29-Oct-2026
Buy a good air rifle and feed it the wrong pellet, and you will wonder why the groups are scattered. Buy a modest rifle and find the pellet it likes, and it can shoot far better than you expected. That is why the pellet question matters, and why shooters are always searching for the best air rifle pellets in the UK. This guide compares four of the best-known names, JSB, RWS, H&N and Air Arms, and explains how to choose by calibre, purpose and rifle. We have kept it practical and avoided claims that depend on a particular batch or production run.
A quick caveat: no pellet is best in every rifle. Barrels are individual, and two identical rifles can prefer different pellets. The honest answer to “which is best?” is “the one your rifle shoots best”, and the way to find it is to test a few.
Start with calibre and purpose
The calibre of your rifle narrows the field immediately. Lighter, faster pellets in .177 tend to suit target work and small quarry at modest range, while .22 is popular for pest control and general field use. Your purpose then guides the pellet shape: domed pellets are the usual all-rounder, flatter-headed wadcutters suit paper targets, and pointed or hollow-pointed designs are often chosen for quarry work, subject to your own judgement and the law.
If you are still choosing a rifle, our guide to the best air rifles by budget is a good starting point, and the most powerful legal air rifles article explains how power and pellet choice interact within the UK limit.
Browse: Air guns · Weihrauch air rifles · Air Arms air rifles · BSA air rifles · Pellets and ammunition
JSB: The favourite for accuracy
JSB has built a loyal following among shooters who care about consistency, and its pellets are a common recommendation on UK ranges and forums. If you are tuning a PCP for precision, JSB is often one of the first brands people try. Different JSB pellets are made in several weights, so you can test lighter and heavier options in your rifle.
The practical point is to buy a small number of tins in different weights rather than a single large pack. That way you can find the best match before committing.
Browse: Weihrauch HW100 · BSA R10 · FX air rifles · Air Arms S510
RWS: The dependable all-rounder
RWS is one of the most recognisable names in airgun ammunition, and its pellets are widely stocked and easy to find. They are often used by shooters who want a reliable, readily available pellet for general use, plinking, and spring rifles. Many people keep a tin of RWS in the bag as a standard.
Spring rifles can be sensitive to pellet weight and fit, so if you have a spring-piston rifle, try a couple of weights and see how the rifle responds. If you are weighing up spring rifles themselves, see our guide to the best spring air rifles in the UK.
Browse: Weihrauch HW80 · Weihrauch HW95 · Theoben Rapid · Air Arms TX200
H&N: A wide range of shapes and weights
H&N makes a broad range of pellets, which suits shooters who like to experiment. There are options across the common calibres and a number of head shapes and weights, so there is usually something to try if your rifle is fussy about what it eats.
H&N is also known in the PCP community, where shooters often carry out their own comparisons. If you are building a pellet test, include at least one H&N option in the mix and keep notes on the results.
Browse: BSA R10 · Air Arms S510 · FX air rifles · BSA air rifles
Air Arms: Pellets matched to a well-known rifle brand
Air Arms makes pellets as well as rifles, and many owners of Air Arms rifles like to try them. There is no rule that a brand’s pellets will perform best in its own rifles, but it is a natural place to start, and it keeps the testing simple.
If you own or are considering an Air Arms rifle, our S510 review and S510 vs HW100 comparison give useful context on how these rifles are used and what shooters value in them.
Browse: Air Arms air rifles · Air Arms S510 · Air Arms TX200 · Weihrauch HW100
Pellets vs slugs: Should you switch?
Slugs have become popular with PCP shooters, particularly in .22 and .25, and “air rifle slugs” is a growing search. Slugs are not a straight swap for pellets: they behave differently, and not every rifle is set up for them. Some rifles shoot slugs well, others do not, and changing ammunition can mean changing how you set up the rifle.
If you are curious, read our explainer on airgun slugs vs pellets before you spend money. As a rule, get the rifle shooting well with a good pellet first, then experiment.
Browse: Pellets and ammunition · FX air rifles · Daystate air rifles · Air guns
How to test pellets properly
Pick three or four pellets in the right calibre, ideally from different brands and weights. Use a steady rest, shoot at a fixed distance, and fire several groups of the same number of shots with each. Keep notes. Clean the barrel sparingly and consistently, and change only one thing at a time.
Weather, temperature, and your own fatigue all affect results, so test on a calm day and rest between strings. Do not judge a pellet on a single group. Look for the one that gives consistently tight groups across several sessions. Pellet tins can also vary slightly from batch to batch, which is another reason not to over-read one good session. Once you have a winner, buy enough of the same tin or batch to last a while, since consistency matters.
Browse: Air guns · Weihrauch air rifles · Theoben air rifles · Pellets and ammunition
FAQ
What are the best pellets for a .22 air rifle? There is no single answer, because each rifle has its own preference. Try several well-known brands in a few weights and keep the one that groups best in your rifle.
Are JSB pellets better than RWS? JSB is often chosen for precision shooting and RWS for dependable general use, but the better pellet is the one your own rifle prefers. Testing is the only reliable way to know.
Can I use slugs in any air rifle? Not necessarily. Slugs behave differently from pellets, and not every rifle is designed for them, so check your rifle’s suitability before you switch.
Where can I buy air rifles and ammunition in the UK? You can browse air rifles for sale, and list your own, on Rightgun.uk, a specialist UK marketplace for shooting and field sports.
Find your next air rifle on Rightgun.uk
The best pellet in the world cannot make up for the wrong rifle. If you are ready to upgrade, browse air rifles for sale from UK sellers, compare new and used options, and list your old rifle when you are ready to move on.
Further reading: Airgun slugs vs pellets, Best air rifles under £200, £500 and £1,000, Best spring air rifles in the UK and Air Arms S510 vs Weihrauch HW100.
