Pellets - Do they really make that much difference?

Ran a comprehensive pellet test with my AA S510 XS in the summer.
Tested a lot of pellets & at various power levels.The results were very revealing even @ 20yds & some shocking @ 40yds.
Tried H&N Slugs,both sizes in the test packs.Only one i could get to group was .218 27gr@ 27ft/lb,the rest was looking like a 12 gauge spread on the board.
Just as in centrefires, you need to find what your rifle likes to be fed.
 
The most important decision you make, after your gun. Up to a point, you can learn to cope with a crappy scope, but there is nothing you can do about pellets that aren't suited to your gun - except change them.
 
They make a huge difference even quality pellet types vary at 55 meters at the range from 2" groups to 6-7mm same hole groups.
 
MrBlueSky said:
Does the choice of pellet really make that much difference? Do I need ot be controlling the shots to notice?
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Here is an example of pellet testing in a Steyr H5a. . 50 yards, and 5-shot groups.
The pellets fired into the targets surrounded by the red lines failed the testing and were rejected.

The targets with the 5p pieces shows the rifle preferring JSB Heavies.
These pellets were also accurate enough to shoot out the smaller "dot" targets.

The whole thing looks a bit messy until at the results are closely analysed.
Finding the right pellets can make a huge difference.

IMG_20211026_195633(1).jpg
 
MrBlueSky said:
Hello all,

I've been back into Airguns for a few weeks now and I am trying to get my accuracy as high as possible, while knowing that I will never be a marksman.

One thing I have read repeatedly is using the best pellet for the gun I am using. I have tried various pellets, from light flat tipped ones (originally bought for my handguns) to heavier pointed or domed types. I have not really noticed any particular pellet, head shape, or weight is noticeably better than any other.

To be clear, I have not done any controlled tests, not strapped my rifles to a bench and ensured absolute calm or anything like that, but I can hit targets fairly consistently at 20 to 50 yards regardless of pellet, I am not testing for grouping, just that I can hit the things I aim at.

Does the choice of pellet really make that much difference? Do I need ot be controlling the shots to notice?
Click to expand...

This is a good example of how pellets can vary from gun to gun, I normally get decent groups with all of these when pellet testing, but in the black wolf I bought it was really pellet fussy, and some were so bad I could not even zero with them, sent the gun back it was so poor Homer face palm

These are all supposed to be 5 shot groups, rested indoors at 30m, some are just terrible.

2025-03-28 19.12.26.jpg
 
Maybe you have the holy grail of a gun that likes any pellet Dancing banana
I originally pellet tested against paper targets, but rapidly found out using a sprayed metal plate gave much better results for judging group sizes / whats going on with each pellet change
 
Personally I think how much it makes a difference depends on how much you care, and how much accuracy you need.

If you're just pinging spinners in the garden, what does it matter that your groups are an inch wide? If you're happy with that kind of accuracy, it seems pointless to me to spend dozens, if not as much as £100 testing every type of pellet to get it down to under a 5p. There is plenty of reasonably cheap .177 and .22 options which wont win you any awards but are absolutely fine for plinking.

If you're going to be shooting at anything breathing or you're entering BR comps, HFT, etc, then its a hole absolutely worth digging into.

I don't really shoot many competitions (haven't done any at all at the club this year!) but i mostly shoot quarry and so for me, if I cant get fit 6 under a penny at 40 yards, its just not good enough.
 
MrBlueSky said:
Hello all,

I've been back into Airguns for a few weeks now and I am trying to get my accuracy as high as possible, while knowing that I will never be a marksman.

One thing I have read repeatedly is using the best pellet for the gun I am using. I have tried various pellets, from light flat tipped ones (originally bought for my handguns) to heavier pointed or domed types. I have not really noticed any particular pellet, head shape, or weight is noticeably better than any other.

To be clear, I have not done any controlled tests, not strapped my rifles to a bench and ensured absolute calm or anything like that, but I can hit targets fairly consistently at 20 to 50 yards regardless of pellet, I am not testing for grouping, just that I can hit the things I aim at.

Does the choice of pellet really make that much difference? Do I need ot be controlling the shots to notice?
Click to expand...
Pellets make a huge difference. Some rifles are more fussy than others and the only way of finding out is to buy a selection and under controlled (as possible) conditions fire them in groups of eg. 5 to see which pellets group the tightest.

Indoor range is best as it removes the variable of wind (unless you want to see which pellets are least affected by wind). Test them in the conditions you intend to use your rifle.

Weight/size/shape etc all have a noticeable affect on accuracy.

FWIW I find BSA Goldstars (which are rebranded H&N FTT) consistently good in all my rifles. QYS Streamlined are also top performing.

I’ve found slightly larger pellets e.g. 4.53mm for a .177 pellet ‘pack’ the barrel more consistently which improves accuracy, which might explain why the Goldstars are 👍

Unfortunately some pellets can be bloody shocking and you are left with a tin of useless lead. Good for little more than melting down and making expensive fishing weights.
 
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You must be a guru if you are fresh back to shooting and hitting things from 20 to 50 m with any type of pellets.

If that was the case, id buy your gun at twice the market value as it seems your barrel is not pellet fussy and comes with auto aiming and adjustment for trajectory.

Maybe you are talking like a gambler who.only tells you he had won.loads last night and never mentions the losses including his wife.

Pellet matching to each barrel is essential to get the best accuracy especially longer distances where deviations are amplified.

If you are happy with your achievements, then there is not need to raise this question
 
MrBlueSky said:
Hello all,

I've been back into Airguns for a few weeks now and I am trying to get my accuracy as high as possible, while knowing that I will never be a marksman.

One thing I have read repeatedly is using the best pellet for the gun I am using. I have tried various pellets, from light flat tipped ones (originally bought for my handguns) to heavier pointed or domed types. I have not really noticed any particular pellet, head shape, or weight is noticeably better than any other.

To be clear, I have not done any controlled tests, not strapped my rifles to a bench and ensured absolute calm or anything like that, but I can hit targets fairly consistently at 20 to 50 yards regardless of pellet, I am not testing for grouping, just that I can hit the things I aim at.

Does the choice of pellet really make that much difference? Do I need ot be controlling the shots to notice?"I have not really noticed any particular pellet, head shape, or weight is noticeably better than any other."
Click to expand...
" I can hit targets fairly consistently at 20 to 50 yards regardless of pellet, I am not testing for grouping, just that I can hit the things I aim at."
"I have not really noticed any particular pellet, head shape, or weight is noticeably better than any other."

How big are your targets?
How big are your groups?
What pellets have you tried?

If you "test for grouping" then you will probably find your own answer to the question - pellets make a big difference, even to a less than average marksman like me.

Try shooting some groups with different pellets and measure them - you will find that there really is a difference.
Unless you have been incredibly lucky with your rifle.
 
JSB do 0.22” versions of this too. Worth a play with…

(Just don’t buy any 0.177” Hades, they are terrible. Hades seem to work in every other calibre)

www.schulzdiabolo.cz

Pellets - JSB Match Diabolo - pellets, ammunition

zbrane. Jestliže hledáte kvalitní střelivo pro svou vzduchovou zbraň, jste na správné adrese. Ať už střílíte ze vzduchové pušky nebo pistole.
www.schulzdiabolo.cz

IMG_7267.png
 
alexall said:
You must be a guru if you are fresh back to shooting and hitting things from 20 to 50 m with any type of pellets.

If that was the case, id buy your gun at twice the market value as it seems your barrel is not pellet fussy and comes with auto aiming and adjustment for trajectory.

Maybe you are talking like a gambler who.only tells you he had won.loads last night and never mentions the losses including his wife.

Pellet matching to each barrel is essential to get the best accuracy especially longer distances where deviations are amplified.

If you are happy with your achievements, then there is not need to raise this question
Click to expand...
Please believe me when I say I am not exaggerating, I think i just have lower standards than most. I miss my fair share of shots I am sure.

I do not hit every shot even at 30 yds, but I hit most. As has been pointed out, it is probably that the metal spinner targets are more forgiving than paper.
 
Thank you all for your replies, it is very interesting.

I have tried a number of pellets, mainly due to availability at the different shops I go to, but i will bow to the groups superior knowledge and experience, which is why i asked the questoin.

I think the reason I have been happy so far, is as has been pointed out by many, my standards are fairly low, hitting a 1" target at 30yds most of the time has been OK for me.

When I decide I can do better, I will test some pellets, I have seen reccommendations and will try these, looking for tight grouping.

Once again, thanks for the responses.
 
Mark Lamont said:
No, zeroing is only done after you pick your pellet of choice. The pictures simply show you visually the groupings of pellets. POA is the same black dot, POI is what it is - thus forming a “group”. Once you select your pellet of choice you zero in and then the accuracy/reliability of the rifle shows through with consistent 10’s/x’s for 300+shot strings at 20m.
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Can’t believe you had to explain that. Kudos for your patient repsonse.
 
I couldn't tell much difference between pellets until I bought a gun that would not group.
I tried some 4.52 pellets and the difference was amazing.
I do like to pellet test when I get the chance. It is time consuming but worth it.
 
Smudgerii said:
Can’t believe you had to explain that. Kudos for your patient repsonse.
Click to expand...
We all have to start somewhere and it’s easy to forget how little of what we now consider ‘basic knowledge’ we had at the beginning.

There’s a lot of technology and technique to pick up in shooting and there are also a fair few variables which confuse the issues, which is why discussions rarely have a definite consensus.

If it was all straightforward then there wouldn’t be so much activity on this forum.

Watching various YT channels certainly helps and a lot of basic stuff can be absorbed without realising it just by listening to the asides in the commentary.

We ain’t all natural born Hathcocks ! 😄
 
Nords said:
JSB do 0.22” versions of this too. Worth a play with…

(Just don’t buy any 0.177” Hades, they are terrible. Hades seem to work in every other calibre)

www.schulzdiabolo.cz

Pellets - JSB Match Diabolo - pellets, ammunition

zbrane. Jestliže hledáte kvalitní střelivo pro svou vzduchovou zbraň, jste na správné adrese. Ať už střílíte ze vzduchové pušky nebo pistole.
www.schulzdiabolo.cz

View attachment 842702
Click to expand...
Pleased it’s not just me who finds .177 Hades shocking ! Haven’t yet found a rifle which likes them over other pellets.

Don’t think I would do much worse if I just threw them at the target !
 
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Smudgerii said:
Can’t believe you had to explain that. Kudos for your patient repsonse.
Click to expand...
None of us were born with the "Ultimate shooter" firmware pre-installed and all learned what we know at some point.

This kind of comment does help. It stops people from asking questions in order to learn.
 
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