Shooters won’t have any problems looking for good pellets because of a sizable amount of selections in the market. However, it pays to do some research before investing in them.
Gun users use pellets as protection of disturbance from household traffic like a rat, bat, rabbit, hare, and squirrels. The best .22 pellets for accuracy will ensure that you never miss your target.
Pellet selection is just as crucial as your firearm choice. And since not all pellets perform well with every rifle, it’s essential to learn about the different pellets. This will ultimately assist you in then deciding on which one will be great for you.
Here’s our top pick:
Our 5 Best .22 Pellets Picks
Markets are flooded with different types of pellets that claim immense efficiency. The ones we’ll talk about below guarantee you of optimal precision. No shot will ever be wasted with these five impeccable pellets.
1. Crosman Domed Premier Pellets: Best Overall
What We Liked
- Brilliant accuracy for hunting and plinking
- Engineered for adaptability with most air-guns
- Pyramid shape tip to cut air-hassle
- They come pre-lubed
- Easy setting benefits
What We Didn’t Like
- Lacks long-range accuracy
- Lead is a soft metal and can be crushed if handled poorly
For maximum shock effect and great hunting experience, look no further than these pellets. The knockdown power and shock delivered by the partitioned hollow-point means one shot is all you need to make a clean kill. On top of that, their screw-on lid prevents accidental pellet spills, making this the best .22 pellets for accuracy.
The pellets fall within the mid-range weight, guaranteeing ultra-narrow shots and clean-cut bullet holes at close range. Each pellet guarantees maximum quality and accuracy, making it a great all-round pellet.
Whether you’re dealing with rabbits, squirrels, skunks, or other problematic pests, these pellets are guaranteed to pack a good punch.
These will be compatible with any gun that shoots a standard style pellet. Even the 500-count reusable tin is carefully designed and crafted, making these pellets an essential companion. The pellets expand to create large wound channels when used for hunting.
This contributes to the overall performance of the shooter by enhancing the shooter’s capabilities.
Bottom Line
These hard-hitting pellets are perfect for medium game hunting, with increased efficiency at close range. If your goal is finding a bullet you can use with all your air-guns with considerable accuracy, then these are perfect for you.
2. Haendler & Natermann Baracuda Hunter Extreme Pellets
What We Liked
- Ultra-powerful and most accurate
- Great for hunting
- Well-crafted and long-ranged pellets
- Moderate weight for enhanced performance
- Compatible with most air-guns
What We Didn’t Like
- Not recommended for air-guns with a higher power
This pellet has an excellent reputation for accuracy. With its ultra-powerful long-range, it’s a perfect match for your high-powered PCP gun. You can find some powerful pellet pistol with .22 cal in this article.
What more, thanks to its special alloy and lubrication, it also exhibits the lowest possible rate of lead fouling.
They hit hard and are mushroomed well above 800 FPS, making them one of the best 22 alloy pellets. The round nose or domed pellets made from real brass make it one of the best penetrating 22 pellets you can buy. Use these for hunting, shooting spinners, or popping tin cans to enjoy their consistent, tight grouping hits every time.
One shot is all you need for a range of medium game and bird game, including raccoon, hare, fox, duck, and pheasants. Their tremendous knockdown power and pinpoint accuracy, when used with magnum air rifles, delivers a devastating force. They’ll punch clear through any wooden fence.
And the skirt/petal does not serve a hollow point function. It expands in the barrel to seal and prevent air pressure loss. Also included is a mushrooming head that delivers a shocking blow on impact and provides a tremendous shock effect and rapid energy transfer.
Add this to its impressive velocity, and it makes for a perfect companion for backyard vermin extermination. They create a super snug fit inside the barrel of your .22 cal air-gun, boosting precision.
Bottom Line
The first-class aerodynamic design of this pellet delivers high impact and excellent penetration, along with superlative accuracy. This makes it perfect for hunting and varmint control. It makes a great addition to air rifle enthusiasts due to its longer range and its ability to take down the small-medium quarry.
3. JSB Diabolo Exact .22 Caliber Air Gun Pellets
What We Liked
- Incredibly accurate
- Precisely crafted
- Affords excellent aim at long range
- Impressively heavy hitting
What We Didn’t Like
- Quite pricey
These pellets surely pack a wallop. Their hollow point design, along with their extremely high ballistic coefficient, ensure less drag and more energy delivery at the target. Part of what makes these pellets so good in so many guns is their very thin skirts. These blow out quickly and seal the barrel and grab the riflings just right.
Because of their substantial weight, they deliver improved flight stabilization and accuracy, making them ideal as hunting pellets. Their knockdown power remains high even at longer ranges, making it one of the best .22 bullets for hunting squirrel.
Here, the additional weight reduces the velocity to something sub-sonic, and there is no sonic crack from the pellet itself. The whole series is the epitome of quality for the sporting and leisure shooters of the Field Target discipline.
It even holds its ground with hunters and enthusiasts testing the air guns in extreme distances (up to 200m). This is maintained by the perfect distribution of their center of gravity and impressive alignment. They are produced in a wide range of weight as well as diameter so that they can be ideally produced for every single weapon.
In a .22 rifle, this heavier pellet would be better for countering the effects of wind on accuracy than for reducing noise from the pellet speed for most guns. They are made from incredibly soft lead. This is a product that suits hunting and long-range shooting best.
Bottom Line
The ammo comes with intermediary weight, has a round nose, and is designed to enhance stabilization of flight and better precision. It comes with a weight or grain that has been selected to suit a good majority of formidable air rifles.
4. Crosman Premier Piranha
What We Liked
- Uniform in size and shape for a tight fit in the barrel
- Very hard-hitting
- Impressive accuracy at close range
- Downrange energy and causes terminal damage
- Expands very well in targets
What We Didn’t Like
- For the price, we’d have appreciated 500 instead of 400
The hollow-point delivers a deadly bite. Standout features include a rounded top with star-shaped indentation. This, paired up with their substantial grain weight, makes them unstoppable. Expect the same optimal penetration properties of a domed pellet with the expansion ability of a hollow-point.
This pellet is the perfect choice for small game/nuisance animal hunting, including rodents and garden pests. They are suitable for short-range shooting, especially when paired up with high powered springers. It is classified as a heavy pellet like the Ultra Magnums but with more shock and less penetration, just as hollow points should.
They fit tightly into the breach providing the best possible velocity, affording very flat and accurate shots. The difference can definitely be heard when the pellet impacts its target. We would recommend using these for plinking more than anything else, though they’ll perform well elsewhere as well.
These pellets feature a similar effect and fight pattern as the Crosman Hollow Point. They tend to expand better than the standard hollow point, with slightly better penetration due to the jagged hollow point design.
Bottom Line
For a fun day with a couple of stacked tins in your backyard, consider these extremely capable pellets. Their overall shape and size give them an edge for extra accuracy.
5. Gamo 63209295554 Combo Pack Assorted Air Rifle Pellets
What We Liked
- The perfect weight required to shoot
- Hard and durable
- Copper body for sure shot
- Sharp and accurate
- Perfect range speed
What We Didn’t Like
- May not work as well with high powered rifles
- Rifles that can’t shoot flat trajectories may find it too heavy to handle
This assortment offers premium pellets adapted for any air-gun application from hunting, pest control, and even target shooting and competition. They deliver high energy downrange, making them ideal for all types of small game. Another plus is that they offer ultimate pellet weight consistency and overall performance.
And this makes all four high caliber pellets ideal for training as well as competitive shooting. The pointed tip on the magnum and double ring design increases their mushroom effect for better results on small game.
Due to the heavier weight and dome configuration, the hunter pellets perform with a terrific impact, even at long distances.
For maximum penetration, trust the Master Point’s aerodynamic design to concentrate its mass to give longer distances. Additionally, the pointed tip enhances penetration for even better with small game. This collection also offers pellets with impressively high performance due to the long skirt feature that guarantees a more accurate flight at longer distances. The weight creates high muzzle energy, providing outstanding accuracy and penetration.
They’re pretty accurate too and work impressively well over long-range, delivering hard hits every time.
Bottom Line
You can count on these pellets to perform well over long-range due to their substantial weight that aids its accuracy. Furthermore, their distinctive shape makes them fitting for the hunting of small game.
Different Types of Pellets
There are about seven different types of pellets available for your air-gun. The kind of shooting you’ll be involved in will ultimately dictate what brand you use. Some of these include:
- Pointed
This kind is recommended for hunting small vermin, and it can contain its velocity for long-range shooting.
- Domed/Round Nosed
Also called the diablo pellet, this type is best for varied activities since it has an excellent aerodynamic design. The round shape makes for accuracy, right trajectory, maximizes velocity, capable of deflecting wind, and great for field target shooting.
- Wadcutter
Also called the flathead type, this kind of pellet makes for steady, solid shots. The shape is recommended for hunting since it makes for significant impact and controlled penetration.
- Hollow-Point
This kind is recommended for taking down small vermin. The design is capable of expanding upon contact without fully penetrating the quarry.
Which .22 Cal Is Best for Accuracy?
For the most accurate .22 pellets, look no further than the Wadcutter and domed pellets. These two offer the most uncompromising accuracy of all the different types.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Before you go ahead and buy the first tin of pellets, there’ll be a few things to consider. Bear in mind the right ammo shape for your air-gun and your activity needs. This is an essential factor you shouldn’t overlook because there are different types of pellets out there.
Many brands and general models exist today, and with so many options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here’s our helpful guide to keep in mind when making that crucial decision:
- Pellet Weight
The weight of a pellet is a vital aspect to consider. And the weight of your air gun pellet will affect velocity, trajectory, flight stability, and terminal performance. A heavy bullet is more stable in breezy conditions than a lighter one.
It also maintains its energy over longer distances, and it will hit hard as you would expect. However, this doesn’t mean you should rush for a heavy pellet. Make sure your pellet’s weight matches your air gun design capabilities and power.
Pellet noise depends on its weight. .22 cal is quieter than .177 cal. Here are some reviews of the most quiet air rifle in this article.
- Accuracy
In hunting, if you can’t hit the target, then nothing else matters. You may need to try several different pellet shapes to find one that has a high level of accuracy and works for you. Armored with an accurate pellet, you’ll be unstoppable when you step out to shoot.
- Velocity
You need to hit the target seconds after firing. So velocity is an essential factor, choosing non-lead and very lightweight .22 pellets are likely to provide your air gun’s maximum speed. Your shot needs to reach your target with high velocity in order to have the desired damage.
Because air resistance isn’t negligible, you’ll need a pellet that’s able to withstand the wind and still be effective.
- Shape
Air gun pellets come in different shapes designed to perform various shooting tasks. For instance, the domed-head pellets are great general use pellets, the Wadcutter is wonderful target pellets, and the hollow and pointed pellets are suitable for hunting tasks.
So consider the job you are going to use your pellets in. Additionally, some shapes may not be compatible with certain rifles, so keeping this in mind will be useful in the long run.
- Pellet Alloy
The softness or hardness of your pellet will assist you in achieving the desired results humanely. Lead is generally a soft metal and will be damaged if handled irresponsibly. Alloys of other metals may present stronger bullets. All this is key to remember when choosing a pellet to buy.
- Pellet Energy
The remaining energy at the target is crucial for a hunter looking for knockdown power. Hollow pellets are preferable as they expand on impact while the pointed pellets have high penetration power. This gives them an energy boost when approaching your target, and so it ensures that they’ll perform well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the most commonly asked queries regarding the best .22 pellets:
- How far will a .22 pellet travel?
It depends on the power source, but generally, 22 calibers will have a range of 1.5miles. However, the wind is never constant and could carry the bullet plus or minus 50 inches in elevation, affecting much of the pellet’s velocity.
- What is the most accurate .22 pellet?
The best product for your air-gun should match and accommodate your stock. For us, the Crosman Domed Premier Pellets are your best shot (no pun intended). Premier pellet is made from a single set of heat-treated water-resistant metal tools to ensure each bullet delivers the same impressive accuracy.
- What type of pellet is best for hunting?
The heaviest pellets will be your best bet here to provide you with the accuracy you need. What you need is the consistent weight of each pellet, which will give better consistency. These will be excellent at long ranges and great for hunting if you want to make sure that you take down your prey quickly.
- Is there a difference between an ultra-magnum pellet and a hollow-point pellet?
The short answer is, yes. With the consistent accuracy offered, the domed pellets rank a notch higher than the hollow bullets. Ultra magnum pellets are more massive, and heavier pellets tend to be more accurate because they are traveling slower per second.
- How do pellets perform compared to round balls?
Round balls out-penetrate pointed pellets, though they may not be as accurate as most diabolos in some air guns. They perform best on hard targets, where penetration is prioritized over energy transfer.
Final Words
Getting the right type of pellet can really improve your shooting. The best .22 bullets for accuracy have tons of power with moderate weight, maintain high efficiency, and offer overall excellent quality.
It takes a little trial and error to find the ammo that works for you. Your gun, circumstances, and purpose need to be aligned with your choice pellets, to deliver the best shot every time.
Source:
- Wikipedia pellet page
