Cartridge portrait: RWS FIELD LINE, the versatile outdoor ammunition line for air and rimfire guns

The brand acronym RWS has been familiar to almost all sport and leisure shooters and hunters for so long that most of them probably have to think about the origin and meaning of these three letters first. We explain: they are backed by almost 170 years of experience in the development and manufacture of ammunition, bullets, primers and reloading components. The origins date back to 1856, when Heinrich Uttendoerffer began making primers in his Nuremberg laboratory, in Germany. Three decades later, his laboratory was taken over by Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff-Fabriken, founded in Cologne in 1886, which in turn merged with the Fürth-based Dynamit Actien-Gesellschaft (DAG) and formerly Alfred Nobel & Co. in 1931. Nevertheless, RWS remained an independent brand that has established itself worldwide to this day. The manufacturing of ammunition continues to take place in Fürth and the surrounding area. This is also where the rimfire cartridges and air rifle pellets come from. Incidentally, RWS has been part of Beretta Holding since 2022.

RWS offers its rimfire and air gun ammunition in four different product lines, of which we present the FIELD LINE in detail here:

• PREMIUM LINE: Designed for competitive sports at the highest level, from biathlon to Olympic rimfire and compressed air shooting (rifle and pistol) to the trend Long Range rimfire shooting discipline
  
• PROFESSIONAL LINE: High-performance cartridges and air rifle pellets for competition and training
• SPORT LINE: Solid practice cartridges and diabolos for price-conscious shooters
• FIELD LINE: All rimfire cartridges and air rifle pellets for special applications. We present these products to you in detail in this article. The current RWS ammunition catalogue with 260 pages and QR codes for all prices (RRP) can be downloaded here as a flip page version.
  

RWS FIELD LINE rimfire – From .22 Long Rifle, also as HIGH VELOCITY, Z LANG or SUBSONIC, up to .22 Winchester Magnum

Hunting with rimfire cartridges is possible in some countries, but is heavily regulated by law. Hunters around the world appreciate the quality and performance of RWS ammunition and also use these cartridges for hunting or "pest control". Whether for low-noise shooting in trap hunting or for hide hunting and even for pest control, the ammunition types in the RWS FIELD LINE rimfire range play to their strengths being designed for special applications. The caliber is always .22, i.e. 5.6 mm, and is always from a rimfire cartridge. The respective task and suitability of each cartridge is shown in the immediately recognisable pictograms on the cardboard boxes:

RWS SUBSONIC HP: For low-noise shooting, the bullet consistently remains subsonic. Hollow point for hunting small game and rodents. Lead bullet: 2.6 grams, V0 315 m/s (from a 65-cm barrel).

RWS Z LANG: Especially for short ranges and indoor settings, quiet and gentle discharge. Lead bullet: 1.9 grams, V0 235 m/s (from a 65-cm barrel).

RWS HIGH VELOCITY: Copper-plated lead bullet for small game hunting. Excellent effect and penetration thanks to the 40 m/s of added velocity compared to the normal .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Suitable for rifles or insert barrels. Lead bullet: 2.6 grams, V0 385 m/s (from a 65-cm barrel).

RWS HIGH VELOCITY HP: Enhanced effect and expansion thanks to the copper-plated hollow point lead bullet for small game and rodents. Lead bullet: 2.6 grams, V0 385 m/s (from a 65-cm barrel).

RWS .22 MAGNUM FMJ: In .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR). The high velocity is the reason for a very high energy output and superior penetration in the target. Full jacket with lead bullet, 2.6 g, V0 595 m/s (barrel length: 60 cm)

RWS .22 MAGNUM SP: As above, but with hollow point bullet. Partially jacketed lead bullet, 2.6 g, V0 595 m/s (barrel length: 60 cm)

As always with ammunition, the prices also depend on the quantities sold.

RWS FIELD LINE air rifle pellets – Specially designed lead pellets for field target, silhouette shooting and hunting

The classic "diabolo" lead air rifle pellets may punch the best circular holes on paper targets at a distance of ten metres. At further distances, especially outdoors in wind and weather, other criteria count. If you are aiming at steel silhouettes, as is the case with silhouette shooting or field target shooting, you need pellets that do not dissipate their energy too quickly due to excessive air resistance (e.g. due to a flat front nose). At the same time, they must not generate unnecessary friction in the barrel, which also costs energy. This requires sophisticated special shapes for the projectiles, which are all made of lead in the types presented. Hollow points, a conical bullet tip or steel pellets can be used to further enhance the aiming accuracy.

Brand new in the RWS catalog, the two types SUPER FIELD ULTRA HEAVY and POWER LONG RANGE have been specially developed for high-performance air rifles with 40 joules and more. The new design of the POWER LONG RANGE in particular creates ideal conditions for consistently high accuracy with low air resistance at all times. It is therefore ideal for shooting at longer ranges. The SUPER FIELD ULTRA HEAVY with round-nose diabolo shape offers a stable trajectory even in crosswinds. It can be used for universal hunting scenarios as well as for field target shooting. The RWS SUPER FIELD is available in both 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm with different head diameters (4.51 and 4.52 mm or 5.51 and 5.52 mm), as some air rifle manufacturers use slightly "wider" barrels than the standard caliber. This makes it possible to compensate for such differences, as has long been the case with premium diabolos in the Olympic field.

The characteristics and application areas of all air rifle pellets in the RWS FIELD LINE

• RWS POWER LONG RANGE: Consistently high accuracy with low air resistance. It is therefore ideal for shooting at longer ranges. Suitable from 50 metres and from 40-joule rifles!
• RWS SUPER FIELD HEAVY EXTRA: With round-nose diabolo shape, offers a stable trajectory even in crosswinds, can be used for universal hunting scenarios as well as for field target shooting. Recommended from 40 joules!
• RWS SUPER FIELD: Available with different head diameters, see table below. Especially suitable for compressed air rifles. This heavy air rifle pellet with round nose is also impressive at medium to long shooting ranges.
• RWS SUPERDOME: English bulldog shape with a round nose and a noticeably grooved tail. It is ideally suited for hunting scenarios at medium ranges.
• RWS SUPERPOINT EXTRA: High penetration power and depth thanks to its conical shape. It also brings the necessary accuracy thanks to the optimised weight distribution
• RWS SUPER H-POINT: Hollow point diabolo, characterised by high deformation and penetration capability.
• RWS SUPERMAG: Extra heavy with significantly heavier weight, particularly suitable for shooting from powerful air rifles at medium ranges.
• RWS POWER PIERCING: Smooth hollow-point air gun pellet with an extremely pointed lead tip.
• RWS POWER BALL: lead bullet with integrated steel ball at the tip.
• RWS POWER BOLT: Super-heavy air gun pellet for pest control at medium ranges.
• RWS HYPERMAX:  25-30% higher velocity, outstanding performance and high accuracy. As tin pellets, they are absolutely lead-free and therefore environmentally friendly.
• RWS HYPERDOME: Lightweight high-speed tin pellets with high penetration performance.

Product overview and technical data of the leaded and lead-free RWS FIELD LINE air rifle pellets

Information and links to the products of the RWS FIELD LINE:

Overview with performance data and further information on all rimfire loads in the RWS FIELD LINE.

Further information on the air rifle pellets in the RWS FIELD LINE.