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Air Pistol Pellets

Pistol Ammunition
Air Pistol Pellets © Copyright: Copyright © Julian Young

The only calibre used for ISSF Airgun events is 4.5mm (.177″).

For ISSF events, invariably these are waisted, hollow-based wadcutter pellets, and available in either 7.7g or 8.3g. Usually the 7.7g pellets are used for Air Pistols and the 8.3g pellets are used for Air Rifle, though some shooters use the heavier 8.3g pellets for Air Pistol.

Match grade pellets are available in a range of diameters to suit individual air guns; the range normally available is from 4.48mm to 4.52mm. Match grade pellets will have the diameter on the packaging (usually on the underside of the tin).

.22 Long Rifle

.22 Long Rifle
© shootingwiki.org

The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is undoubtedly the most popular cartidge available in the world.

While the .22LR is available in a number of variants (sub-sonic, standard, high velocity), the standard target load for ISSF events has a 40 grain projectile with a velocity slightly below the speed of sound.

The .22LR use a ‘heeled’ bullet; i.e. the bullet is the same diameter of the case, and has a narrower “heel” portion that fits in the case.

Specifications

Case type Rimmed, Straight
Bullet diameter 5.68 mm (0.224 in)
Rim diameter 6.88 mm (0.271 in)
Rim thickness 1 mm (0.039 in)
Case length 15 mm (0.591 in)
Overall length 25 mm (0.984 in)

History

The original .22 rimfire cartridge was the .22BB (1857), with the .22Short cartridge (originally black powder) developed for the S&W revolver. The .22Short led to the development of the .22Long (also originally black powder) and eventually to the .22LR.
While all these .22 rimfire variants are still available (now loaded with modern ‘smokeless’ powders), the .22LR is specified for all ISSF 50m events and the ISSF 25m Rimfire events.

Ammunition Selection

Semi-automatic pistols designed for the ISSF 25m rimfire events must not be loaded with high velocity ammunition! They are designed for sub-sonic .22LR ammunition, and use of high velocity ammunition can damage the pistol!
While most commercially available ‘standard velocity’ .22LR ammunition will operate satisfactorily (and safely) in most firearms chambered for this cartridge, for target use you should be aware that:

• for any brand/type of ammunition, accuracy and muzzle velocities will vary:
  • between apparently identical firearms
  • with different barrel lengths.
• for 25m and 50m the best accuracy will normally be obtained if the ammunition is slightly sub-sonic in the particular firearm.
• differing brands, types, and even batches can give dramatically different accuracy in any particular firearm.
• ISSF 25m and 50m events specify .22LR. (.22Short, .22Long, and .22WMR are not permitted)
  • ISSF 25m Rapid Fire Pistol also requires a minimum projectile weight of 39 grains and a minimum velocity of 250 metres/second.
  • Some .22LR is branded ’250′ – this does not guarantee that the ammunition will have the required velocity for RFP events in all pistols.

What to look for in .22LR ammunition:

• Reliability:
  • if it don’t go bang every time, it ain’t worth using! While the occassional failure to ignite is unfortunate for 50m events (who needs the added frustration?) , for the 25m events with limited refire rules reliability is a primary requirement
  • it should ‘feed’ into the chamber reliably
• Accuracy:
  • the firearm/ammunition combination should always shoot more accurately than you can.
  • forget about 5-shot or 10 shot groups – accuracy is needed for all competition and sighting shots fired in an event. For the ISSF events, how bad are the worst shots in a group is more important that how good a small number of shots can be.
  • ‘acceptable’ accuracy for a 50m rifle is of the order of 10mm or better at 50m for all shots fired
  • ‘acceptable’ accuracy for a 50m pistol is of the order of 25mm or better at 50m for all shots fired
  • ‘acceptable’ accuracy for a 25m pistol is of the order of 25mm or better at 25m for all shots fired

Center Fire Ammunition

While the ISSF Center Fire event allows the use of any Center Fire calibre between 7.62 mm (.30″) and 9.65 mm (true .38 diameter) there are a couple of additional requirements:

• only lead (or similar) projectiles are allowed, and
• magnum loads are not allowed.

.32 S&W Long

Over the last 30 years this round has replaced the .38 Special as the preferred calibre for ISSF Center Fire events.
For this event the ‘standard’ loading is a 98 grain wadcutter projectile with a muzzle velocity of 770 ft/sec

• advantages -
  • comparatively light recoil
  • almost all pistols for the ISSF Center Fire event are now in this calibre
  • short overall length of the cartridge allows designers greater flexability
• disadvantages -
  • can have accuracy problems (flyers)

see also .32 S&W Long

7.62 Nagant/

These rounds developed for the Toz 39 and 49 model revolvers effectively duplicate the .32 S&W Long ballistics

.38 Special

(or .357 Magnum, when loaded to the specifications for .38 Special target loads)
When loaded to the ‘mid-range wadcutter’ specifications with 148 grain wadcutter projectile to a muzzle velocity of 880 ft/sec this round is capable of magnificent accuracy in target pistols

• advantages -
  • capable of magnificent accuracy in target pistols
• disadvantages -
  • apart from revolvers more designed for ‘service’ applications, there are few current production pistols in this calibre. Old production semi-automatics in this calibre (such as Hammerli P240, S&W #52, Colt Gold Cup) are still highly appreciated, but spare parts is becoming a problem)
  • much heavier recoil that with the .32 S&W Long

see also .38 S&W Special