Slugs: What if?

[Franklink]

If a barrel or gun manufacturer was hypothetically able to start making barrels that simply shoot slugs well, would more of us be interested? Something like a "we tested a bunch of our barrels with these identical specs, and they all shoot x slug at x speed very well."

Pellets are largely plug and play. Buy a quality airgun, feed it quality ammo, and reasonably acceptable accuracy is highly likely. Current state of airgun barrels and slugs? Not so much.

So is the low percentage of successful slug barrels the primary deterring factor to slugs for many of us? Or, even if there were turn-key slug barrel options, we still don't have a need/use-case for slugs and their high BC/long range capabilities?

 

[Solo1]

I play with slugs simply because i try to get extreme accuracy @ 100 yds. But i believe if such barrels were made and more long distance slug comps were created the barrels would sell like crazy! Really its just like you cole just bigger calibers and longer ranges. Not all of us have the opportunity to shoot ground squirrels at 200 yds with a 20 cal

 

[pan60]

I would love shoot-in some squirrels at 200 yards : ) the thought makes me smile. : )

 

[Scriv]

Personally, I have zero interest in slugs. Any game I could play, or game I could shoot that required slugs would get a bullet. I shoot airguns so that I can experiment with pellets in the confines of my property. Not to say I won't take my airguns elsewhere, I have, but slugs just hold no interest for me.

 

[Jaabaa]

I do have a couple tins of .177 for local (aim down) opportunities. That I use the Beeman QB 78 with during the summer. I've never tried any in the Aircuda yet, .22
They are expensive, and a decent Wadcutter at 15 yards leaves a Bigger hole in a squirrel than you would think. Sometimes it seams the slug just goes through.
At least from my local experience.

 

[Luis Leon]

I got into airguns to shoot pellets… period. I accept the limitations of pellets at 100 yards because the bulk of my sending is sub 70 yards. I have a safe full of firearms if I wanted to send bullets/slugs. Getting into airguns to send out to 100-200 yards and be consistently accurate is simply unrealistic for the majority. Even if manufacturers came out with awesome, consistent slug barrels? I would still have zero interest.

 

[Pumacarl]

Personally, I have zero interest in slugs. Any game I could play, or game I could shoot that required slugs would get a bullet. I shoot airguns so that I can experiment with pellets in the confines of my property. Not to say I won't take my airguns elsewhere, I have, but slugs just hold no interest for me.

I thought exactly like this too. I never thought that I'd need them or want them. My opinion changed pretty drastically once I found some that worked. I wasn't figuring for just how much more quickly I was hitting further targets and how much I would appreciate having at least half the drift to figure for. An accurate slug spoiled me fast. Throw in being able to shoot twice as far, and I'm sold. They still allow me to shoot quietly on my property, just better. The only negative I can see using slugs is if you are somewhere where you have to worry about shooting up at pest birds, or in buildings, which pellets are perfect for. I certainly don't need them, but I have a lot more fun when I'm shooting slugs. When I was a springer guy I thought 55y was pretty good, pcp pellets amazed me at 100y, pcp slugs 200y! Yee haw!!

 

[Scriv]

I thought exactly like this too. I never thought that I'd need them or want them. My opinion changed pretty drastically once I found some that worked. I wasn't figuring for just how much more quickly I was hitting further targets and how much I would appreciate having at least half the drift to figure for. An accurate slug spoiled me fast. Throw in being able to shoot twice as far, and I'm sold. They still allow me to shoot quietly on my property, just better. The only negative I can see using slugs is if you are somewhere where you have to worry about shooting up at pest birds, or in buildings, which pellets are perfect for. I certainly don't need them, but I have a lot more fun when I'm shooting slugs. When I was a springer guy I thought 55y was pretty good, pcp pellets amazed me at 100y, pcp slugs 200y! Yee haw!!

And there's the difference. You had enough interest to try them, give a shot so to speak, and that's cool. I don't even have the interest to do that. Maybe it's because I have so many other interests that I'm just not about to dig my hole so deep, who knows? I do encourage anyone to follow their interests as far as they can dream.

 

[Pumacarl]

And there's the difference. You had enough interest to try them, give a shot so to speak, and that's cool. I don't even have the interest to do that. Maybe it's because I have so many other interests that I'm just not about to dig my hole so deep, who knows? I do encourage anyone to follow their interests as far as they can dream.

You are exactly right about the whole process pulling you in futher and further. As little as ten years ago I thought that I would never ever spend over a grand on an airgun. Ha! It is to laugh. Now I regret never spending less than that on powder burners that I hardly ever shot. My rimfires I did shoot a lot, so no regrets there. Airguns are the most bang for the buck though, and there's no bang, which is the best!

 

[Scriv]

You are exactly right about the whole process pulling you in futher and further. As little as ten years ago I thought that I would never ever spend over a grand on an airgun. Ha! It is to laugh. Now I regret never spending less than that on powder burners that I hardly ever shot. My rimfires I did shoot a lot, so no regrets there. Airguns are the most bang for the buck though, and there's no bang, which is the best!

Yup, I have a custom Anschutz that makes people's jaw drop. Makes me smile though.

 

[Danman]

If a barrel or gun manufacturer was hypothetically able to start making barrels that simply shoot slugs well, would more of us be interested? Something like a "we tested a bunch of our barrels with these identical specs, and they all shoot x slug at x speed very well."

Pellets are largely plug and play. Buy a quality airgun, feed it quality ammo, and reasonably acceptable accuracy is highly likely. Current state of airgun barrels and slugs? Not so much.

So is the low percentage of successful slug barrels the primary deterring factor to slugs for many of us? Or, even if there were turn-key slug barrel options, we still don't have a need/use-case for slugs and their high BC/long range capabilities?

Count me in, 100%. Slugs are addictive for pesting for that pop
..kills me to use them on paper
When you shoot a near whisper-quiet argun with a silent projectile (850-1000fps) and the only thing that can be heard is the explosion on the bird 25 to 100Y away you've got something pretty sweet.
Less drop vs pellets and better at bucking the wind are big bonuses too!
I have zero interest in shooting any airgun past 150Y....i'll just get closer to the quarry.
Last summer I pested at parents place with some 21gr patriot slugs, H&N Barracuda Hunters, Jsb 15.89 Hades, and the ol 18.13Jsb and the S510. Wasn't sure on the conditions but all 4 of those are minute of starling to 40-50Y Yards. So why the slugs? That pop!
On my 1.3acre corner lot property? Yeah i shoot pellets for pesting.
My goal is if i can get the Ghost shooting slugs well I will ditch the Mrds and keep it a dedicated slug rig. Sadly.....that means it will get less time out vs the pellet shooters, but each will have their place.
I'm a .177 and .22cal shooter exclusively & in those calibers slugs are plenty cheap with hordes of offerings on the market too.

 

[Billm]

I originally I tried slugs for two reasons: I experience crosswinds on my property everyday and I kept reading that slugs were difficult to shoot well. I thought they would make shooting in the wind more consistent and enjoyable- not the case so far. I liked the challenge and thought buying a swaging press would allow me to experiment enough to improve my slug experience. But, the barrels and rifles really hinder the process. I was on the verge of purchasing a Blackwolf tactical for slugs, but have yet to see any bonafide results showing that it is a superior slug gun. The same with the Condor Slug special edition no stellar user reports. No real stellar reports from Sub-MOA slug barrel shooters that aren’t sponsored in some way or another. If I see some consistent 100 yd sub-MOA slug groups from BRK/LW barrel or some other manufacturer, I will buy one.

 

[Danman]

I originally I tried slugs for two reasons: I experience crosswinds on my property everyday and I kept reading that slugs were difficult to shoot well. I thought they would make shooting in the wind more consistent and enjoyable- not the case so far. I liked the challenge and thought buying a swaging press would allow me to experiment enough to improve my slug experience. But, the barrels and rifles really hinder the process. I was on the verge of purchasing a Blackwolf tactical for slugs, but have yet to see any bonafide results showing that it is a superior slug gun. The same with the Condor Slug special edition no stellar user reports. No real stellar reports from Sub-MOA slug barrel shooters that aren’t sponsored in some way or another. If I see some consistent 100 yd sub-MOA slug groups from BRK/LW barrel or some other manufacturer, I will buy one.

Lothar Walther makes a killer .177 slug barrel....but....you have to be ok with shooting .177
Cheap Ammo, way more slugs in a Tin, any decent wind and kiss that group goodbye.
Im in the same boat lol. Cant wait to see how @Woogie_man makes out with his .22 Slug barrel when he gets it....

 

[Billm]

Lothar Walther makes a killer .177 slug barrel....but....you have to be ok with shooting .177
Cheap Ammo, way more slugs in a Tin, any decent wind and kiss that group goodbye.
Im in the same boat lol. Cant wait to see how @Woogie_man makes out with his .22 Slug barrel when he gets it....

I shot my first airgun that wasn’t a .177 last year. I got to admit I’ve grown to really like .25 and .30. But every squirrel and starling I’ve shot, were devastated by a .177 wadcutter.

 

[Grunt64]

Slugs are basically the problem child of airgun ammo. Pellets show up, behave themselves, and shoot well in almost anything. Slugs kick the door in, demand a specific twist rate, exact sizing, perfect tune, and then maybe they’ll group.

Even if someone built a “guaranteed slug barrel,” all that really means is you’re now married to that one slug at that one speed. Most of us aren’t looking for a long‑term relationship with our ammo. When I switched from BARS to Hunters Supply, guess what? Back to square one — new sizing, new tune, new groups. Pellets don’t pull that stunt. They either like a barrel or they don’t, and you find out in five minutes instead of five weekends.

 

[Chief55]

You can be testing different slugs and be shooting some that should shoot great, but they are all over the place because you didn't stop and clean your barrel often enough. That is not as much of a problem with pellets. Wad cutters are devastating at close range. They are very accurate and transmit all of their energy at close range, but they slow down fast from drag and are not typically good for longer range.

 

[Danman]

Slugs are basically the problem child of airgun ammo. Pellets show up, behave themselves, and shoot well in almost anything. Slugs kick the door in, demand a specific twist rate, exact sizing, perfect tune, and then maybe they’ll group.

Even if someone built a “guaranteed slug barrel,” all that really means is you’re now married to that one slug at that one speed. Most of us aren’t looking for a long‑term relationship with our ammo. When I switched from BARS to Hunters Supply, guess what? Back to square one — new sizing, new tune, new groups. Pellets don’t pull that stunt. They either like a barrel or they don’t, and you find out in five minutes instead of five weekends.

Well said, I think we call this hobby the "rabbit hole" or the "black hole" often but chasing slugs IS the the ultimate black hole!
Yet...here I am with 4 excellent pellet shooters ready to jump off the edge and shake (mess?) things up.
However....a good slug barrel should shoot more than one slug (weight) well albeit with a different tune.

 

[Scriv]

I shot my first airgun that wasn’t a .177 last year. I got to admit I’ve grown to really like .25 and .30. But every squirrel and starling I’ve shot, were devastated by a .177 wadcutter.

Thanks for sharing. I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the US that predominantly shoots .177 pellets.

 

[Solo1]

Thanks for sharing. I was beginning to think that I was the only one in the US that predominantly shoots .177 pellets.

There are a lot of field target shooters that go through quite a few tins of 177 each year!

 

[Scriv]

There are a lot of field target shooters that go through quite a few tins of 177 each year!

That's true. I tend to forget that fact being that I live in the black hole of air gunning. That looks like so much fun.