Hard Air Magazine tests every airgun with the same set of standard test pellets. All of these pellets are high quality and are well regarded. There’s no point in testing any airgun with low grade pellets! Each pellet type was selected for specific reasons.
Note that Hard Air Magazine tests using these pellets straight from the tin. This is to replicate normal usage. If we find a pellet that’s obviously distorted or malformed, this will be rejected just as the average shooter would.
HAM does not select the test pellets by weight or size. Nor do we lubricate, size or do anything else to the pellets. We just load them into the gun, shoot and record the results.
The HAM standard test pellets are listed in order of weight.
GAMO RAPTOR PLATINUM PBA POWER PELLETS
These alloy, lead free pellets are the lightest weight airgun pellets commonly available. They weigh just 4.7 Grains in .177 caliber and 9.7 Grains in .22 cal.
This light weight means that Gamo Raptor Platinum pellets almost inevitably give the highest possible muzzle velocity with any air rifle or air pistol. This is important as it allows HAM to compare manufacturers’ “with alloy pellets” FPS claims to those actually achieved with the lightest weight pellets available.
BUY FROM AMAZON
Gamo Pba Platnm Pellts .177/Blister Pk
Gamo PBA Platinum Pellets 22PEL Black Blister Card 50/Pack 632265554
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Gamo PBA Platinum pellets in .177 caliber
Gamo PBA Platinum pellets in .22 caliber
H&N FIELD TARGET TROPHY GREEN PELLETS
These slightly heavier, lead free, alloy pellets weigh in at 5.56 Grains in .177 and 10.03 Grains in .22 caliber. They typically shoot well in a variety of air rifles.
BUY FROM AMAZON
H&N Field Target Trophy Green .177 Cal, Lead-Free, 5.56 Grains, Domed, 300ct
H&N Field Target Trophy Green, .22 Cal, 9.56 Grains, Domed, Lead Free, 200ct
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
H&N Field Target Trophy Green pellets, .177 caliber
H&N Field Target Trophy Green pellets, .22 caliber
RWS HOBBY PELLETS
These wadcutter (flat faced) pellets are the lightest lead pellets commonly available. They weigh 7.0 Grains in .177 cal and 11.9 Grains in .22 caliber.
As wadcutter pellets, the “Hobbies” make a nice sharp round hole in paper targets, making them ideal for target shooting.
This light weight means that RWS Hobby pellets are usually used to generate manufacturers’ “with lead pellets” FPS claims.
BUY FROM AMAZON
RWS Hobby .177 Cal, 7.0 Grains, Wadcutter, 500ct
RWS Hobby .22 Cal, 11.9 Grains, Wadcutter, 250ct
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
RWS Hobby pellets, .177 caliber
RWS Hobby pellets, .22 caliber
CROSMAN PREMIER HOLLOW POINT PELLETS
The Crosman Premier HPs are among the most widely distributed pellets available. It seems that every store in the country sells these pellets! This alone justifies their including as a HAM standard test pellet. They also are a good general purpose pellet that shoot well in most airguns.
These mid weight hollow point domed pellets weigh 7.9 Grains in .177 caliber and 14.3 Grains in .22 cal.
BUY FROM AMAZON
Crosman Hollow Point Pellets, 0.177-Calibre
Crosman LPH .22 Caliber Hollow Point Pellets, 500-Pack
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, .177 caliber
Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, .22 caliber
JSB EXACT DIABOLO PELLETS
Another mid-weight pellet, these JSB domed pellets have an outstanding reputation for accuracy. Weight is 8.44 Grains in .177 caliber for the JSB Exact Diabolo pellets. The JSB Exact Jumbo Express pellets weigh 14.35 Grains in .22 caliber.
BUY FROM AMAZON
JSB Diabolo EXACT .177 Caliber Air Gun Pellets
Jsb Diablo Exact Jumbo Express .22 Cal 14.3 Grains Domed 250Ct
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
JSB Match Diablo Exact pellets, .177 caliber
JSB Diablo Jumbo Express pellets, .22 caliber
H&N FIELD TARGET TROPHY PELLETS
“Field Target Trophies” also have a great reputation for accuracy and are the heaviest of the three “mid weight” pellets in HAM’s test suite. H&N is unusual in offering many of their pellets in a range of precise (metric) sizes. HAM uses the .177 Field Target Trophy pellets in 4.50mm diameter and 5.53mm diameter for .22 caliber.
These pellets weigh 8.64 Grains in .177 caliber and 14.66 Grains in .22 cal.
BUY FROM AMAZON
H&N Field Target Trophy, .177 Cal, 4.52mm, 8.64 Grains, Round Nose, 500ct
H&N Field Target Trophy .22 Cal, 14.66 Grains, Round Nose, 500ct
BUY FROM PYRAMYD
H&N Field Target Trophy .177 Cal, 8.64 Grains, Domed, 500ct
H&N Field Target Trophy Pellets, .22 caliber
H&N BARACUDA MATCH PELLETS
Baracuda Match pellets are among the heaviest commonly available pellets. They have a particularly strong reputation for good results in PCP airguns.
Again, HAM uses the .177 Baracuda Match pellets in 4.50mm diameter and 5.53mm diameter for .22 caliber. As the heaviest pellets tested by HAM, these normally give the lowest muzzle velocities. However the Baracudas muzzle energy – or knock down power – can often be very high, with the heavy weight counting for more than sheer speed. This can make them very good for hunting.
