gunboi Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hi, just wondering what everyone opinion is of what calibre is best for hunting , is it .177 or .22 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) Accuracy is more important than calibre, a hole of any size in the right place kills just the same , it takes a little more practice to shoot .22 accurately thyougth which is why 177 is popular these days , I myself prefer 177 Edited January 18, 2016 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Accuracy is more important than calibre, a hole of any size in the right place kills just the same , it takes a little more practice to shoot .22 accurately thyougth which is why 177 is popular these days , I myself prefer 177 On the flip side if you can hit It the .22 will offer a bit more 'knock down' power. That said if you hit it in the kill zone it'll be dead anyway.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 So does a .25 have more "knockdown power"? What is best for not knocking down stuff? Does it not matter if they have all the same energy figure? Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Depends what you can hit the target with, I find an 11 grain .177 pellet is faster moving, has a flatter flight and imparts as much energy as a 14.3 grain .22 pellet! Makes it an ideal night vision calibre! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) So does a .25 have more "knockdown power"? What is best for not knocking down stuff? Does it not matter if they have all the same energy figure? Lol Larger (heavier) calibres retain more energy down range so even even if they leave the muzzle at the same energy, the larger calibre pellet will have more energy at 30 yards - not much more, but there is a difference. It's something to do with air resistance coefficients, momentum and other physicsy things. Edit: having said that, I use .177 as I prefer the trajectory and extra 5-7 yards that allows over .22. I don't shoot in barns or do much in the way of close range rat shooting so each have their uses. Edited January 18, 2016 by FalconFN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Are we sure of that! I mean, we have a smaller pellet frontal area wise than the larger but the weight of the larger is only a tiny amount more than the lesser that in which is traveling faster than the larger. Could it not be the larger is actually going to slow down faster than the lesser? What are the average coefficients betwixt 22&177? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Are we sure of that! I mean, we have a smaller pellet frontal area wise than the larger but the weight of the larger is only a tiny amount more than the lesser that in which is traveling faster than the larger. Could it not be the larger is actually going to slow down faster than the lesser? What are the average coefficients betwixt 22&177? I am also confused as surely to retain energy something also has to retain speed and given at 12ft / lb the smaller calibre is going around 200 fps more I would have though it may retain more energy , it also has a smaller surface area which should also slow it less than the larger 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Think of air as water , which would travel through the water fastest propelled by the same power, small frontal area , or larger frontal area? Which would slow down the fastest ? In the water is a jelly, they both impact the jelly at exactly the same distance from point of launch. Which would penetrate the jelly furthest? Faster Small frontal area, slower larger frontal area.? Change the jelly for a plank. Which would transfer the most energy to the plank ? (so many variables now available). projectile material , etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 there has been thousands of debates on this but honestly you get 5 yards extra trajectory out of a 177 and a 22 kills better with a shot just off the brain or heart. .20 works pretty good I used one for a fair while .25 is a better killer than .22 if trajectory aint an issue just consider you will do best with just one airgun and learning to use it well. learn your trajectory and ranges and how to allow for wind then go hunting oh don't go 177 at FAC levels their is no real point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Are we sure of that! I mean, we have a smaller pellet frontal area wise than the larger but the weight of the larger is only a tiny amount more than the lesser that in which is traveling faster than the larger. Could it not be the larger is actually going to slow down faster than the lesser? What are the average coefficients betwixt 22&177? Yes, it is definitely true although may not have the reason why quite correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 i would say this has to be the most debated subject in air gun shooting and there is still no agreed answer for my pennies worth i would say both are very capable i prefer .177 why because that's what my dad brought me 47 years ago when i started and no other reason really colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 So does a .25 have more "knockdown power"? What is best for not knocking down stuff? Does it not matter if they have all the same energy figure? Lol Would you rather me swing a claw hammer or a sledge hammer at the same speed? Bit extreme, as i pointed out if it hits the kill zone its dead anyway :L my opinion(some may disagree) if you have a .177 shooting 700fps and a .22 at 700fps the .22 will do more damage. The .22 also hits the target and dumps all the energy so the pellet will mushroom out and cause more damage. The .177 will not mushroom as much due to the smaller caliber there for not doing as much damage. If I were to get another air rifle it WOULD be a .177 due to the slightly longer range and a headshot between eyes and ears is a killshot with what ever you hit it with wether its .177, .20, .22 or a .25. Again just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Would you rather me swing a claw hammer or a sledge hammer at the same speed? Bit extreme, as i pointed out if it hits the kill zone its dead anyway :L my opinion(some may disagree) if you have a .177 shooting 700fps and a .22 at 700fps the .22 will do more damage. The .22 also hits the target and dumps all the energy so the pellet will mushroom out and cause more damage. The .177 will not mushroom as much due to the smaller caliber there for not doing as much damage. If I were to get another air rifle it WOULD be a .177 due to the slightly longer range and a headshot between eyes and ears is a killshot with what ever you hit it with wether its .177, .20, .22 or a .25. Again just my opinion Would you rather me swing a claw hammer or a sledge hammer at the same speed? Bit extreme, as i pointed out if it hits the kill zone its dead anyway :L my opinion(some may disagree) if you have a .177 shooting 700fps and a .22 at 700fps the .22 will do more damage. The .22 also hits the target and dumps all the energy so the pellet will mushroom out and cause more damage. The .177 will not mushroom as much due to the smaller caliber there for not doing as much damage. If I were to get another air rifle it WOULD be a .177 due to the slightly longer range and a headshot between eyes and ears is a killshot with what ever you hit it with wether its .177, .20, .22 or a .25. Again just my opinion Yes but if the rifles are putting out the same ft / lb the two pellets will not be going at the same speed so its not quite that cut and dried . As said above this has been argued for years , my belief is that people should be more concerned with putting the pellet in the right place rather than hoping a bigger one will cause enough damage in the wrong one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes but if the rifles are putting out the same ft / lb the two pellets will not be going at the same speed so its not quite that cut and dried . As said above this has been argued for years , my belief is that people should be more concerned with putting the pellet in the right place rather than hoping a bigger one will cause enough damage in the wrong one. Agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunboi Posted January 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 valid points on both sides , thank you , think it is just personal preference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 valid points on both sides , thank you , think it is just personal preference Spot on , I have used both over the years and personally prefer 177 as I find it easier to shoot accurately rather than the fact it kills any better than .22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes but if the rifles are putting out the same ft / lb the two pellets will not be going at the same speed so its not quite that cut and dried . As said above this has been argued for years , my belief is that people should be more concerned with putting the pellet in the right place rather than hoping a bigger one will cause enough damage in the wrong one. Exactly right. The down range energy thing is a factor to take into account, but that small extra energy is neither here nor there and if the pellet is in the right place. But for the record, the energy difference is due to the exponential increase in air resistance as speed increases, in the same way a car can go 120 mph with, say,120 bhp, but for it to punch a bigger hole in the air and go 200 mph it would need vastly more than 200 bhp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 valid points on both sides , thank you , think it is just personal preference As fenboy says, a .177 rifle is easier to use in the field as the trajectory is flatter and so more forgiving when guessing range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 .20 cal if you ask me 😤 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 to save any arguments,,, just get a rimmie :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 to save any arguments,,, just get a rimmie :lol: 17hmr? 22 LR? 22 wmr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainman_l Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 17hmr? 22 LR? 22 wmr? Ha ha love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I believe .22 is easier to cock and recoils slightly less with a spring gun or you get more shots per refill with a .22 numatic that said I have no preference both do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 At sub 12 ft lbs the 177, zero at 25 yards and you are good till mid 30s from memory. At FAC its the velocity really that makes things nice and flat, 20 is a lovely caliber running at about 18/20 ft lbs, so sub sonic. However placement is key as always with the limited power that you have at your disposal. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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