How Airgun Slugs Changed the Game Forever

[Corbin]

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?

 

[Peashooter]

Yes.

Also to some degree true for the little .177 calibre, but we really need someone to move something for this little calibre, CUZ it have been forsaken.
Slugs alone i am not sure will be enough.

Not just speaking CUZ my rulers have me chained to this little calibre, i think it is still relevant in my case not least for the cost of ammo VS the larger calibres.
I personally consider 100 M ELR for .177, but with a slight bump in barrel and ammo technology and granted another place to shoot i would be happy to try 150 - 200 M CUZ i do think it can be done, just not with that i got now in the way of barrels and ammo.

I am firmly a slug whore, but i do also shoot pellets now and then on the really calm days.

 

[daddypaddy]

Yes.

Also to some degree true for the little .177 calibre, but we really need someone to move something for this little calibre, CUZ it have been forsaken.
Slugs alone i am not sure will be enough.

Not just speaking CUZ my rulers have me chained to this little calibre, i think it is still relevant in my case not least for the cost of ammo VS the larger calibres.
I personally consider 100 M ELR for .177, but with a slight bump in barrel and ammo technology and granted another place to shoot i would be happy to try 150 - 200 M CUZ i do think it can be done, just not with that i got now in the way of barrels and ammo.

I am firmly a slug whore, but i do also shoot pellets now and then on the really calm days.

yes .177 is amazing. such a tiny little projectile in slug form can surprisingly give great results.

two smaller grey impact dots are first two consecutive hits by a 177 akela from 252 yards and then missed the next two shots. the three shiny larger impacts are from another AGN members mora .22. easy work for that gun. was a big target but was set very far for the fun of the hobby. i was the one sitting on the left.

 

[Corbin]

yes .177 is amazing. such a tiny little projectile in slug form can surprisingly give great results.

two smaller grey impact dots are first two consecutive hits by a 177 akela from 252 yards and then missed the next two shots. the three shiny larger impacts are from another AGN members ghost .22. easy work for that gun. was a big target but was set very far for the fun of the hobby. i was the one sitting on the left.

It is wild at how accurate we are getting the little .177 slugs. Far different than my first .177 pellet gun.

 

[OC_]

I love 177 slugs. We need more options for barrels. I don't think anyone is making a dedicated 177 slug barrel.

 

[trapdoor2]

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?

To me, slugs in airguns appear to be where PBs were in the 70s. Benchrest and Long Range were driving factors. Back then, I subscribed to Precision Shooting and read them cover-to-cover. Everybody was experimenting with higher and higher BC bullets, faster and faster twist rates, etc.

Slugs and Airguns are in the midst of a revolution in technology. Better airguns, better projectiles, better tech, better materials; they push each other.

Of course, money is the ultimate driver. Competition with cash prizes will always push technology furthest/fastest.

Humans have been experimenting with projectiles for a very long time. I have examples of stuff like two-piece slugs (hard nose, soft tail, etc.). The fun part (well, I think it's fun) is that much of the previous experimentation has been velocity forward....limited by materials and human factors (safe pressures/weight/form factors). For airguns, the goal is less about velocities (though that's still there) and more about precision within the current subsonic restraints.

As we move out to longer ranges, BC becomes a significant driver, esp. at subsonic velocities. For out to, say, 50m, pellets will likely remain the biggest form factor. It would take a massive change in BC to knock the diabolo pellet off of its podium at short range. Maybe that will happen...

While I haven't been shooting PCP for very long, I've been watching the slugfest. Obviously, PB projectile tech is finally moving into to airguns in a big way. I have an increasing variety of .25 cal slugs in my pocket to test but my learning curve is still on the steep side with just the rifle. My plan is to get tethered and start testing slugs in earnest.

• Have you switched from pellets to slugs yet?

I don't think "switched" is appropriate. I'll keep shooting pellets at short range until I find that there is a slug that outperforms them.

• What design changes made the biggest difference for your shooting?

Not enough testing on my end. I suspect higher and higher BC will be the driver.

• Where do you think slug design will go in the next 5–10 years?

I think the catchphrase will be "VLD" (very low drag). Acceleration drives the nose profile on any pure lead slug. I don't think we've explored the truly high BC form factors. (that I know of). As I mentioned before, I have projectiles which are two-piece to allow stiffer alloys in the pointy nose profile area and pure lead for the bases (those were actually for muzzle-loaders). The lower acceleration curve (lack of obduration) of airguns should allow VLD style nose profiles. OTOH, at subsonic velocities, VLD needles may not be necessary. Getting that last 0.0001 of BC is still going to drive design.

• What design changes/applications should we focus on?

Corbin equipment has always been prohibitively expensive for the hobbyist (IMHO). I took a hard look at your stuff when I was active in BPCRS and NRA Long Range BP Target Rifle. It was always cheaper to get a custom mold cut. I'm looking forward to seeing the new press that is coming out specific for airgun. My own preference is .25cal. Much like the PBs, I think the Benchrest and Long Range shooters will eventually find that the optimum is between 6 and 6.5mm. Hunting, of course is a very different game.

 

[Ballisticboy]

At subsonic speeds, the nose drag is a very small component of the total drag once you have got an ogive nose of a reasonable length, say 1 calibre maximum. Going longer will give very little reduction in form drag, but may even increase skin friction drag from the greater surface area. The majority of the drag comes from base drag, this is why boat tails are effective at subsonic speeds. However, boat tails need careful design and must not be too long or have too large an angle. The fact is that a boat tail always produces destabilizing moments, leading to a need for faster twist rates compared to a cylindrical base projectile of the same overall length. The boat tail will also increase Magnus moments, giving a worse dynamic stability, which is extremely difficult to accurately predict.
None of this means that real total projectile drag cannot be reduced, but it has to be a balance of low drag zero yaw design and optimized stability. Even some major bullet manufacturers have got this wrong in the past.

 

[Impact701]

I shot pellets from my 1st break barrel rifle.
I got rid of that and got a PCP, a FX Impact MKII 25 700, I haven't shot pellets since.
I have tried a lot of different slugs from different manufacturers.

My favorite hunting slug is the .250 H&N 40gr heavy slug from my DRS Pro at 980fps.

I would like to see a .25 caliber boat tail slug like the Airmarksman Ace with a T-slot hollow point like the H&N heavy slug.

 

[airgunmike56]

I have tried slugs, But 95% of my shooting is at 25 to 50 yards and I have never found a slug that can out perform pellets,
Now If my shooting was at 100 and more yards , I would be looking for a slug gun, I have 10 high end PCP guns , And the only ones that have shot slugs fair to ok is my Huben Kl 22 caliber and my RTI 25 caliber , OK and fair do not cut it when I am trying to hit sparrow heads ,,I am looking real hard at the Slash its made for slugs and pellets but back to I shoot 98% at 50 yards and under I don't need slugs ,
I remember back in the 80's when talk was the limiting factor of the air guns was the pellet shape, And the talk of 4500 psi guns were insane, crazy and dangerous,
Time flys
Mike

 

[mightyox]

Slugs are for PCPs only right?

 

[jps2486]

I'm a paper puncher and don't shoot beyond 100 yards. I've tried all kinds of slugs of different manufacturers and different weights with mixed results. The only one that worked well is my RAW HM1000x custom built by airguns-usa.com in .177 caliber. But there again, this rifle is specifically made to shoot slugs. All my others are pellet rifles: FX AA, FWB, DS. Below 100 yards, pellets are adequate. To shoot slugs, my rifles would have to be boosted in power and barrels replaced. I'm not about to do that. Besides, shooting pellets is far less expensive.

 

[jps2486]

I shot pellets from my 1st break barrel rifle.
I got rid of that and got a PCP, a FX Impact MKII 25 700, I haven't shot pellets since.
I have tried a lot of different slugs from different manufacturers.

My favorite hunting slug is the .250 H&N 40gr heavy slug from my DRS Pro at 980fps.

I would like to see a .25 caliber boat tail slug like the Airmarksman Ace with a T-slot hollow point like the H&N heavy slug.

So I assume you shoot long range target or you are a hunter, right?

 

[Impact701]

So I assume you shoot long range target or you are a hunter, right?

I only target shoot for trigger time. The only thing I hunt anymore is prairie dogs.
Being this late in the summer they are very wild from getting shot at all summer so most shooting is from 100 yards and beyond.

 

[CharlieF]

For my needs, Pellets work just fine. My targets both paper and alive are rarely above 35 yards. The barrel twist on all my rifles and pistols are more suited to pellets. Pellets are cheaper and in my pistols and rifles are much more accurate. Not trashing those who shoot slugs, what ever makes you happy is just fine.

 

[ocdairgunner]

I have been lucky to have 2 rifles that work well within their use.

The FX WC Mk3 in .30 cal is supremely accurate out to 75 yards. The heavy pellets 44.5gr JSB or AEA buck the wind really well on the longer range shots. I strictly use this to eliminate ground hogs, possums, squirrels and raccoons.

The Taipan Vet 2 on the other hand is my slug shooter and it shoots the 25gr H&N HP2 (22 cal) extremely well. This rifle is no less accurate than the FX and as a matter of fact through my experience I can take 70-90 yards shots on sparrows surprisingly easily as long as I do my job. I am not so confident on longer shots on small game with my FX and I know it has to do with the trigger. The Taipan’s trigger is a lot better compared to FX. The Taipan is more accurate than I am with slugs so if I miss long range shots, its on me.

I will say that the Taipan is tuned by Derrick Wall for these slugs and when I received it from him, he recommended the H&N for accuracy and they have not failed me.

If I had to figure out which slugs worked best in my Taipan, I imagine I would have given up on the chase unless I landed on the H&N pretty early on. Its an expensive endeavor to find the right/best pellet and or slug.