Today I’m going to show you the best .22 pellets for hunting on the market today.
In fact:
I’ve hand-tested over 10 pellets alone for this review.
The best part?
I’ve sorted them by use. So whether you’re on a budget or looking for the most premium pellets, you’ll find it here.
Let’s get started!
The 4 Best .22 Pellets for Hunting
If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best .22 pellets for hunting:
- JSB Exact Match Jumbo Beast Diabolo: Best .22 Pellets for Accuracy
- H&N Baracuda Match: Best for Squirrel Hunting
- H&N Hornet Pointed: Best for Raccoons
- Crosman LHP22 Hollow Points: Best for the Budget
1. JSB Exact Match Jumbo Beast Diabolo: Best .22 Pellets for Accuracy
The JSB Exact Match Jumbo Beast Diabolo pellets are the most accurate .22 pellets available today.
The heavier weight and aerodynamic design combine to give you consistent long-range accuracy and flying power.
But, are they worth the higher price?
Let’s find out.
Accuracy
These pellets were designed for medium and long-range accuracy.
JSB has proven time and time again that they’re an industry leader when it comes to accuracy, and the Jumbo Beast Diabolos are no exception.
I was able to maintain consistent .5” 5-shot groups, even from distances as far as 60 yards, with virtually no flyers.
This is partly thanks to the shape and size of the pellet. The medium/heavy weight combined with the round nose pellet design increases accuracy, as well as flight stabilization.
Of course, as with all airgun pellets, the accuracy is very firearm-dependent. But, using my Gen 2 Marauder, I’ve achieved better accuracy with these than with any other pellets!
Shape/Fit
The JSB Diabolos have a hollow point design and a rounded nose.
One thing to note is that these pellets are longer than average, so there are some types of magazines they will not fit into.
JSB specifically points out that, unfortunately, they do not fit in rotary magazines, so you’ll want to look elsewhere if your airgun has one.
Reliability
JSB claims these pellets are produced precisely, with hand-picked quality control.
Other than just a couple skirt deformations, this claim seems to hold true.
Most pellets in the tin are very well-formed, and JSB is known to be a reliable manufacturer.
Velocity
The Diabolos are designed with a high ballistic coefficient for intense power at long ranges.
With the right rifle, you can get up to 75 yards of lethal, knock-out power!
There’s significantly less drag than with other .22 pellets, and wind has little effect on energy delivery to the target.
From my measurements across the multiple airguns I’ve tested these with, the FPS is anywhere between 750-850.
Drop off doesn’t even begin until around 75 yards, giving you true long-distance power!
Size
Each pellet weighs about 33.95 grains, and the head diameter is 5.5mm.
The heavier weight of the Diabolos makes them an ideal hunting pellet, and JSB’s best choice for anyone looking for pellets with a weight that can keep up with high-powered airguns.
Price
These JSB pellets range in price from $13 – $26 for a tin of 150, depending on the retailer.
They’re definitely on the pricier side. But, if you want unmatched accuracy and high power at long distances, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the value!
Recommendations
The JSB Exact Match Jumbo Beast Diabolo .22 pellets are all you need for pest control or medium-game hunting.
Whether you’re hunting at night or during the day, you can expect to hit hares, foxes, squirrels, or raccoons with lethal force.
The Diabolos are a powerful, versatile option, made in the perfect shape and size for a hunting pellet.
You get what you pay for, and these are sure to be the most accurate .22 pellets you’ve ever used.
- HEAVY HITTING: Pellets pack a wallop! This pellet’s hollow point design, along with its extremely high ballistic coefficient, means less drag and more energy delivery at the target.
- INCREDIBLY ACCURATE: Pellet is an intermediate weight, round nose pellet that will deliver improved flight stabilization and fine accuracy.
- PERFECT FOR HUNTING: If you have a powerful air rifle then this is the only pellet for you! This is our best selling .22 caliber pellet. Why? It performs! A truly no fail hunting pellet.
2. H&N Baracuda Match: Best for Squirrel Hunting
When your target is as small as a squirrel’s eye, having the right pellet can make all the difference in whether you’re feasting on savory squirrel legs for dinner or stomping back through the woods empty-handed.
Luckily, H&N’s Baracuda Match pellets give you the accuracy, consistency, and power you need to fill your game bag every time.
Here’s why the Baracuda is my top choice for hunting squirrels…
The Specs
The H&N Baracuda Match is a high-quality German-made pellet that is perfect for use in your .22 caliber air pistol or rifle as long as its minimum muzzle energy is over 18.5 ft.lbs.
This model is on the heavier end of the spectrum when it comes to airgun pellets, weighing about 21.14 grains.
How is that a good thing?
Though it won’t have as much energy out of the barrel, a heavier pellet will hit much harder at the target making for deeper wound channels and more humane kills.
The Baracuda Match has a well-formed domed nose and aerodynamic rear skirt, giving the pellet a stabilizing effect that vastly improves accuracy.
And, bonus, there isn’t a ton of lead dust in every tin I’ve broken into, which means you’re not paying extra for dirty pellets.
The Stats
This H&N product is one of the most consistent tins of pellets out there.
When I looked through my tin of 200, there was only about a 2% variation in both weight and length. Most pellets came in very close to 8.66 mm in length.
Consistency is a great advantage because you don’t have to worry about if one pellet’s going to hit bullseye in practice and then the next veers way off course when you’re actually trying to make a killshot.
Every time I’ve taken this pellet out in the field, I’ve made my shots with quarter inch groupings or less at 50 yards.
I’ve even made kill shots on squirrels out past 125 yards thanks to the extra weight of the Baracuda Match.
The stats I’ve tallied up with this pellet don’t lie: Its weight and design give the Baracuda Match the advantage in accurate and consistent shooting.
The Shot
Perfect for longer-range air rifle hunting, this pellet hits prey hard, giving you a through and through kill nearly every time.
This means less time picking lead out of your dinner and more time coming up with new ways to bring down the quick little boogers.
Once you’ve called in your squirrels (try calling them in by rubbing a couple of coins together—seriously, it sounds just like two squirrels chattering!), just line up your shot and the Baracuda will do the rest.
One of my favorite features of this pellet is the larger (5.53 mm) head that expands on impact and takes the target down quicker.
Is the H&N Baracuda Match worth it?
So, if you’ve got squirrel on the menu tonight, the H&N Baracuda Match is the best choice for you.
Here’s why. It’s:
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Powerful
And, be sure to pick up a few containers at a time. If you’re like me, you’ll love these pellets so much, you’ll burn through them in a breeze!
3. H&N Hornet Pointed: Best for Raccoons
H&N’s Hornet Pointed pellets aim for vicious penetration and rock-solid stopping power.
They have high claims that the Hornets are the supreme pellet for small to medium game hunting.
Are they worth the hefty price tag?
Let’s take a dive into the H&N Hornet Pointed pellets.
Construction
H&N has a history with quality construction so it comes as no surprise that the Hornet Pointed rounds have an above-average construction.
For most of their products I have nothing but good things to say about their build quality, but there is a formidable issue with the Hornet Pointed pellets; we’ll get to that in a second.
The Hornets build is primarily lead, like most other pellets on the market, unpolished lead specifically, meaning the material may seem a little bit more “dingy” than the packaging and advertising pictures suggest, but this is nitpicking and really a non-issue.
The shape is typical of hollow point pellets with a stylish exception, a pointed, real brass tip.
Don’t go crazy with hype just yet because there is one minor issue to keep an eye out for.
On a few occasions, I had some shots go way off-target. I had no idea what was going on until I saw a small speck of brass fly of the side while the lead portion of the pellet flew out into the distance.
Everyone should keep in mind that this was very rare, maybe two duds per tin, not excessive, but worth noting.
Everything else seems to be in order, the lead is, well, lead and the brass tip does its job of assisting in penetrating effectively.
I really do like the construction of the pellets, they feel solid and are super effective while hunting, but those 2-3 duds made me feel critically wary with how high the price was for these pellets.
Accuracy and Practicality
Saying I was impressed with the accuracy is a severe understatement. Dumbfounded more accurately describes my emphatic reaction to the groups I was hitting.
On a paper target, I was shooting at less than a quarter-inch group at 35 yards. Pellets were just smacking one on top of the other, mag after mag after mag.
H&N went hard on their claims of accuracy; master craftsmanship and careful design really made these pellets live up to the hype. I’d personally never used a pellet that was quite as accurate as the Hornets.
Accuracy is the name of the game in hunting and the H&N Hornet Pointed pellets have that in spades.
I’m addition, these pellets are a great choice for hunting small to medium animals, or just pest control if you want to go a little overkill on garden pests.
The Hornet will blow a hole clean through most small game and have a good chance to one-shot drop medium game. I was even able to bag a small pig with a well-placed headshot.
Do keep in mind that you probably don’t want to use this in suburban areas, or if you live relatively close to someone because that brass point is effective.
Your neighbors will not appreciate pellets embedded into their siding or cracks in their windows if you whiff a shot or just shoot through something.
Otherwise, you’ll be stacking pests left and right. These pellets are both extremely effective and accurate.
There is a major downside though, and that’s the price
Price
A tin of 200 pellets is gonna put you out 27 bucks.
Now if you’re new to pellet guns, this does not seem like a significant amount, but in the airgun arena, this is a lot more than most are expecting.
To be clear, you can get similar, not identical, results with cheaper alternatives.
I’m a pretty frugal dude so I like going a little cheaper. I’d also seriously discourage anybody from using the Hornets for plinking.
If you’re going to drop that amount of cash on 200 pellets, use them for actual hunting.
Are the H&N Hornet Pointed Pellets worth it?
It’s tough to decide really.
I’d love to say these are an insta-buy because I absolutely love these pellets, but the price is just a little bit high for a full recommendation.
If you’ve got 27 dollars to blow through, pick these guys up; you’ll have a great time.
If you’ve got some real problem animals, pick the H&N Hornet Pointed pellets up to make sure the job gets done right. But if you can’t just drop $27 on 200 pellets, look into cheaper projectiles with similar performance.
- Excellent for hunting/ Maximum piercing power
- Content: 225 air gun pellets
- Pellet Caliber/Weight: .177 / 9.6 Grains
4. Crosman LHP22 Hollow Points: Best for the Budget
The Crosman Premier LHP22 Hollow Points are the best budget .22 hunting pellets.
They’re accurate, reliable, and available at a price that just cannot be beaten.
How do the LHP22 Hollow Points measure up to other, more expensive pellets?
Let’s find out!
Accuracy
The LHP22s have given me the best accuracy out of any .22 pellets I’ve tried, in every airgun I’ve tried them in.
Crosman Premier is known for its precision tooling, ensuring all pellets are uniform for consistent, dependable accuracy.
These pellets are very accurate at medium-range distances. From 30 yards, my average grouping was just over 0.5”! And most of the time, my 5-shot groups were nearly touching.
It’s important to remember that pellets can be very weapon dependent, so it’s best to shop around and see what works best for you.
I will say, however, that the LHP22s have worked very well in all the airguns I’ve tried them in, matching the accuracy of other more expensive pellets.
Shape and Quality
It’s a bit odd that Crosman calls these pellets “hollow points,” considering they just have a small dimple in the front.
Additionally, the lead they’re made from is much harder than most other top name brands, too hard to fully expand at any speed that can be generated by an air rifle.
A softer mixture would undoubtedly help pellet expansion, but they still shoot fine and get the job done.
Reliability
All pellets in the tin arrived as expected. No dents, skirt deformations, or casting flaws at all.
They’re very well-made, and it helps that the pellets are packed tightly into the tin so they don’t have room to roll around and deform.
These are high-quality pellets made with Crosman Premier’s proven precision. I’ve had no problems with loading, feeding, or firing. They’re especially reliable at medium ranges between 10-30 yards.
Velocity
For lighter-weight hollow points, the LHP22s hit pretty hard!
My average measured velocity across all airguns was just under 800 FPS, and they cut clean through tin cans from 50 feet away.
Thanks to Crosman Premier’s high-quality design, these pellets give you fantastic long-range penetration that’s ideal for small game hunting and pest control.
They’re also relatively resistant to wind drift. They start to drift around 20 yards and begin to fall off past 30 yards, but this is predictable.
With practice, it is possible to figure out the hold-overs needed to hit past 50 yards offhand.
Size
The average head diameter of the LHP22 pellets is 5.5mm, and the average length is 6.62mm.
They weigh 14.3 grains, which is just heavy enough for effective small game hunting without bogging down your gun.
Price
A tin of 500 will run you anywhere from $6 – $13. Even at $12.99 per tin, the highest price I’ve seen, that’s less than 3 cents per pellet.
These pellets are widely available, both online and in person. This, along with the remarkably low price, makes them a great value.
They’re ideal for hunting, but also an excellent choice for practicing your marksmanship!
Recommendations
Crosman Premier LHP22 Hollow Points are a great choice for general-purpose pellets.
They’ve become my go-to .22 pellets, not just for small game hunting and pest control, but also for training purposes!
If you’re a novice shooter or have a youngster you’re trying to teach about gun safety and target shooting, the LHP22s are a perfect choice.
They’re cheap, accurate, and reliable. I’d recommend them to anyone.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my best holsters for running guide.
So as a recap:
In case you’re searching for the most precise .22 pellets, get the JSB Exact Match Jumbo Beast Diabolo.
- HEAVY HITTING: Pellets pack a wallop! This pellet’s hollow point design, along with its extremely high ballistic coefficient, means less drag and more energy delivery at the target.
- INCREDIBLY ACCURATE: Pellet is an intermediate weight, round nose pellet that will deliver improved flight stabilization and fine accuracy.
- PERFECT FOR HUNTING: If you have a powerful air rifle then this is the only pellet for you! This is our best selling .22 caliber pellet. Why? It performs! A truly no fail hunting pellet.
Or if you are looking for accuracy, consistency, and power, I would recommend the H&N Baracuda Match.
But what if you would like to go raccoon hunting? Then the H&N’s Hornet Pointed is what you are looking for.
- Excellent for hunting/ Maximum piercing power
- Content: 225 air gun pellets
- Pellet Caliber/Weight: .177 / 9.6 Grains
Lastly, if you simply want the most reliable and affordable pellets, I’d highly recommend the Crosman Premier LHP22 Hollow Points.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
Which one will you pick for your holster?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
Thank you for the information. With so many choices in the market, and so many factors that affect accuracy, this is a great place to start. I ordered the Crossmans and put the others on my Amazon list.
I think the .22 premier hollow points should have been on the that list
In the MidWest, USA. I had squirrels invade my house several years ago. Tried all kinds of repellants. Decided: to take ‘Direct Action’. I obtained both ethe .177 & .22 American Classic Crosman Pump Pistols. I’ve tried several different Pellets. Squirrels are extremely resilient. And these Pistols are not too accurate. Type of pellet makes a hugh difference. I’ve tried the Domed, Pointed, fake ballistic red tips (Worse for accuracy. Tip merely collapses.) The Crosman alloy is too stiff for any expansion in their Hallow Points, and Piranha. They shoot through their torso. Unless a lucky ‘Head Shot’ or, Heart & Lung shot, (any pellet will suffice.)
The most effective pellets I’ve discovered for these Pests are the: Crosman “DESTROYERS” In = .177. And the: H&N “TERMINATOR”S in .22. (They won’t be coming back!) They produce knock down shock, and do not ‘shoot through’. Just took out 3 confirmed @ 30 paces out of walnut tree crouch over past 3 days….