Pellets For Target Shooting at 10m

Which ones should I start with?

  • "JSB Match Diabolo Exact"

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • "H&N Finale Match"

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • "RWS R10 Match"

    Votes: 14 82.4%
  • Total voters
    17
D

dreamshot

Keen member
Joined
Aug 4, 2024
Messages
24
Reaction score
39
Location
Bulgaria, Sofia
I have recently ordered a Snowpeak MAT300 and have been going through the forum, soaking up all the tips and tricks you guys have shared with each other. I've noticed that pellets are really important for your rifle's accuracy, so I have a question to try and save some time with the hassle of testing out a bunch of different pellet brands. Has anyone ever shot with this rifle before, and what were the best pellets you found for it if you have? I know flat-headed pellets are the best option for this kind of target shooting from what I've read around here and from my previous experience in my youth. But I didn't know different brands could make such a big difference in accuracy. Unless the only way to find what works the best is to try them all out, then I will simply get to testing the different brands. Just curious if there are any I should stay away from. Also just trying to save some money since I've almost reached my limits this past few days with purchasing everything needed to start this old hobby of mine again.
 
dreamshot said:
I have recently ordered a Snowpeak MAT300 and have been going through the forum, soaking up all the tips and tricks you guys have shared with each other. I've noticed that pellets are really important for your rifle's accuracy, so I have a question to try and save some time with the hassle of testing out a bunch of different pellet brands. Has anyone ever shot with this rifle before, and what were the best pellets you found for it if you have? I know flat-headed pellets are the best option for this kind of target shooting from what I've read around here and from my previous experience in my youth. But I didn't know different brands could make such a big difference in accuracy. Unless the only way to find what works the best is to try them all out, then I will simply get to testing the different brands. Just curious if there are any I should stay away from. Also just trying to save some money since I've almost reached my limits this past few days with purchasing everything needed to start this old hobby of mine again.
Click to expand...
I've had good results with JSB stuff, though not tried the others mentioned. Don' t discount RWS Hobby, they shoot well also & are less dear in price. Enjoy your shooting journey.😊
 
Stockscrew said:
Buy yourself some test packs of various pellets and then get and do some testing just like anyone else has to because gun barrels of the same make and calibre can shoot totally differently so recommendations can be a waste of time.
Click to expand...
Very good advice all barrels are different even for the same model guns.
 
The previous owner of my FWB 601 recommended RWS R10 pellets for it - he was a competitive shooter, unlike me - they seem to be fine.

The big question really is what suits your individual gun - which can vary even in apparently identical guns.

Flat headed pellets allegedly leave more neatly cut holes in the paper targets which can slightly affect your score.....
 
Stockscrew said:
Buy yourself some test packs of various pellets and then get and do some testing just like anyone else has to because gun barrels of the same make and calibre can shoot totally differently so recommendations can be a waste of time.
Click to expand...
That sounds really interesting, I never thought about it that way. I guess the only way to find out is to try them out. I didn't know there are "test" packs, but whoever thought of that is a legend. I'm definitely going to order some of those before actually committing to a certain brand. Thanks for the replay!
 
If you're just doing it for a fun time then start with what you can afford, might as well go cheap cos you might get lucky.
Keep a record of how each sort of ammo performs.
Flat heads are generally fine over shorter distances and cut the hole cleaner for scoring but this is dependent on what sort of card you're using for shooting at.
Some card cuts cleaner than others due to the type of pulp used I believe.
It's all a learning curve. Definitely no point buying the so called best/most expensive ammo cos it might still be gash through your barrel.
 
Byronic said:
The previous owner of my FWB 601 recommended RWS R10 pellets for it - he was a competitive shooter, unlike me - they seem to be fine.

The big question really is what suits your individual gun - which can vary even in apparently identical guns.

Flat headed pellets allegedly leave more neatly cut holes in the paper targets which can slightly affect your score.....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it makes it easier to determine your score, although the circle made in the target by the pellet can vary based on the material/paper that the target is made out of.
 
Ian Cartmell said:
If you're just doing it for a fun time then start with what you can afford, might as well go cheap cos you might get lucky.
Keep a record of how each sort of ammo performs.
Flat heads are generally fine over shorter distances and cut the hole cleaner for scoring but this is dependent on what sort of card you're using for shooting at.
Some card cuts cleaner than others due to the type of pulp used I believe.
It's all a learning curve. Definitely no point buying the so called best/most expensive ammo cos it might still be gash through your barrel.
Click to expand...
Do you have any recommendations for the cheaper end ones I should try out?
 
Econs as mentioned above are pretty consistent in their quality.
Unfortunately buying one tin online will save you very little as postage charges cancel out any bargains.
I'd definitely be inclined to source some sample packs as mentioned.
Probably 25ish per ammo type should see you being able to narrow it down.
Remember that what is good at 10 metres might be garbage over a longer distance though if you decide to shoot out further.
 
dreamshot said:
I have recently ordered a Snowpeak MAT300 and have been going through the forum, soaking up all the tips and tricks you guys have shared with each other. I've noticed that pellets are really important for your rifle's accuracy, so I have a question to try and save some time with the hassle of testing out a bunch of different pellet brands. Has anyone ever shot with this rifle before, and what were the best pellets you found for it if you have? I know flat-headed pellets are the best option for this kind of target shooting from what I've read around here and from my previous experience in my youth. But I didn't know different brands could make such a big difference in accuracy. Unless the only way to find what works the best is to try them all out, then I will simply get to testing the different brands. Just curious if there are any I should stay away from. Also just trying to save some money since I've almost reached my limits this past few days with purchasing everything needed to start this old hobby of mine again.
Click to expand...
The unfortunate thing about a gun (this is all of them not just Air rifles is the barrel is as individual as your fingerprint as that’s what the rifling is in gun land) It’s a fingerprint.

And no 2 barrels will be happy with the same pellet even if you bought them from the same place at the same time.

I would recommend as above just getting as many high-quality pellet test packs as you can. And then withing that wight you might have head sizes from 4.48 to 4.53 to contend with. As you have bought a Snowpeak Artimis then you may want to start with QYS pellets as they may use those to test their rifles, and the Chinese Olympic team use QYS apparently. As such .177 QYS MATCH Grade Flat-head may be worth a try

If you’re a member of a club, then talk to the other people their and ask them what they are shooting and 99 / 100 they will give you some to try. I aways end up sharing out what I’m testing. And if they don’t shoot good for me, and I don’t have something that already really likes them I tend to give them to the person who says they shoot the best for.

And as you said as far as the 10-meter target discipline goes the cleanest hole punch is usually the Wad cutter flat head. As that ragged hole can get your scores marked down.

I personally tend to just pick a pellet out of the masses I have accumulated over the years. Zero it and then shoot 2 full magazines from that zero with each tin and see how they group. Then find the one that groups the best and then move onto single shot with those. It’s very tedious but at some point you will find the pellet that your rifles really, really likes and then you go out and buy as many of that Batch number as you can get hold of . In your case its single shot all the way but pellet testing as always fun. 😊
 
RWS R10 are a very good quality match pellet but I suspect they perform better at lower velocities/shorter ranges.

I tend to use JSB Exacts for 25m as they give consistent results but as others have said,different barrels have different pellet preferences.
 
I voted for all 3. You need to test yrself anyway. Dont forget QY match. Theyre great. I start with Finale Match, R10 JSB and QY.
 
From the pellets you’ve listed R10 are the best at 10m - in my experience.
But using them in your Snowpeak is probably a waste of money, you will get accurate enough results and nice clean holes with just about any flat head pellets. Save your cash for upgrading your gun in the future.
 
For a beginner shooter at 10m (i.e. 10m pistol or 10m rifle) I would recommend Econ II, RWS Hobby, RWS Basic, Bisley practice, Geco.

When you get good (shooting >45 with 5 shots) then think about more expensive pellets. At 10m the pellets I list MIGHT loose you 10 points in a 60 shot match - errors arising from the pellet rather than the shooter are as likely to turn a 9 into a 10 as a 10 in to a 9...

For what its worth I used to shoot in to the 540s ex 600 with RWS Basic at 10m pistol.

Slightly more up market and what I used to shot in comps are meisterkugeln - they (and a load more practice) got me in to the 550s and rarely 560s...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top