JSB and Air Arms pellet comparison

[nervoustrigger]

Guys, firstly let me say last night I posted this little comparison to a thread that had pretty much run its course, and whose subject was about something else (the conversation wandered).  So I'm posting it in the pellet review gate with a a proper subject line.

It deals with a topic that comes up from time to time about JSB and Air Arms pellets.  Sometimes it is said that the pellets are the same, and frankly it's pretty easy to make that mistake.  They are indeed very similar, and apparently JSB manufactures the Air Arms pellets with AA-specific dies.

Who cares, you ask?  Well it seems that many serious shooters do.  JSB consistently makes some of the best pellets available to the common man, and the AA equivalents tend to cost less (25% less in the case of the 10.3gr at Pyramyd) and may even have more desirable properties.  So here we go.

Pictured below are comparisons of the 8.4gr and 10.3gr weights.  I don't have any of the AA 7.3gr or I would have included those as well.  If you're wondering about the freshness of this data, all 4 tins were purchased from Pyramyd Air within the last 4 months.

Both sizes have differences that make it apparent they are made in separate dies.  Most noticeably, the dimples that form the skirts differ; interestingly enough the geometry flips between the two weights (see photos).  Also, the 10.3gr have slightly different domes and overall lengths.

In my tins, all four sizes have undersized heads.  JSB moreso than Air Arms.  Perhaps that is why my son's QB79 seems to prefer the AA, and given the cost difference I'll gladly take the AA!

[Motorhead]

Had read over the years ... Tho AA pellets are manufactured under JSB's roof .... they were done with proprietary dies owed by AA.

If true or not is debatable

[Rico14]

I've read somewhere that the composition of the two pellets is different also. Less components in the AA pellets, thus they are cheaper.

[SciGuy]

AA are made by JSB, but as Jason has perfectly demonstrated are not the same as JSB Exacts. I have had guns that would shoot both the same.  My current TX slightly but noticeable prefers the AA 8.4.  Another nice thing is that as of my last shipment about a month ago, the AA pellets stil have a lot number on them while the JSB Exacts have done away with lot or manufacture date.