Pellet stability

[Franklink]

I've had the opportunity to shoot a lot of pellets at very not normal pellet ranges.

A few evenings ago I was shooting some JSB .20/13.73 pellets at 165 yards, 805fps at the muzzle.

I could put them within the same two or so inches, pretty regularly. The wind was certainly favorable to be able to do so. But I've seen similar results from other high quality pellets, they just fly straight and true, at extremely long-for-pellet distances. Their downside is of course how much theyre deflected by wind.

But it got me thinking.....and this, together with all the other long range/low power airguns that I've shot, are that pellets are generally more stable in flight than slugs. And pellet/barrel combinations are much more forgiving than slug/barrel combinations.

I'm not saying pellets are better than slugs, just that it's a heck of a lot easier to get a pellet to cooperate than it is to stumble upon a slug/barrel combination that shoots well. And that pellets get a bad rap for long range shooting, when they'll actually shoot really well at long range, just not in the wind.

 

[thammer]

They definitely are more forgiving in stability. I've had really good 50 yard groups with smooth bore and pellets. Obviously not the groups you'd be happy with target shooting or hunting but a 4 inch gong and hit after hit. Unless large game or 100 yard shots in some wind I will rarely ever pick up my slug guns. It's almost always pellets for me.

 

[Ranchibi]

I think pellets fit most barrels better for sure plus the skirts expand inside the barrel when shot. I have found that slugs have to have a near perfect lands to ammo fit (plus speed to match twist rate) to be pellet accurate which is hard to accomplish on a very consistent basis, at least for me. The pellet shuttle cock shape is to tough best for aerodynamic stability!

 

[EquivalentDelta]

Pellets will always be easier to stabilize. Their center of gravity is in front of the center of drag. That’s not case for more typical bullet shapes.