The Evolution of Airgun Slugs
When you look at where the airgun industry is today — shooters pushing accurate shots past 700 yards, competitions being won with high-BC projectiles, and manufacturers building barrels specifically for slugs — it’s hard to believe how far things have come in just a few decades. The newest Corbin slug just took 1st place in an Extreme long-range competition with firearms!
From Pellets to Hollow Points
For much of airgun history, the
diabolo pellet reigned supreme. Lightweight, easy to make, and great for short-range accuracy. But diabolo pellets lose energy quickly, and long-range shooters started looking for something better. That led to the first experiments with
hollow points and heavier shapes — great for hunting but still limited in consistency.
The Rise of the Modern Slug
The real breakthrough came with
swaged slugs — projectiles formed under pressure rather than cast in molds. This allowed for true
bullet-like shapes with higher ballistic coefficients (BCs), offering flatter trajectories and more retained energy. As PCP rifles grew more powerful, they could stabilize these heavier slugs and stretch airgun ranges beyond what was once thought possible. Corbin created the FX Hybrid style slug well over a decade ago!
Competition Changes the Game
Nothing drives innovation like competition. Events like the
Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge proved that slugs could dominate at long range, with shooters hitting targets well beyond 150 yards. These competitions didn’t just create winners; they shaped the future of slug design. Every small improvement in uniformity, BC, and accuracy filtered down into the products everyday shooters could buy. These were all production slugs as well, right off Corbins high speed production line!
Corbin’s Role in the Evolution
Behind the scenes,
Corbin Manufacturing played a huge role in this evolution. Many of the first respected PCP slug manufacturers started on Corbin presses and dies. From hand tools to fully automated hydraulic systems, Corbin’s tooling provided the precision needed to make slugs that could compete — and win. In fact, many sponsored shooters forgoe their sponsored ammo for competitions and use Corbin swaged slugs when competing at the highest level.
Where We Are Today
Now, slugs are no longer “experimental.” They’re a core part of the airgun industry, with companies designing barrels, magazines, and entire rifles around them. And yet, the story is still unfolding. Ballistic science, barrel design, and shooter feedback continue to push slug performance to new levels. Corbin has been working with some of you, the best in the industry, Applied Ballistics and countless others to elevate the impact. Thanks for being a part of this team!
Let’s Talk - Have you switched from pellets to slugs yet?
- What design changes made the biggest difference for your shooting?
- Where do you think slug design will go in the next 5–10 years?
- What design changes/applications should we focus on?
