Airgun myths & legends

[Billm]

Yes, the myth ive seen propagated extensively, leading to multiple HEATED debates, is that GA is absolutely the wrong drag law to use for slugs and G1 is wrong for pellets. In reality (actual shooting and mapping out trajectory curves relative to what ballistic apps predict), and as @wolfmangreg commented, the trajectory curve (and the BCs) dont change enough to matter, whether using GA or G1.

The "GA for pellets and G1 for slugs and n'er the twain shall meet" crowd are dying on the hill of semantics. Academically and theoretically, sure GA for pellets and G1 for slugs. But in the real world of throwing lead downrange and wanting it to go to a very specific place, it simply doesn't make much of a difference.

Thanks, I was pretty sure that was your position.

 

[hameditor]

Here's another one that I have heard a couple of times:

"Oh you don't need more than a 4X scope for airguns as they don't shoot very far".

Yes, really...

 

[AtlasAirguns]

Myth number two (and this one I really dislike):

Airguns make good self defense weapons.
They don't.

Anytime I see a self defense airgun video, I dislike.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

Today's rifles are very accurate. Just accurate enough to show you how bad you really are, if you're sharp enough to realize it.

True. The consumer market though is led to believe that in real world conditions (light to medium wind) you can and should expect ridiculous accuracy. I can't tell you how many times I've posted honest groups and people have commented that they can one hole with an avenger at 100. I always ask them for a video to demonstrate such an assured result, but to this day not one video has ever been produced. Mind you, they could shoot 20 cards and show the one good one, but they haven't ever even produced that.

But that is my 2 cents. Not ripping on affordable brands at all just the claim (regardless of price point) that you can overcome subsonic physics.

 

[Billm]

True. The consumer market though is led to believe that in real world conditions (light to medium wind) you can and should expect ridiculous accuracy. I can't tell you how many times I've posted honest groups and people have commented that they can one hole with an avenger at 100. I always ask them for a video to demonstrate such an assured result, but to this day not one video has ever been produced. Mind you, they could shoot 20 cards and show the one good one, but they haven't ever even produced that.

But that is my 2 cents. Not ripping on affordable brands at all just the claim (regardless of price point) that you can overcome subsonic physics.

I agree with you 100%. I was just making the point that most of them are more accurate than we shooters are, at least in my case. Michael Thomas Niksch creator of the Thomas rifles, of which a lot of shooters consider to be the pinnacle of airgun accuracy made a post stating that he did not believe an air rifle could be manufactured that didn’t throw flyers. Yep, some people value their ego more than their personal integrity.

 

[AtlasAirguns]

I agree with you 100%. I was just making the point that most of them are more accurate than we shooters are, at least in my case. Michael Thomas Niksch creator of the Thomas rifles, of which a lot of shooters consider to be the pinnacle of airgun accuracy made a post stating that he did not believe an air rifle could be manufactured that didn’t throw flyers. Yep, some people value their ego more than their personal integrity.

At IPAC with slugs at 150yd, the cards were wildly bad. Half the people shot watermelon sized groups, and minutes before those same shooters talked about 300yd shots and all that jazz. One of the benefits of sitting back and spectating is seeing such scenes unfold. 10% did well, but it made me think about the efficacy of airguns in small bore for greater distances. I came away reminded that 100yd bench is still the gold standard.

 

[Solo1]

Ive shot here with slugs and pellets @ 100 when it was pretty calm. My scores with slugs if better are usually only better by a couple points. The 22 drs 700 with solid barrel is the first gun that i can get good groups out of without my form being 100 % perfect and some other guns even if my form is perfect are only meh. The only other gun that slings slugs pretty easily is the ghost 177 28” barrel with 13’s !

 

[wolfmangreg]

Here's another one that I have heard a couple of times:

"Oh you don't need more than a 4X scope for airguns as they don't shoot very far".

Yes, really...

Clearly, they are unaware that airguns can reach a zillion feet per second. Says so right on the box!

 

[Zelos1]

Has anyone brought up the subject of “belted” slugs like we used in our inline muzzle loaders?
Very accurate and the rubbery sabot/ring was probably easy on the rifling.

 

[Solo1]

Has anyone brought up the subject of “belted” slugs like we used in our inline muzzle loaders?
Very accurate and the rubbery sabot/ring was probably easy on the rifling.

Aea makes something similar in 22&25 i think

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Pellets and slugs for airguns have to be pure lead to keep from ruining the barrel. Pure lead is 5-6BHN I have taken 10 and 12BHN cowboy action slugs and have scratched them with my thumb nail which is soft as can be compared to steel rifling. These slugs do not hurt the barrel. They are made to shoot at 900fps in pistols and have less drag because they have lube grooves in them and they cost less than half what airgun slugs cost. Round balls were pure lead, but they were also patched and shot at over 1200fps so they would penetrate better. Why would I want to shoot harder slugs. For extra penetration, say for a hog or a deer. I want it to go in one side and tear out the other for a large exit wound and a better chance of getting a blood trail. The harder slug will tend to brake bones and keep going, it will be more forgiving if you hit heavy bones. Will they expand as much? No and that's okey, full expansion that stops at a bone or doesn't penetrate enough to take out the vitals is not helpful.

This will really cause some disagreement. Most people think you should always use HP slugs for large game hunting, and that kind of thinking could really ruin your day. Being airguns you probably won't be shooting over 1050fps so for large dangerous game it might be better to use a harder heavy bullet with a large flat meplat like a full wadcutter to get massive damage and full penetration. Bigger is always better. If you are hell bent on neck shots for large game a harder wadcutter could work better than a soft HP. Same if you think you might want to go with a shoulder shot. When velocity is slow, momentum is your friend. So, if you cannot get the penetration you want with the speed you have, do it with a heavier bullet and if you need even more yet, do it with a heavier harder bullet. You can get close to animals if you are careful. I have mostly still hunted and stalked. I have been close enough to deer twice and an elk once to have been able to hit them with the barrel of my gun and most kills have been within 15 yards. Only one was past 30 yards and that was a deer at around 300 yards with a 30-06. You will always have better results if you get closer or be patient and let them get closer. Keep the wind in your face and let your movement sound natural like nature not steady like a human. Take 3 short steps like a squirrel or bird hopping then stop look listen, then do it again and try to use cover like trees and bushes, animals will not be alarmed by what sounds natural that they hear every day. It is steady walking that will get their attention.

CHIEF:
When I was a mere E-3 Corpsman aboard my first ship back in 1966, my trusted Chief sent me to the supply Chief for a pair of falopian tubes. He said I needed to get them from the Ship's Office, and so on. Ya, ya, I was just a dumb 18 year old Corpsmaan. What did I know? By February of '67 I was with the 3rd MarDiv in Hue . . . 18 year olds sometimes had to grow up fast.
Anyway, back to your squirrel scenario: ya know how to catch a squirrel? Just climb up a tree and act like a nut. Gets 'em every time. Orv.

 

[Chief55]

Doc when I was a E2 striking Damage Controlman and a snipe in the engine room on my ship before I became an Aircraft Mechanic, they had me crawling around in the oily bilges mapping out the engine room and looking for the golden rivet. I was 20 and I didn't play along very long.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Those were the days my friend. Orv.

 

[PelletPusher]

If you want to shoot a springer accurately, you need to use the "Artillery Hold"

 

[Franklink]

If you want to shoot a springer accurately, you need to use the "Artillery Hold"

I agree.

One of the few springers that passed the pain in the test (ie, that I kept), requires a stranglehold to shoot it's best. And I'm talking white-knuckled death grip and pulling it into my shoulder with concerted effort.

 

[FL22]

I agree.

One of the few springers that passed the pain in the test (ie, that I kept), requires a stranglehold to shoot it's best. And I'm talking white-knuckled death grip and pulling it into my shoulder with concerted effort.

That’s what I do with my HW95, I just called it the kung fu death grip lol.

 

[old navy]

If you want to shoot a springer accurately, you need to use the "Artillery Hold"

windage and elevation my good man, windage and elevation, thats the rule for artillery hahaha

 

[wolfmangreg]

Good stuff folks, keep 'em coming!

 

[wolfmangreg]

Slugs want high speed > 950 fps.

Many are having success at 950-1050 fps with slugs, but it isn't a hard & fast rule. Let your barrel tell you how fast it wants to sling them, just like you would with pellets.

Messed about with slugs a few times over the years, but never seriously until recently.

The slugs that have become the primary projectile in two of my rifles are a 13 grain in .177 & a 40 grain in .22. Both shoot exceptionally well at 890-900 fps.

Tried the 13 grain at speeds from ~880 to 960. Accuracy was equally good from 890 to 920, with the shot cycle noticeably gentler at the low end. Accuracy degraded above 920. Easy call.

40 grain are shot from a rifle set up for that specific projectile at ~895 fps. Not even going to try going hotter; the manufacturer specifically recommends speeds <900 fps.

 

[Grunt64]

Myth: “I drop coyotes all the time with a .22 at 100+ yards.”​

I’ve seen this one on Facebook more times than I’ve seen “What scope should I buy?” posts, and that’s saying something.​

Apparently there’s a secret tribe of airgunners out there who:

shoot .22 pellets with the power of Zeus,
hit coyotes at NFL field‑goal distances,
and somehow the coyotes politely fall over like they’ve been unplugged.
Meanwhile, back in the real world…

A .22 at 100+ yards is basically throwing a warm Tic Tac at a 40‑lb animal that never stops moving.Wind drift, low retained energy, long time‑of‑flight, the physics aren’t just bad, they’re sitting in the corner crying.

So when someone says they “drop them instantly all the time,” I just assume they also bowl perfect games, bench 400, and have a cousin who works at NASA.

Great story. Fun legend.But not how coyotes — or airguns — actually work.