Debate - I'm going to convince you it's worthless shooting slugs out of a PCP

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blackdiesel

blackdiesel

Member
Apr 1, 2015
3,022
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Georgia, United States
Slug use in small bore 30 cal and under is a trend to force you to buy new PCPs and it's worthless. Let's break it down:

What advantage do slugs have over a pellets? They have a higher BC, that's all. Why do you need a higher BC? To buck the wind at longer distances. How many of you shoot game at 150 yards and beyond? How many of you use small bore airguns to hunt medium game? So if you are hunting birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and possums pellets are more than enough to get the job done out to 100 yards easy.

What are the advantages of pellets over slugs? They are cheaper and more accurate. They are lethal on small game at 100+ yards and made for airguns.

So if you are going to use slugs to hunt why not use a 22LR rimfire? The ammo cost less than airguns slugs. You can get a decent 22LR for $500, add $200 for a certificate for suppressor, add $400 for a decent suppressor so it's cheaper than a high end PCP and offer much more power. I have two 22LRs with suppressors on them and using CCI Standard subsonic 43 gr ammo at 1070 fps I get over 100 FPE and it's just as quiet if not quieter as a PCP. I get 300 rounds for less than $30 and it's effective to 200 yards easily. If you are using a PCP to hunt long distance, you will be dealing with the same issues as a 22LR and the 22 is better than a PCP for this type of hunting. 

So give me your reason why you would use slugs in an airgun instead of pellets or use a rimfire/

**Unless you live in a state where suppressors are illegal.


 
I’m gonna go out here and agree with you, but will give you a good reason why to do it. I personally don’t have any interest at this point. I would probably use a .17 WSM or HMR, sans silencer. 

Now, why do it? Because you can. To push the envelope of things possible. To perfect what was not possible just a little while ago. To do something different, something that others wont or can’t. Simple as that. Perhaps not practical or financially sound, but gives the doer bragging rights and a sense of doing all of the above. Dreams of 0.5” groups out to ????

Just my thoughts. I agree with your assessment of the situation, until proven otherwise. I will not pursue slugs in my airguns. If I can get out where I can shoot that far, I will take a PB. 


 
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Slug use in small bore 30 cal and under is a trend to force you to buy new PCPs and it's worthless. Let's break it down:

What advantage do slugs have over a pellets? They have a higher BC, that's all. Why do you need a higher BC? To buck the wind at longer distances. How many of you shoot game at 150 yards and beyond? How many of you use small bore airguns to hunt medium game? So if you are hunting birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and possums pellets are more than enough to get the job done out to 100 yards easy.

What are the advantages of pellets over slugs? They are cheaper and more accurate. They are lethal on small game at 100+ yards and made for airguns.

So if you are going to use slugs to hunt why not use a 22LR rimfire? The ammo cost less than airguns slugs. You can get a decent 22LR for $500, add $200 for a certificate for suppressor, add $400 for a decent suppressor so it's cheaper than a high end PCP and offer much more power. I have two 22LRs with suppressors on them and using CCI Standard subsonic 43 gr ammo at 1070 fps I get over 100 FPE and it's just as quiet if not quieter as a PCP. I get 300 rounds for less than $30 and it's effective to 200 yards easily. If you are using a PCP to hunt long distance, you will be dealing with the same issues as a 22LR and the 22 is better than a PCP for this type of hunting. 

So give me your reason why you would use slugs in an airgun instead of pellets or use a rimfire/

**Unless you live in a state where suppressors are illegal.

Click to expand...

BD... I was not considering shooting slugs in either of my PCPs. And now, considering your analysis, I never will. No need for me. Thank you.
 
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OK, I'll take the bait - 

Why would I use slugs instead of a .22LR? Unless you buy premium ammo, and have a gun capable of exploiting the premium ammo, the airgun will probably be more accurate. Not always, but for the most part. My .22LR's are great, but my airguns are way more accurate.

Next, I can practice in my back yard. Not so with any powder burner.

Lastly and probably most important, I HATE CLEANING GUNS! While my PB's tend to be spotless, I HATE CLEANING GUNS. Did I mention how much I hate cleaning guns BECAUSE I REALLY HATE CLEANING GUNS! I rarely if ever clean my airguns. Once in a great while, but much less frequently than a PB, which is every outing.

A .22LR will have about 140 foot pounds energy at the barrel, at 1150 fps and about 35grains. While BC may be similar, the pellet gun slug at 21 grains and 850fps is closer to 33fpe. That means the bullet from an airgun has a considerably shorter range than a .22LR that can be dangerous at a mile. An airgun slug will probably lose almost all energy withing 250 or 300 yards.

airguns and powder burners each have plusses and minuses, and I use both, but I really prefer airgun at the moment. So, no you didn't convince me that slugs from airguns isn't a good idea!


 
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Black Diesel you are 100 % correct .22 rimfire is cheaper then slugs , however it shouldnt be ,. as it has brass gunpowder and a primer , However to be honest my Pcp guns are more accurate then my 22 rimfires and my pcp guns cost a whole lot more and to be honest they should not , but they do

I shoot slugs because I want to get the most out of my guns and I like long range accuracy , but when I hunt rarely do I shoot past 60 yards , but I can , and I like slugs as they fly better .

Where I live I can hunt in my yard with my pcp but I cant in a .22 rimfire , in some state hunting land , you can use a pcp but not a 22 rimfire and lastly to me .Tuning my PCP guns and shooting slugs , keeps my dialing skills sharp for doping for long range shooting .

This is why I shoot slugs , LOU
 
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I’m gonna go out here and agree with you, but will give you a good reason why to do it. I personally don’t have any interest at this point. I would probably use a .17 WSM or HMR, sans silencer. 

Now, why do it? Because you can. To push the envelope of things possible. To perfect what was not possible just a little while ago. To do something different, something that others wont or can’t. Simple as that. Perhaps not practical or financially sound, but gives the doer bragging rights and a sense of doing all of the above. Dreams of 0.5” groups out to ????

Just my thoughts. I agree with your assessment of the situation, until proven otherwise. I will not pursue slugs in my airguns. If I can get out where I can shoot that far, I will take a PB. 

Click to expand...

I have a suppressor on my 17HMR also but since it's way over supersonic speed it cracks pretty loud. I can shoot my 22LR in my backyard - it's as quiet as most of my medium to high powered shrouded PCPs.
 
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OK, I'll take the bait - 

Why would I use slugs instead of a .22LR? Unless you buy premium ammo, and have a gun capable of exploiting the premium ammo, the airgun will probably be more accurate. Not always, but for the most part. My .22LR's are great, but my airguns are way more accurate.

Next, I can practice in my back yard. Not so with any powder burner.

Lastly and probably most important, I HATE CLEANING GUNS! While my PB's tend to be spotless, I HATE CLEANING GUNS. Did I mention how much I hate cleaning guns BECAUSE I REALLY HATE CLEANING GUNS! I rarely if ever clean my airguns. Once in a great while, but much less frequently than a PB, which is every outing.

A .22LR will have about 140 foot pounds energy at the barrel, at 1150 fps and about 35grains. While BC may be similar, the pellet gun slug at 21 grains and 850fps is closer to 33fpe. That means the bullet from an airgun has a considerably shorter range than a .22LR that can be dangerous at a mile. An airgun slug will probably lose almost all energy withing 250 or 300 yards.

airguns and powder burners each have plusses and minuses, and I use both, but I really prefer airgun at the moment. So, no you didn't convince me that slugs from airguns isn't a good idea!

Click to expand...

I think you missed my points. I said either pellets and/or rimfires have more advantages than using slugs in an airgun. It's not a rimfire vs PCP issue, it's slugs (in PCP) vs pellets vs rimfires.

1 - If you are hunting small game at shorter ranges 100 and less why not use pellets over slugs?

2 If you are hunting at longer ranges, why not use rimfires instead of slugs?

3 I've shot both my 10/22 Ruger target and savage b-22 both of which have bull barrels and both are equipped with suppressors against my RAW and FX guns at 100 yards and both will easily match the PCPs using CCI standard ammo which costs less than slugs for airguns

4 For plinking and target shooting pellets have far more advantages 

As far as shooting in your backyard - shooting slugs will have the same issues as a suppressed 22LR.
 
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I would disagree with he 22 or 25 pellet is as good as a slug for raccoon at hundred yards. The ballistic coefficient of a slug is vastly superior to a pellet such that the energy is probably >25% more than a pellet.
Click to expand...

I didn't say it was just as good, I said that a pellet at 100 yards would still get the job done. Read my first post, I said that slugs have the advange of having a higher BC than pellets. And how many people hunt raccoons at long distances? They are either in a area with trees or in a suburban area and most times hunting them will require you to get close 40-60 yards.
 
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IMO we all have a lot more airgun than we will ever use and slugs are just more over-the-top. Look at it this way, we use precision PCPs to either hunt small game at under 100 yards, target shooting and plinking. Don't get me wrong I have many PCPs and a few high end springers and I only plink so I'm not pointing fingers. But for what most use their high end PCP for, any decent PCP is more than enough. With the use of slugs it's just more. I shoot airguns because it offer the chance to get in trigger time on the cheap. If I would use slugs it will remove the biggest advantage of using airguns over rimfires.
 
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Well this is entertaining! With both my guns being choked I won't be shooting slugs. When FX comes out with the choked liner and if I like what I read I may try them. My Nova isn't here yet, I haven't really looked into what all is out there for it yet. So Ya I'll play with them some if it makes sense. I agree with you BD, right tool for the job. I am still learning how accurate a 34 grn pellet is over 100 yards. Great fun all of it!

Dennis
 
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Honestly I'm realizing the same thing. I shoot squirrels and pigeons out to 100+yds and pellets do the job just fine. Now I'm trying slugs out just for fun but that's about it .

Also here in Washington one can own a suppressor but can't use it? Makes no sense but what can you do?
Click to expand...

You can't use a moderator on an air rifle in Washington State?

West coast lefties are succeeding in ruining Oregon and Washington, in addition to California. Such a pity as they are such beautiful states!!! I moved from Washington State to Arizona partly for that reason. And now, lefties are well on their way to ruining Arizona, too. This country is well on its way down the toilet.

Government restrictions, couched in the guise of "looking out for our well-being." Disgusts me.




 
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I don't have any problems shooting slugs it's just that the FX and other guns are not equipped to take full advantage of shooting slugs. Guns like Careers,the older Sumatra versions and some Air Force guns are far better slug shooters because they have the power and the barrels are not choked. When I had 35 and 45 cal PCPs I cast my own slugs. I had to slug the barrel and size the slugs for exact match and the twist rate was in the acceptable stabilization rate for them to shoot accurately. I don't think it's a bad thing, just unnecessary to use slugs on small game at close range when a pellet will more do the trick. When you think about the fact that using lead pellets on soft tissue, it's going to be lethal in most cases.

Now if you need to shoot at longer distances in extreme windy conditions slugs are far more effective than pellets, but I bet most people won't use them in these conditions
 
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