Diabolo, Wadcutter, Hollow Point, or something else?

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WCT_Editor

WCT_Editor

Member
Jul 10, 2015
116
23
Ohio
I'm involved with a discussion on a non air gun forum and made the statement that diabolo pellets tend to be the most accurate of the pellet styles over distance. I've had several comments back claiming that wadcutters are the most accurate, especially out of spring/gas piston air guns (.177 Gamo CFX Royal using RWS Supermags and a .22 Benjamin NP with unknown pellets). I am unsure how far one of the individuals is talking about while the other has stated that their shots are within 20 yards. I've never shot a CFX Royal but I own a .22 NP and .22 NP2, both of which I've done trigger work on. While I respect the opinions of these individuals (after all, every gun likes what it likes) my own experience with wadcutters in multiple calibers from spring piston (.22 RWS 34), gas piston (.177 Gamo Big Cat, .22 Gamo Bone Collector, .22 NP and .22 NP2) as well as a variety of PCP in both .177 and .22 (I've not found any in .25 to test) doesn't show them as that accurate after 15 yards while I can produce sub half inch 5 shot groups with my .22 Daystate and .177 S500 at 40 yards with field diabolo pellets.

As there are a lot of individuals here that have a lot more experience with air guns than I do, I'm curious if they have noticed one particular style of pellet having better accuracy over all the others as well. Before it gets posted, yes I've read multiple articles and posts stating that diabolo pellets are the most accurate and I also know that wadcutters are used in 10 Meter competitions. While my testing agrees with these results, there are a lot of conditions that affect accuracy and I like to try and keep an open mind. So what style of pellet would you choose for a 10 - 50 yard shot?
 
Agree that wadcutters are of little to no use much past there intended 10m distance. In some guns they have been ok out to 25-30 yards, but far from being precise. I have had hollowpoints give good accuracy out to 50 yards, but still not as good as a diabolo pellet. Polymags have been the only style that have provided really good accuracy shy of a diabolo. With that said, they have done well for me out to maybe 75 yards, but regardless diabolos have provided me with the best accuracy regardless of distance and the only choice for long range.
 
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Diabolo pellets are the only pellet shape that have worked for my rifles, particularly JSB and H&N, I am always keen to try something different and have found wadcutters ( RWS R10 ) could not stay under 1/2 inch at 10m with my Royale 400, not sure if it was a velocity issue or headsize not quite right, maybe they don't like smooth twist barrels. I have also tried pointed pellets, JSB Straton's, in my .22cal Huntsman, with these pellets it was more like a shotgun at 25m so I just stay with what works, there is a probably a good reason why the benchrest fella's are using diabolo pellets ;)
 
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Has anyone tried them at 20 - 30 yards using sub 600 FPS velocities like they use for 10-meter? I'm thinking of dialing my S500 down to 550 fps later on and trying it. I'm thinking they will group a bit better as aerodynamically, they don't appear to be made for high velocity. Isn't that why boat-tailed bullets became so popular with long range shooters?
 
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I have casted and hand loaded for pistols,rifles and shotguns going on 16 years and my ruger gp100 357 will punch one ragged hole at 25 yards with a hand cast wad cutter 140gr. At 1,550 f.p.s., out performs any commercial jacketed bullet. It is also my go to load to shoot out to 100 yds but not all of my powder guns love them. I know if I size them in my .356 sizing die my groups open up, the small change in diameter ruins the magic. I would think small changes in projo diameter or barrel tolerances would have the same effect on air guns using a similar style projectile.
 
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