Q: I am looking for airgun pellets for training and competition. Any recommendations?
A: For high-class competitive target shooting there are only two manufacturers, who control the whole field: "Haendler und Nattermann" and "Dynamit Nobel" (both German). The ratio of usage of the world competition shooting community is approximately 60% to 40% in favor of HN against DN. But it is more marketing-triggered than a quality issue, since both, being at the ultimate level, produce similar results. The shooter's personal choice is usually based on:
"This pellet fits in my barrel"
"I trust this brand"
"I've shot my personal best result with XY, therefore..."
"My coach recommends it"
and similar attitudes. Here is an overview of the most-used training and
competition pellets:
Haendler und Nattermann (HN)
HN Finale Match (Rifle) - golden box
HN Finale Match (Pistol) - blue box
HN Matchkugeln (universal usage, used for rifle) - grey box
HN Matchkugeln High Speed (used for pistol) - blue box
and several other pellets for plinking and varmint shooting.
Dynamit Nobel (RWS)
R10 (Rifle)
R10 (Pistol)
RWS Meisterkugeln (Rifle) - yellow box
RWS Meisterkugeln (Pistol) - blue box
and several other pellets for plinking and varmint shooting.
Both manufacturers offer pellets in calibers from 4.48 to 4.51 mm in order
to provide the best fit to the barrel and speed of the particular airgun.
The difference between rifle pellets (also universal) and pistol pellets
(also high speed) is the weight: 530mg for rifle, 500mg for pistol.
The rule of thumb for recognizing them on the shelf is that the box color
for pistol pellets is blueish or blue for both brands.
You have to try different diameters (from 4.48 to 4.51) of both brands, RWS and HN. If you are about to participate in competitions, choose the top-line pellets (RWS R10 or HN Final Match). For home target shooting, training or minor competitions RWS Meisterkugeln or HN Matchkugeln are sufficient, as the quality is nearly the same. Some world-class shooters even use them instead of the top-line pellets. They are sold in round boxes of 500, which is the best choice of packing. There is little reason to buy the so-called "competition boxes", where the pellets are stored one-by-one. In most of the cases, it is not worth the money. You pay for the excessive plastic around and the quality is generally the same. Moreover, the pellets in the competition boxes are more prone to oxidizing. The only advantages you gain is better shock protection during transport and a better overview on ammo spent during competition.
After selecting the best brand/caliber/lot for your barrel, buy a one to two year supply of the stuff. Unless the 500 box is opened, the slightly lubricated pellets are protected from oxidization for about three to four years (author's personal experience, may not be identical with the manufacturer's).
Be prepared to pay more than you might have expected. But you are buying quality, and it is really worth the money.
It is also recommended to check your airgun before making the choice. Damaged or loose fittings and ventils, weak springs have influence on muzzle velocity, an important parameter when selecting ammo appropriate to a particular airgun. And of course, all important screws have to be tightened beforehand :-).