Is the (Neilsen) slug going to be the new (JSB) diabolo?

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I don’t see how (or why) slugs will completely replace pellets. The accuracy of diabolo pellets is without question, as is their price advantage and suitability in all of the guns out there. 

Slugs excel in a small niche in air gunning - high power pcp, long distance shooting. Personally, I love the idea of pushing the airgun envelope and there comes a point where pellets are no longer viable. That point is a SMALL space in the huge scope of air gunning and it doesn’t apply to most air gunners!

So no, pellets aren’t going to become extinct anytime soon, nor should they. I love my pellet pushers and I love my slug rifles. Morphing small bore pcp’s into “mini big-bores” in the pursuit of ballistic bliss is all about the pursuit. We imagine ourselves taking ridiculously long shots with impunity while ruling some wide open space where no target is safe. It is a pretty awesome thought! In reality, that situation would rarely present itself, if ever for most shooters. 

In PB terms, we’d be “Wildcatters” The guys that strive to develop a superior round just for the sake of doing it. The pursuit. 

My 2 cents

Brian
@airgunner.usa

 
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I agree that shooting slugs blurs the lines between airguns and powder burners. However, a typical .22 LR round, never considered a ballistic marvel, will beat any .22 or .25 airgun slug out there by a mile. And you don't need to spend $3000 for a rig to shoot it well. If I need those kind of "superior" ballistics I'm just grabbing a .22 rimfire.

Not to mention, the superior ballistics of a slug also raise issues of longer distances of travel, penetration, etc. If you are going to use them you have to be aware of the additional responsibilities for safety.
 
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"fe7565"I suspect that many airgunners choose airgun vs. firearms "not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win..." (JFK)
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Hahaha, JFK said that? This is just like everything else. If superior ballistics were all that any of us cared about, we wouldn’t be air gunners. We’re kind of like those geeky, laptop wielding import car tuners who’d rather die than just buy a big block V8.. 

The most awesome thing about air gunning (in my opinion) is we can push the ragged edge of performance in a decent sized back yard! Plus, we can enjoy the same challenge those “big block guys” need 1000 yards for. 

For sure, the lowly .22 LR is badass by airgun standards, but that totally misses the point. 

Brian
@airgunner.usa
 
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Quote - The most awesome thing about air gunning (in my opinion) is we can push the ragged edge of performance in a decent sized back yard! Plus, we can enjoy the same challenge those “big block guys” need 1000 yards for. 

​I've actaully told a couple of the big bore types that's one of the reasons I shoot air rifles. So few places to shoot a .338 Lapua at 1000 yards to a mile and so many places to shoot air rifle at under 150 yards. So far the local range bosses all think I'm nuts, but they are gaining a respect for what an air rifle can do.

​Will slugs replace pellets? I really don't think so. I think slugs will take their rightful place as an option to shoot, but as several have pointed out, a slug with a better BC and heavier weight will fly further and carry more energy than any pellet, more responsibility. Good enough reason to keep pellets on hand for plinking.

​And yes, the slugs will provide us with the best of both worlds. Still, if I were hunting buffalo, up to elephant, I'd probably opt for a powder burner, though some of the bigger bore air rifles are capable of taking a buffalo, I'd still use a PB just to make sure it's a clean fast kill.

​Now, where can I hunt pigs with an air rifle? Slugs anyone?
 
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Just stumbled onto this discussion if slugs will replace diabolos.

Some posts above suggested that if they needed the performance of a slug, they would rather shoot it from a powder burner, instead of a comparatively poorly performing airgun. In other words, with airguns stick with pellets and leave the slugs for the PB.



HOWEVER.....

Remember that not all countries have such reasonable gun laws (PB) as the US, many are much stricter – and then some are outright ridiculously strict....! 😣

So, for me a slug in my AG gives me much higher performance – without having to scale the almost impossible financial and bureaucratic hurdles to get a gun license where I live....! 😎



ALSO.....

Shooting PB requires a shooting range or private land or a special permission. But AG can usually be shot in your jammies, using your kitchen table as bench rest.... No driving, no fees, the next cup of coffee between magazines is within arm's reach. Backyard plinking and urban hunting (and often suburban) are usually only possible with AG. 😎



Matthias
 
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Just stumbled onto this discussion if slugs will replace diabolos.

Some posts above suggested that if they needed the performance of a slug, they would rather shoot if from a powder burner, instead of a comparatively poorly performing airgun. In other words, for airguns shoot pellets and leave the slugs for the PB.



HOWEVER.....

Remember that not all countries have such reasonable gun laws (PB) as the US, many are much stricter – and then some are outright ridiculously strict....! 😣

So, for me a slug in my AG gives me much higher performance – without having to scale the almost impossible financial and bureaucratic hurdles to get a gun license where I live....! 😎



ALSO.....

Shooting PB requires a shooting range or private land or a special permission. But AG can usually be shot in your jammies, using your kitchen table as bench rest.... No driving, no fees, the next cup of coffee between magazines is within arm's reach. Backyard plinking and urban hunting (and often suburban) are usually only possible with AG. 😎



Matthias
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Ya, but if you're a Brit, you'll need a FAC license. I doubt if you will be shooting slugs at sub 12 fpe.
 
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80% of my shooting is with pellets, that’s the beauty of them super accurate “25m-50yds” competitive shooting plus backyard friendly I’m just now starting to try slugs, with 1 rifle (eventually in my possession!) explicitly for them for local pesting and the eventual slug specific competition’s I foresee in the future? we’ll see! 
 
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I own 3 acres and have a 120 yard airgun range set up. 


In Texas you need a minimum of 10 acres to discharge firearms. 


i do own a 9mm Walther PPQ and a ruger 10/22, but going to the range and shooting those is a drag. The range is 20 miles away. And I once shot a snake with my Walther 9mm. 10 minutes later the sheriff was driving down my drive way asking why. I suppose I could of got a shovel or something, but that rattle snake was pretty large. 


I believe that most of us here can’t just fall back on fire arms if airguns don’t do the trick. Just the simple fact that firearms can not be shot anywhere but a range or large private property. 


Slugs will never replace pellets. Pellets won’t replace slugs. They are both here to stay. 


what’s the right tool for the job? That’s all you need to ask yourself. 






 
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So few places to shoot a .338 Lapua at 1000 yards to a mile
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Uncle Sam is always looking for people whom love to shoot long distance 😁

1570137691_5779760525d96665baffb07.20440943_Army .jpg

 
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Agreed, the right tool for the job... I have AGs for 10 meter target; plinking, pesting, FT, small game hunting and have recently ordered an Impact for long range shooting with slugs (now that slug prices are more reasonable).

Each of my AGs are well suited for its task and there is overlap in duties but I agree that there will always be pellets and slugs.

I'm not at all into BB-guns or Co2 stuff but they to have their place and people who enjoy them. Nice to have the choice.

Powder burners? Still have shotguns, rimfire and centerfire rifles but don't shoot them much anymore in spite of having no restrictions and a shooting range in the backyard - much prefer the AGs these days. I can see the challenge of long range slug shooting keeping me entertained for years!
 
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Right tool for the job?

Well, philosophically maybe we should all look at guns like golf clubs.

I need a driver (big bore) for longer ranges

I need a putter (sub-12fpe) for back yard and short range plinking

I need a sand wedge for back yard pesting

maybe a 5 iron for an economical shooter at the 50 yard range

maybe a 9 iron for the 100 yard ranges and a touch up.

You know, a gun for every purpose.

Gives me an excuse to buy more guns, right?
 
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Slugs will never replace pellets. Pellets won’t replace slugs. They are both here to stay. 






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I am not disagreeing, but based on my limited knowledge about slugs and their stability, flatter trajectory, and increased resistance to wind, etc it seems they may become the go-to ammo in the near distant future. There inherent physical advantages over diabolo pellets will eventually propel them (no pun intended) into the top of ammo choices.

Right now, only a few people seem to be using it, and I gather most of us on AGN are not yet onboard with slugs. And as far as the general public they probably never even heard about slugs yet. 

One thing that concerns me is that the slugs are shaped almost like a real firearm bullet. They also travel at velocities of what pistol rounds travel. if you place an 35-80gr pistol bullet next to a 35-80gr slug traveling at 900fps, the results should be the same. Will there be more prone to be classified as firearms?
 
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