zipdog Posted September 22, 2020 Report Share Posted September 22, 2020 If you had asked this question a few years ago 22 would have come out on top, now 177 is in fashion. I shot a 22 for years. Have just changed a bought a Hw 97 in 177. There’s nothing in the calibre’s. I have shot one rabbit at 45 yards and one squirrel shooting very fast which I think I may have missed with the 22. But I have also had a few slightly off neck shots which, while the rabbit hasn’t run, it wasn’t instantly killed. I think the 22 would have done the job tbh. I also miss the reassuring thump when the 22 strikes home, you don’t get that with the 177. I don’t regret the 177 but must say i am slightly disappointed as it doesn’t live up to the hype that some give off about it. Calibre won’t be a deciding factor for me when choosing a new gun in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatex Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 I read somewhere once that .177 can travel through the target easier often without causing too much damage whereas a .22 tends not to travel through as much causing a quicker kill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 I believe the exact opposite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 From what I have seen folks accuracy will make far more difference than whether they are using this calibre or that calibre. Pick any one rifle and practise hard until you know all the holdovers/unders and windages for one type of ammo and the ranges at which you can consistently repeat to ensure a humane kill - then keep practising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 Thing is though .when taking about pellet penetration depth there are so many factors to consider that the actual calibre is almost irrelevant . Just a small sample of factors to consider before the cal Weight .shape .length . Head style .skirt style . Composition .bc. cd. Velocity .range . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 Stu I think that you are getting ahead of yourself with your enthusiasm for all things air rifle in regards to the question asked in this post. Whichever calibre you well know that finding the right ammo is a process that has to be followed to match the individual barrel and that there are plenty of good pellets out there for all calibres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted September 23, 2020 Report Share Posted September 23, 2020 .177 about 8-8.5 grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaman Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 Both calls will do the same . Just get to know your set up , gun , scope , pellets and exactly what your capable of . One cal will not hit harder than the other in sub 12 ..... hit a rabbit , pigeon, rat , squirrel , crow , magpie in the right place , it’s dead , even if it passes through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 On 22/09/2020 at 18:32, bruno22rf said: I think we should go further and discuss the, so far, unmentioned ROS (rate of spin) or RPM to simplify - surly a higher RPM in .22 would negate any advantage over the diminutive .177 due to the Gyroscopic effect? The twist rate of your barrel, I'm guessing, is a conversation you have yet to have with your local RFD when buying a Puffgun. Only kidding - but I wouldn't mind a squid for every time this debate has been aired. The correct answer IMHO is either calibre but not both - use one gun and learn to shoot it. How many guns have you got 🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 I’ve been trying the JSB Hades in .22. Found they work excellently in both sub 12 and FAC. They certainly have great terminal effect on Squirrels using the sub 12. for head shots. With the FAC I still like heart and lung. They don’t punch straight through and loose all their energy very quickly to good effect. I still prefer the Rimfire for anything over 50m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Fisheruk said: I’ve been trying the JSB Hades in .22. Found they work excellently in both sub 12 and FAC. They certainly have great terminal effect on Squirrels using the sub 12. for head shots. With the FAC I still like heart and lung. They don’t punch straight through and loose all their energy very quickly to good effect. I still prefer the Rimfire for anything over 50m had this convo with local gun shop the hades definitely don’t expand but they do something what it is no idea but they go down like you hit them with a brick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted September 24, 2020 Report Share Posted September 24, 2020 (edited) On 23/09/2020 at 09:54, supatex said: I read somewhere once that .177 can travel through the target easier often without causing too much damage whereas a .22 tends not to travel through as much causing a quicker kill Funny you should say that. I watch a tv show about a retired usa police officer called Homicide Hunter. He said that when he went to a case if the calibre used was small, it was nearly always fatal. The bigger faster calibre's tended to punch a hole straight through which was more survivable. Smaller low velocity rounds like the 22 lr and 25 cal pistol lost velocity too quick and tended to rattle around inside, as he called it ‘were in for the grant tour’. Edited September 24, 2020 by zipdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted September 26, 2020 Report Share Posted September 26, 2020 The Homicide Hunter would only be attending fatalities! Hench his title. Most small calibre 'homicides' are mutiple shots at point blank range to the brain which does not make for a healthy outcome. I don't think a .45acp to the brain would be good for you either. Yet again it comes back to shot placement, the key to clean kills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 26, 2020 Report Share Posted September 26, 2020 On 24/09/2020 at 22:00, Mice! said: How many guns have you got 🤣🤣 Mice! You are definitely heading towards being scrubbed from my Glittery Christmas Card list. I only have 2 Airguns and one is just for nostalgia really - 10 shotguns that all shoot pretty much the same and 2 RF Rifles - the .22lr rarely gets used and the .17 isn't really fussy what stands in it's way nor how far away it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 26, 2020 Report Share Posted September 26, 2020 31 minutes ago, bruno22rf said: Mice! You are definitely heading towards being scrubbed from my Glittery Christmas Card list. I only have 2 Airguns and one is just for nostalgia really - 10 shotguns that all shoot pretty much the same and 2 RF Rifles - the .22lr rarely gets used and the .17 isn't really fussy what stands in it's way nor how far away it is! 😄😄😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted September 26, 2020 Report Share Posted September 26, 2020 Whats a Rabbit? That long since I have seen one! I have .177 sub 12 , and a .22 FAC . The FAC is set to the same speed and zero'd at the same range as the .177, using 14.5 JSB Exacts. Just like , my crossbow bolts, shot from the same crossbow (Excalibur Matrix) , the larger diameter diameter bolts penetrate the same 3D Target, less than the thinner bolts. As previously said , Its shot placement that is the most important thing . You always have the option 'not ' to shoot unless your certain, and I mean absolutely certain , one shot= one kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted October 18, 2020 Report Share Posted October 18, 2020 General thinking was .177 for feather .22 for fur always thought that was wrong way round Myself 100% .177 for rabbits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balotelli Posted October 19, 2020 Report Share Posted October 19, 2020 I can't really add a great deal to this debate. I have both both calibres and from my experience, both do a great job. I wouldn't choose one over the other. Decent scope and pellet and the result seems to be pretty much the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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