The diabolo airgun pellet
Airgun pellets are usually made in the diabolo form. A shape named after the traditional juggling game which is thought to have originated in China. The first mention of the game called diabolo was around fifteen/sixteen hundreds. The game of diabolo – from Latin diabolus (devil) – involves the tossing and manipulation of a two-headed bobbin, using a string stretched between two sticks. An earlier name for the game was “devil on two sticks”. The basic tricks to perform were a simple toss, cats cradle and then more advanced whip catch along with other techniques.
An airgun pellet takes on the general shape of the two-headed bobbin, with a solid head, wide skirt, and narrow waist. The rim of the skirt engages snugly with the rifled bore. Thus creating a strong spin for a flat trajectory. The pellet’s head is slightly narrower than the skirt, so there’s less friction between the head and the gun’s bore, while the waist portion doesn’t touch the bore at all.
Traditionally, airgun pellets are made of lead or lead alloy. Although manufacturers have made airgun pellets from alternative metals, such as alloys of bismuth and tin – or iron, zinc, and tin. Some modern pellets are even made of plastic. iHunter have developed a range of lead free pellets, the Prometheus range. Discover the different types of pellets.
Why are airgun pellets made of lead?
Lead is a soft, heavy metal, and most of all its a cheap material to use and manipulate.
Lead is softer than the steel of a gun’s barrel. This is important because it means that friction doesn’t cause abrasion to the inside of the barrel. Being the softer of the two metals, it’s the lead that’s worn by friction. Consequently, brushing lead residue from the gun’s bore is a routine part of airgun maintenance. However not too often and only when the accuracy starts to decline.
The softness of lead comes into play again when the pellet makes impact with the target, which is particularly important for hunting or vermin control. When the airgun pellet makes impact, it crumples, The crumpled head of the pellet creates a larger impact wound and a quick humane kill.
Lead’s most common alloy partner in airgun pellets is antimony a metalloid that adds hardness to lead.
The heaviness of lead is also significant. With a density of 11.34g per cm3, a small lead pellet carries a proportionally large amount of momentum. Speed may be top priority when it comes to target shooting, but when you’re shooting live quarry, you need some weight behind your shot. The best pellets for pest control.
Copper-coated airgun pellets
Copper is also quite a soft metal, but it’s harder than lead. A copper-coated pellet engages well with the airgun’s rifled bore, but, being softer than steel, it causes no abrasion to the inside of the barrel. Being harder than lead, copper creates less friction with air, so velocity is maintained.
Lead-free airgun pellets
Bismuth (is a heavy metal with physical characteristics in common with lead. However, unlike lead, bismuth has a low level of toxicity. Bismuth is commonly alloyed with tin
A lightweight pellet maintains velocity, and consequently keeps a flat trajectory. So for target shooting. The Prometheus pellets are made from a combination of plastic skirt and hard metal core and is ideal for those who are concerned about lead pollution
A Different Type Of Pellet
Over the years the basic design of the air gun pellets has remained the same, a hollow lead projectile. Now there is the airgun slug, more like a traditional bullet, but it is propelled by compressed air. The profile of a slug means that it has more contact with the barrel than a waisted pellet. The advantage is the aerodynamic shape gives better ballistic coefficient energy, the downside is the extra weight. So are the airgun slugs more accurate ? What about pellets vs slugs?
Looking for the perfect second hand air rifle ? visit or marketplace today. New to air gunning ?, learn all the airgun terminology in this handy guide we have produced. Try one of our sample packs of pellets and some FAQ about airguns.
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