What is the typical response when you start talking about “airguns” down at your local hunting club? Maybe folks start talking about their old Crosman Pump Master, Daisy Red Ryder, or some other .177 airgun. But what happens when you start talking about “big bore” airguns? It’s a lot of fun to pull some .35 cal (or larger) airgun pellets out of your pocket and let folks know that airguns have come a long way from when they were shooting tin cans in the backyard. In this article, we’ll investigate .35 cal pellets and how the caliber fits in with today’s modern airgun offerings. Let’s get started.
Wow, That’s Big…
If you’ve only ever handled or shot .177 or .22 pellets, then it’s really something when you first pick your first .35 caliber pellet. Your average .177 pellet is about 8 grains, and the average .22 caliber pellet is about 16 grains. In contrast, the JSB Diabolo Exact Pellets weigh in at 81.02 grains. There’s no other way to say it but that they are massive. In fact, .35 caliber is the largest mass-produced pellet caliber currently in production. There are plenty of airgun slugs that reach up to .510 caliber, but as for pellets, .35 seems to be the limit.
Best Use Cases for .35 Cal Pellets
.35 cal pellets are ideal for target shooting and hunting out to 100 yards and beyond if you have the airgun for it. With their greater mass and diameter, they can deliver exceptional energy on target while at the same time creating a much larger wound channel. Even if they are not pushing the same velocities as their smaller siblings, the impact of an 81.02-grain pellet is simply devastating on game.
While the .35 caliber is often overlooked in favor of “bigger is better,” it is very effective for varmint hunting, deer, and even hogs. There is a lot that .35 cal airguns have to offer today’s airgun hunter.
Available .35 Cal Pellet Options
Options are limited when it comes to pure .35 cal “pellets.” We have the JSB Diabolo Exacts, JSB Hades, JSB Polymags, and FX Airguns .35 cal pellets. Both the JSB Diabolo pellets and the FX pellets are your standard round-nose pellets with a narrow waist and flared skirt.
The JSB Polymag pellets are unique, featuring a polymer tip that creates massive damage on impact. If you are hunting game that requires initial penetration and then massive expansion, the Polymags are an ideal choice.
The JSB Hades Pellets offer incredible expansion on target and create a devastating wound channel. They have the potential of better accuracy over the Polymags at longer ranges because they are a solid piece of lead without the potential instability that the polymer tip on the Polymags could cause. They may not have the initial “punch” of the PolyMags, but the Hades have a different trick up their sleeves. The hollow point sections expand out like teeth and chew through game.
So, whether you are target shooting or hunting, there are .35-cal pellet options. But, today’s modern airguns offer us a lot more in the way of power and velocity, and pellets struggle when you try to push them past 1000 FPS. Fortunately, there are a lot of .35 cal slugs available.
Other .35 Cal Airgun Ammo
The above options are great if you just want to shoot pellets. But if you want to shoot further and make the most of your high-powered airgun’s potential to push past 1000 FPS or deliver even more energy on target, then you’ll want to consider the variety of cast lead .35 cal airgun ammo.
Old-school airguns like the Seneca Recluse can drive 67-grain round balls like a boss, and modern airguns like the AirForce Texan may love the 190-grain Seneca Flat points. Fortunately, we carry a wide variety of .35 cal airgun ammo in all shapes, sizes, and weights suited to your target or varmint hunting needs.
We Are Here to Help
If you own or are interested in a .35 cal airgun and the gear to deliver the best results, then please do not hesitate to give us a call. We are always here and eager to help.
