Choosing Pellets

 CHOOSING PELLETS     There are different pellets because of
their many uses. In essence, everyone has their own reason for
using an air rifle or pistol and therefore the pellets should be
chosen accordingly. Here are just a few of the general types of
pellets.  

 MATCH PELLETS Match pellets are generally made to precise
weight and dimensions. Their exact dimensions and uniformity
make them the choice of marksmen and Olympic competitors. Any
variances in shot placement can then be attributed to the
marksmen .Because of the exact tolerances that match pellets
incorporate in their manufacture; they come at a premium price.
Match pellets are usually most effective in guns that have a
velocity between 400/600 feet per second. This is the velocity
seen in most match air rifles. Because of their lack of
aerodynamic design they should not be used  in magnum rifles or
hunting where longer distances and more power is needed for a
kill.  



 POINTED PELLETS Primarily used for hunting, pointed pellets are
used in magnum air rifles. The goal is to achieve penetration in
the kill zone with power to spare. Hunters have to be careful
though that their choice of pellets does not over penetrate and
exit their quarry taking most of that explosive power with it.
In order to be most effective, the hunter's pellet must deliver
a blow that does maximum tissue damage. Because hunting pellets
can vary in weight you will find that some of them may act as
hollow points, flattening themselves out upon contact with the
target and effectively increasing their caliber. That wider
profile allows them to do two things. First, because their area
has increased they destroy more tissue or there is a larger
wound made. Second the drag created by this larger surface area
causes more resistance making an exit less probable. All the
energy is used in tissue damage.   HOLLOW POINTS Hollow points
are specially made to flatten themselves out or open themselves
up to increase their area and cause maximum damage to vital
areas. These pellets usually present a forward cup or yaw to the
target to facilitate their transformation upon impact. Imagine
being struck with a finger that penetrates and then mushrooms
into a fist inside. This is the goal of hollow points.  

 ROUNDED PELLETS Rounded pellets are the workhorses of the
pellet family. They are the most common pellet sold and account
for most of the all-around use. Target practice, backyard
plinking, and hunting. Their shape allows them to have decent
aerodynamics. That makes them good in most guns for practical
applications. 

 

 SUMMARY Remember; choose your pellets based on your application
as well as your gun. Pellets traveling at subsonic speeds, less
than 750 mph, don't require great aerodynamics. Wadcutters or
match pellets will work well. Magnum air rifles can propel a
pellet faster than the speed of sound or mach 1. Their shape is
important because some pellets such as Wadcutters tend to tumble
and leave the flight path as instability becomes a factor at
supersonic speeds. © 2001 JwwoodandSons.Inc 

www.jwwoodandsons.com