Pellets vs. Slugs

[GHairgunner]

I thought it would be interesting to start a pellets vs slugs discussion. This isn’t meant to determine a winner its meant to figure out why the big push for slugs, why no new pellets are being developed.

For starters I have bought many different slugs and pellets to find the magic one that always works. I’m still looking! Most of my shooting is targets and field target with a little hunting when opportunities arise.

The idea that the airgun was once a backyard plinking gun is gone. I shoot 100 yard comps and for reference since many of you only live on farms that is all the way across the yard of the 4th house down the street in my neighborhood (big lots), could be at least 5 houses in other neighborhoods. So the idea of needing slugs to reach out and hit the target way out there is a bit strange. Could you possibly walk further than 2 steps from your truck when hunting? If you get out of it all

Slugs, I have tried 3 different calibers .117, .22 and .25 I have only found one slug in one of those calibers to even come close at 50 yards to a pellet in terms of scoring accuracy. As an engineer I see the tooling for slugs is way easier and less costly to produce then tooling for pellets. Under the microscope the slugs still suck, in consistent shape and weight, The current airguns seem very inconsistent and not very accepting of the slugs. Yes I know some of you have found perfection and will send pictures of that perfect group, but how about doing a bunch groups then showing your work. So why does one need a slug? A 250 yard shot in the neighborhood is 2 and a half blocks away.

Pellets, I have tried even more weights and sizes and some things are just wicked tough as shooting pellets in the wind can make you cry shooting 100 yards. I must also say that the range of pellets is quite large as well. For I have hit target all the way out to 264, even if it was large.

Is there something better like a combo slug pellet? Should we pay more attention to our sport and stop making long distance shooting the thing to do? Should we go all out and find longer and longer ranges to practice at and have our comps on?

 

[Bladebum]

This is a can of worms topic that gets brought up on every forum, and there's never a consensus. If you have to ask why slugs, then you simply do not have a use for them.

Slugs are superior for long range, period. If your shooting targets off a bench at 50 yards with light wind, you only need pellets and likely print your best groups with them. I am a hunter and pest shooter for many farms, and I use both pellets and slugs as they both have thier advantages. If for instance, I am shooting ground squirrels (like I was 2 days ago) they can start to get very leary of your presence to the point you are no longer going to get close enough for a sure shot with pellets. Out come the slug guns. Also, if you are trying to effectively take out said squirrels, the last thing you want to do is fight the wind trying to sling pellets accurately at 100 yards or more.

Pellets are extremely forgiving with tunes and speeds vs slugs are not at all. It takes much tuning and testing to find the right slug type/weight/head size/speed and reg pressure for a given rifle. Understanding that small changes make big difference down range with slugs is absolutely neccessary.

I enjoy using pellets for 50-75 yards , preferably closer and especially if im doing a pest job inside structures where pass through damage is a concern. Also, pellets die off much quicker after they contact something, making them much safer around livestock if thats an issue.

I'm not a target shooter for recreation, so I can't comment on that aspect. But I have the different tools for different jobs and both pellets and slugs absolutely have thier uses.

 

[PasadenaMike]

I just shoot pellets because i shoot close and don’t need my projectile to keep going. Slugs are pointless for me because I don’t shoot 200 yards. Even when I was shooting powder burners I rarely shot passed 75 yards. Slugs are just another tool to use and they’re pointless for my application.

 

[Farmplinker2]

Living on a farm, if it's past pellet range, I use a .22 lr. That said, if I lived in a more built up area, where I couldn't get a rimfire suppressor for quieting down longer shots, I would experiment with slugs.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Living on a farm, if it's past pellet range, I use a .22 lr. That said, if I lived in a more built up area, where I couldn't get a rimfire suppressor for quieting down longer shots, I would experiment with slugs.

It’s about “what’s your purpose”?

 

[GHairgunner]

This is a can of worms topic that gets brought up on every forum, and there's never a consensus. If you have to ask why slugs, then you simply do not have a use for them.

Slugs are superior for long range, period. If your shooting targets off a bench at 50 yards with light wind, you only need pellets and likely print your best groups with them. I am a hunter and pest shooter for many farms, and I use both pellets and slugs as they both have thier advantages. If for instance, I am shooting ground squirrels (like I was 2 days ago) they can start to get very leary of your presence to the point you are no longer going to get close enough for a sure shot with pellets. Out come the slug guns. Also, if you are trying to effectively take out said squirrels, the last thing you want to do is fight the wind trying to sling pellets accurately at 100 yards or more.

Pellets are extremely forgiving with tunes and speeds vs slugs are not at all. It takes much tuning and testing to find the right slug type/weight/head size/speed and reg pressure for a given rifle. Understanding that small changes make big difference down range with slugs is absolutely neccessary.

I enjoy using pellets for 50-75 yards , preferably closer and especially if im doing a pest job inside structures where pass through damage is a concern. Also, pellets die off much quicker after they contact something, making them much safer around livestock if thats an issue.

I'm not a target shooter for recreation, so I can't comment on that aspect. But I have the different tools for different jobs and both pellets and slugs absolutely have thier uses.

Thanks Bladebum

This is what I was wanting to generate is a discussion like this. In the comp world you meet up with NRL and PRS shooters that get to shoot slugs but come to a field target comp and they do nothing but complain about having to shoot pellets.

I have also gone to N50 Nationals where those guys don't even touch their guns as they are mounted into fixtures and they rely on wind reads for their accuracy. Some shoot slugs when allowed by rules but they seem to have a gun setup just for that.

Slugs should cost much less as they are far easier to manufacture so should everyone change to slugs? Once the cost reflects tooling cost and speed improvements?

Is there anyone out there that has tried to make a projectile that is the best of both worlds?

 

[PasadenaMike]

Thanks Bladebum

This is what I was wanting to generate is a discussion like this. In the comp world you meet up with NRL and PRS shooters that get to shoot slugs but come to a field target comp and they do nothing but complain about having to shoot pellets.

I have also gone to N50 Nationals where those guys don't even touch their guns as they are mounted into fixtures and they rely on wind reads for their accuracy. Some shoot slugs when allowed by rules but they seem to have a gun setup just for that.

Slugs should cost much less as they are far easier to manufacture so should everyone change to slugs? Once the cost reflects tooling cost and speed improvements?

Is there anyone out there that has tried to make a projectile that is the best of both worlds?

Answering the last statement: isn’t the fx hybrid slug kind of a best of both worlds ?

 

[GHairgunner]

Answering the last statement: isn’t the fx hybrid slug kind of a best of both worlds ?

Maybe? The ones I have shot certainly don't seem to answer any questions. Maybe the answer is open the comps to anything and let the leaders define progress into future?

 

[PasadenaMike]

Maybe? The ones I have shot certainly don't seem to answer any questions. Maybe the answer is open the comps to anything and let the leaders define progress into future?

Yeah I don’t know too I just remember hearing somewhere I just know only my maverick .30 likes hybrids and that’s it so I just shoot pellets they’re less picky about tune

 

[Pumacarl]

Well, I would have to disagree that no new pellets are being made. There has been several new brands, such has JTS, that are making domed and semi-domed pellets. Zan has started making pellets too. JSB is always changing something, for the good and the bad. A pellet is always going to be a pellet, change a die out, tweak a skirt thickness, and you get a whole different animal. The whole slug discussion has been beaten to death. It can never be resolved unless everyone uses the exact same barrels, which is all but impossible. You just have to experiment if you believe you have a need, or are just curious. The FX Hybrids are very accurate out of my .30 Paradigm, but I have to clean my barrel every fill. Still, they are accurate, and different, then other slugs. Maybe the HALO will be your answer if they ever see the light of day.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Slugs should cost much less as they are far easier to manufacture so should everyone change to slugs? Once the cost reflects tooling cost and speed improvements?

Sure hope not. Have no usage scenario for slugs, & I'm definitely not alone.

Don't get me wrong- glad slugs are an option for folks that do use them. Good for airgunning to have them available.

As for the NRL/PRS guys... Sheesh, what is it about the words "field target" that makes guys want to complain about anything & everything???

 

[Alan]

It puzzles me why BC (ballistic coefficient) hasn't been mentioned? And I didn't see any mention of the material they're made of.

The BC of slugs are arguably higher than pellets of the same weight and caliber, and typically (better than) twice as good. This relates to longer ranges capabilities, if they're needed. If not, perhaps we need to define our target?

Yes, they're both mostly lead, but the alloy used for slugs is much softer compared to pellets. Realizing how they're both made, should give any airgunner the answer why this is so. To wit, slugs are made of soft alloys, and pellets from harder ones. This fact allows slugs to expend more energy when hitting soft targets. If the target is game, then obviously slugs are a better choice.

For me at least, sticking to one or the other projectile type is being short sighted.

 

[Franklink]

It puzzles me why BC (ballistic coefficient) hasn't been mentioned? And I didn't see any mention of the material they're made of.

The BC of slugs are arguably higher than pellets of the same weight and caliber, and typically (better than) twice as good. This relates to longer ranges capabilities, if they're needed. If not, perhaps we need to define our target?

Yes, they're both mostly lead, but the alloy used for slugs is much softer compared to pellets. Realizing how they're both made, should give any airgunner the answer why this is so. To wit, slugs are made of soft alloys, and pellets from harder ones. This fact allows slugs to expend more energy when hitting soft targets. If the target is game, then obviously slugs are a better choice.

For me at least, sticking to one or the other projectile type is being short sighted.

Some slugs are hard lead and some are soft. Some pellets are hard lead and some are soft. Each company has their proprietary lead mix.

NSA slugs are generally hard. H&N are softer than NSA and Varmintknockers are softer than both. The Griffins are pretty soft too.

JSB pellets are typically the softest lead. H&N pellets a bit harder. CROSMAN pellets some of the hardest lead pellets.

 

[wolfmangreg]

It puzzles me why BC (ballistic coefficient) hasn't been mentioned? And I didn't see any mention of the material they're made of.

The BC of slugs are arguably higher than pellets of the same weight and caliber, and typically (better than) twice as good. This relates to longer ranges capabilities, if they're needed. If not, perhaps we need to define our target?

Yes, they're both mostly lead, but the alloy used for slugs is much softer compared to pellets. Realizing how they're both made, should give any airgunner the answer why this is so. To wit, slugs are made of soft alloys, and pellets from harder ones. This fact allows slugs to expend more energy when hitting soft targets. If the target is game, then obviously slugs are a better choice.

For me at least, sticking to one or the other projectile type is being short sighted.

Call it what you want, just don't need them. Pellets do fine for me, thank you.
Their relatively poor bc is one of the draws for me- much better choice for shooting in my backyard & the small woodlots I hunt.
I've no beef at all with those that play the long range game and/or shoot slugs. But I don't see why choosing to stick with pellets is somehow short sighted.

 

[Franklink]

As OP mentioned, stumbling across a magic combination of barrel/slug that actually outshoots high BC pellets (out to 100 yards) is harder to do than simply finding a barrel likes likes high BC pellets.

In my personal testing I've gone through something like 40 well known barrel brands (Lothar and CZ mostly, but also HW and FWB). I've only found two truly exceptional barrel/slug combos. But there were MANY exceptional barrel/pellet combos in those 40 barrels.

The reason it's worth the frustration is because even a mediocre slug BC is much better than a high pellet BC.

(Edit: did a tally on the barrels and it's more like 40).

 

[pan60]

i dont plan on slugs anytime soon.
if i was to i would dedicate a gun just for it.
but times can change?

 

[Alan]

The link below refers to a Lee Precision lead tester, and is about as inexpensive as the come. If you buy one of these, and test the hardness of pellets and slugs, you'll find what I said above to be generally true.

Slugs require more air if for no other reason than their bearing (contact) surface. Even then, as a rule, they're softer than pellets. Personally, I've never found a slug as hard as an equivalent weight and caliber pellet, but I suspect there are.

https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION-Lead-Hardness-Test/dp/B004Y6YH3W/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3D5UCRU4P66R3&keywords=lee+hardness+tester&qid=1698706532&sprefix=lee+hardness+%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-3

 

[Franklink]

There's also the pencil lead (graphite/clay) testing method for determining lead hardness.

Less scientific is fingernail. I can dig the edge of a fingernail into any JSB pellets with ease. And can barely make a mark in an NSA slug. (the hardest and softest of the examples I presented).

 

[pan60]

i cant see a reason for what i would call HARD lead in any airgun projectile?
but?
when i cast for PB what it is get shot out of will determine how hard it needs to be, for me that mostly Black Powder, ball, and soft.
so i cant see with airguns a use for hard lead i would think soft would be best and any differance i would guess is manufacturers differant souce or recipes?

 

[Franklink]

i cant see a reason for what i would call HARD lead in any airgun projectile?
but?
when i cast for PB what it is get shot out of will determine how hard it needs to be, for me that mostly Black Powder, ball, and soft.
so i cant see with airguns a use for hard lead i would think soft would be best and any differance i would guess is manufacturers differant souce or recipes?

Just proprietary alloys of lead for each manufacturer. Outside of changing how it "flows" as swaged and perhaps more penetration versus initial deformation at impact, the biggest difference to me seems less potential damage in shipping with harder projectiles.

My most recent big order of NSA had a box in the corner of the "stack" that showed a crushed corner and quite a bit of damage. I expected to find a bunch of damaged slugs but nope. They look and shoot fine. If theyd been the softer lead JSBs, they would have been worthless.