created an entire new class of airguns. And that class has much more in common with powder burners than it does with airgunning's roots.

Not the squeaky wheel online for sure, but there's still a very large percentage of airgunners that enjoy them in their traditional power levels. I don't expect that to change.