Pellet choice can make or break your airgun’s performance, whether you’re plinking in the garden, competing on the range, or taking on small pests. Accuracy, consistency, and suitability for your rifle are all key factors, and with today’s wide selection, there’s no reason to compromise. In this round-up, we take a closer look at five different pellet options that cover various calibres and applications. From budget-friendly plinking pellets to premium competition-grade domes, there’s something here to suit most shooters and scenarios, especially if you like .177 calibre.
Manufactured in Birmingham by Lincoln Jeffries Ltd, these are traditionally styled pellets, with ribbed bodies, for short-range pest control and good old-fashioned back-garden plinking. Marksman pellets are available in .177, .22 and .25 calibres, with options including roundhead and pointed variants in various box and tin sizes.
The JTS Dead Center Take Down dome-headed pellets in .22 calibre are manufactured in China and are likely produced by high-grade maker QYS. These pellets demonstrate excellent consistency, with almost no weight variation in testing. Supplied in tins of 250, they are well suited to both competition and hunting, where accuracy and uniformity matter. Their high quality is set to gain them a strong following among serious airgun shooters.
The H&N Baracuda 8 is a premium .177 calibre dome-headed pellet, weighing 8.44gr. Designed for Field Target and Hunter Field Target disciplines, it offers excellent accuracy and consistent performance, even from low-powered airguns. Suitable for small game and pest control, it remains reliable out to typical hunting distances, boasting a ballistic coefficient of 0.026.
The Air Arms Diabolo Express is a precision-made, dome-headed pellet in .177 calibre, weighing 7.87gr. It features a classic, waisted profile with a slightly shorter body and a more hollowed-out head, resulting in a lighter weight that makes it particularly well-suited to spring-powered airguns. This reduced mass helps achieve higher velocities and flatter trajectories. Manufactured by JSB, the Diabolo Express is a trusted choice for consistent accuracy in both target work and general use.
QYS’ high-quality dome-headed Streamlined pellets are manufactured in China and available in .177 calibre, with a choice of 8.48gr or 9.56gr weights. Featuring a long-bodied, waisted profile and outstanding manufacturing consistency, they compete closely with JSB and Air Arms favourites for Field Target, HFT, Benchrest, and hunting applications. The slightly deeper, more pointed head and smooth finish help deliver stable flight and tight grouping.
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