26-Sep-2025
In recent years, slugs have become one of the most talked-about developments in airgunning. Once associated mainly with firearms, these bullet-like projectiles are now being designed specifically for air rifles, and they are changing expectations around accuracy, power, and range.
So what sets a slug apart from the traditional pellet that most UK shooters are familiar with?
Shape: The classic diabolo design, with a narrow waist and flared skirt.
Stability: The skirt expands slightly on firing, creating a good barrel seal. The pellet is stabilised by drag, much like a shuttlecock in badminton.
Power: Pellets are light and optimised for low to mid-power airguns — often usable within the sub-12 ft·lb legal limit in England and Wales.
Range: Best accuracy is usually achieved between 30 and 50 yards. Beyond this, pellets lose velocity and stability quickly.
Best for: General plinking, pest control at short to medium ranges, and everyday shooting with sub-12 ft-lb rifles.
Shape: Designed more like a small bullet — solid, cylindrical or boat-tailed.
Stability: Unlike pellets, slugs rely on rifling twist and spin for stability in the same way as a firearm bullet.
Power: Slugs are heavier than pellets and generally require high-power (FAC) air rifles to perform well.
Range: With their higher ballistic coefficient (BC), slugs retain velocity and energy far better than pellets, making them accurate at 70 to 100 yards or more in the right setup.
Best for: Long-range pest control, target shooting at extended distances, and FAC holders seeking maximum performance.
While slugs and pellets are both classed simply as airgun ammunition under the law, what matters is the energy your rifle produces with them:
A rifle firing over 12 ft-lb with any ammunition, including slugs, is classed as a Section 1 firearm and requires a firearm certificate (FAC).
Sub-12 ft-lb rifles remain licence-free in England and Wales, but many slugs are too heavy to stabilise effectively at this power level.
Always check your rifle’s power with the ammunition you intend to use. A setup that is legal with pellets may exceed the limit with slugs.
Pellet: Diabolo design, drag-stabilised, short to medium range, best for sub-12 ft-lb rifles.
Slug: Bullet-shaped, spin-stabilised, long-range capable, best for FAC rifles.
Neither option is universally better. Pellets remain the most practical choice for the majority of UK shooters, particularly those limited to sub-12 ft-lb rifles. Slugs, however, offer real advantages in long-range accuracy and retained energy for those with the right equipment and certification.
At Rightgun.uk, we always advise checking your rifle with a chronograph and ensuring your setup complies with UK firearms law before heading into the field.
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