Wadcutter pellets perform best within a relatively short range. They are specifically designed for 10 meter shooting. It is for such shooting that R 10 Match pellets and similar match pellets are designed; they are very accurate and are available in a range of head sizes -- e.g. 4.50, 4.51, 4.52 etc. Incidentally, that's why they are called R 10 pellets by RWS, the maker, because they're designed for 10 meter shooting. Major pellet manufacturers such as RWS, H&N, and JSB all make pellets for 10 meter shooting and all are wadcutters because they maintain their accuracy to at least 10 meters and punch a clean round hole to help facilitate scoring.
As noted above, round nose pellets maintain their accuracy at longer ranges. Makers of quality round nose pellets make them available in a variety of head sizes as well. You have to test your air rifle (or air pistol) to find which head size shoots best. Choice of the right pellet matters a great deal for airgun accuracy. High power airguns that shoot pellets too fast (the figures cited above by GerardSamija are on the money) cause the pellets to experience transonic turbulence. This occurs when a pellet (or other projectile) crosses the sonic threshold, which it will do relatively quickly because of a pellet's ballistics. Pellets are somewhat like badminton birdies in that they accelerate to top speed very quickly but also slow down very quickly; they do not hold their energy well. This is especially true of lighter pellets.
Airgun shooters should also remember that when the box the gun comes in says "1200 fps" or "1400 fps" these high figures are almost always achieved by using light alloy pellets. Such pellets are fast for a very short time and are terribly inaccurate. Don't waste money on alloy pellets. In practice, the more powerful an air rifle is, the heavier the pellet used should be. The pellet should not exceed the mid-900 fps range to have a fighting chance of being accurate. Shooters should also remember that when using a springer, a stiff hold often does not yield the best accuracy. You can't hold it like a .22LR because the heavy two-way recoil of the spring piston requires some "give" in the hold.
As noted above, round nose pellets maintain their accuracy at longer ranges. Makers of quality round nose pellets make them available in a variety of head sizes as well. You have to test your air rifle (or air pistol) to find which head size shoots best. Choice of the right pellet matters a great deal for airgun accuracy. High power airguns that shoot pellets too fast (the figures cited above by GerardSamija are on the money) cause the pellets to experience transonic turbulence. This occurs when a pellet (or other projectile) crosses the sonic threshold, which it will do relatively quickly because of a pellet's ballistics. Pellets are somewhat like badminton birdies in that they accelerate to top speed very quickly but also slow down very quickly; they do not hold their energy well. This is especially true of lighter pellets.
Airgun shooters should also remember that when the box the gun comes in says "1200 fps" or "1400 fps" these high figures are almost always achieved by using light alloy pellets. Such pellets are fast for a very short time and are terribly inaccurate. Don't waste money on alloy pellets. In practice, the more powerful an air rifle is, the heavier the pellet used should be. The pellet should not exceed the mid-900 fps range to have a fighting chance of being accurate. Shooters should also remember that when using a springer, a stiff hold often does not yield the best accuracy. You can't hold it like a .22LR because the heavy two-way recoil of the spring piston requires some "give" in the hold.
