steve_b_wales Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Purely for rat shooting at ranges no more that 20 yards, what would be the best calibre? I've got a standard ..22 and a FAC one but thinking of getting a .177. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 (edited) Can of worms definitely opened with this one! I would get a .177 just because you can and then Go out with all three and test them out to see what suits YOU best for your scenario’s. I have .22 in bsar10 huma regulated flavour and an Hatsan factor .177 (both sub12) I’ve used them both for rats with the same level of success, they both kill humanely so can’t ask for more. I wouldn’t choose between the two I just take whichever i fancy at the time. If I was forced to choose it’d be the .177 BUT, that is purely based on the shot capacity without having to reload mags. The .177 has two mags with I believe 24 shots in each whereas the .22 only have one mag and it’s either 10 or 12 shots. So, in the dark 48 shots with minimal faf wins none of that helps with your question but as I said, a can of worms was opened 🤣👍🏻 Edited January 5 by Spr1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 28 minutes ago, Spr1985 said: Can of worms definitely opened with this one! I would get a .177 just because you can and then Go out with all three and test them out to see what suits YOU best for your scenario’s. I have .22 in bsar10 huma regulated flavour and an Hatsan factor .177 (both sub12) I’ve used them both for rats with the same level of success, they both kill humanely so can’t ask for more. I wouldn’t choose between the two I just take whichever i fancy at the time. If I was forced to choose it’d be the .177 BUT, that is purely based on the shot capacity without having to reload mags. The .177 has two mags with I believe 24 shots in each whereas the .22 only have one mag and it’s either 10 or 12 shots. So, in the dark 48 shots with minimal faf wins none of that helps with your question but as I said, a can of worms was opened 🤣👍🏻 Yes, I agree - can of worms. Of all the air rifles I've ever owned, I have never had a .177. I did own a .177 air pistol and the famous 'GAT' .177 as a youngster I've used my .22FAC on rats and it's smashed them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkin Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I think .22 is best for Rats and squirrels as it packs more punch, but I must admit it is a can of worms😂😂😂👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 They always say .22 for feather and .177 for fur…..or is it the other way round! 😄 At those ranges I’d go for .177, any excuse to add to the armoury. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 13 minutes ago, Morkin said: I think .22 is best for Rats and squirrels as it packs more punch, but I must admit it is a can of worms😂😂😂👍 Yes, the .22 has a lot of 'punch' which I prefer. 5 minutes ago, Scully said: They always say .22 for feather and .177 for fur…..or is it the other way round! 😄 At those ranges I’d go for .177, any excuse to add to the armoury. 👍 Yes, that's true. I'm sure I can fit it into one of my four cabinets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I shoot the odd rat on the bird table at a measured 9 metres using .177,,,, they don't get up and complain that it wasn't a .22 😆😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 1 hour ago, steve_b_wales said: I've got a standard ..22 and a FAC one but thinking of getting a .177. Either is perfectly adequate but if you are looking for an excuse for a new gun......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Your FAC .22 will have broadly the same trajectory as a .177 12ftlb. I can't see you gaining anything from acquiring a similar end result tool. If it was which shall I get to start I'd say either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 9 minutes ago, 39TDS said: Either is perfectly adequate but if you are looking for an excuse for a new gun......... Me, an excuse for a new gun? 9 minutes ago, Dave-G said: Your FAC .22 will have broadly the same trajectory as a .177 12ftlb. I can't see you gaining anything from acquiring a similar end result tool. If it was which shall I get to start I'd say either. I did consider that to be honest, and it certainly hits them hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 1 hour ago, steve_b_wales said: Purely for rat shooting at ranges no more that 20 yards, what would be the best calibre? I've got a standard ..22 and a FAC one but thinking of getting a .177. Yep you definitely need the .177 🙄 I've got both but not FAC, then it becomes which pellets, at close range the Terminators are popular, but there are a lot of choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Ooooh we’ve progressed very quickly to pellets….my turn for another 2 pennies worth 🤣 I put .177 jsb hades 10.34gr or .177 jsb knockout slugs 10.03gr through mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 31 minutes ago, Spr1985 said: put .177 jsb hades 10.34gr Well there only good to 20 yards anyway 🤭🤭 Not sure I'd use such a heavy .177 pellet for such close range on rats, they'll just zip straight through. But JSB heavies are my go to pellet 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 My TX200 does like the Jumbo Heavies but my DRS seems to favour JTS Dead Centres in 16.08gr (both .22 obviously). J S Ramsbottom do a selection tin which is interesting to try, surprising what differences there are in weights and results. They are a great firm to buy pellets off, arrive next day and very well packaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 (edited) The old saying was .177 for feather and .22 for fur. Or was it the other way around? SCULLY...help! I don't know either! In my mind the real game changer has been PCP air rifles. Where the now incredible accuracy that can be obtained in .177 PCP far, far surpasses the advantage that the .22 springer rifles had of a near hit with a .22 still killing whereas a near hit with a .177 would not. You can now place shots with a .177 PCP to an exact place out to twenty yards and do so consistently to inside a half an inch. That makes head an neck shots a humane choice of execution (as it were) that back in the days of the .177 BSA Cadet or BSA Meteor wasn't. I use a sub 12 ft/lbs .177 BSA Scorpion T10 regulated by Phil Crampton aka RAT Works and Bisley Magnum pellets. I also had a ditto unregulated (in a .22 PCP I don't think a regulator is needed). In .22 and found that the flatter trajectory and superior penetration of the 10.65 grain Bisley Magnum .177 bested the supposed extra frontal area "knockdown" power of the .22 with 14.20 grain Bisley Gold. The .22 Bisley Gold would crack a squirrel skull and kill it "dead right there" by blunt force. The .177 Bisley Magnum would shoot through it into the brain. But shooting flatter gave me a better margin of error in range estimation. Edited January 5 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 The correct answer is that neither the calibre nor the type of pellet will make a blind bit of difference. You are talking about killing rats at under 20 yards, ***! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 15 minutes ago, London Best said: The correct answer is that neither the calibre nor the type of pellet will make a blind bit of difference. You are talking about killing rats at under 20 yards, ***! Is the correct answer 👏 I think most people over-think things sometimes,,,, I think 🤔 🤓 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Something worth considering is a rifle that you can easily adjust the power on, while staying legal, you don't need 12ft lb to shoot rats at 20mtrs. 21 minutes ago, London Best said: The correct answer is that neither the calibre nor the type of pellet will make a blind bit of difference. You are talking about killing rats at under 20 yards, ***! Of course it matters, I wouldn't choose to shoot rats at close range with my JSB heavies, it would be a waste of a premium pellet, so I'd choose a cheaper alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 2 hours ago, Mice! said: Something worth considering is a rifle that you can easily adjust the power on, while staying legal, you don't need 12ft lb to shoot rats at 20mtrs. Of course it matters, I wouldn't choose to shoot rats at close range with my JSB heavies, it would be a waste of a premium pellet, so I'd choose a cheaper alternative. All of my air rifles have variable power knobs, but I never bother to change them, unless I’m doing point blank humane dispatch in a cage trap. Changing the power changes the POA. I prefer to know the POA for accuracy’s sake so that I can be sure of the trajectory, whether it be my FAC 22 FX Verminator Mk 1 or the BRK Pathfinder sub 12 177. (Incidentally the trajectory of both of those is very similar). The pellet is insignificant IMHO (the pellet that best suits your gun is always best) because the old shooting saying is that it is accuracy that kills and whether it be a rat, squirrel, rabbit or deer they all deserve to be dispatched with a single shot as humanly as possible. Some may say that more power or a larger calibre is over kill. There’s no such thing as over kill. Dead is dead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunto Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 177 for flatter tagectory , mut be head shot. 25 cal,hit em and there gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 52 minutes ago, Fisheruk said: Changing the power changes the POA. I Yes I know that, but being able to turn the power down for close range rats is very useful, I'd just rezero afterwards. My guns would have to be stripped and messed with which means it won't happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 I think you're really after us justifying you buying another gun, aren't you? We all know the sub 12ftlbs .22 will do the job with ease. So the big question is. What gun are you buying next? As for pellets, what ever the gun likes for everything. Swapping and changing can alter poi and grouping and is generally a pita. Have fun with whatever you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumpetier Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 No more than 20 yards you say ? .22 for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 (edited) Hello, I tried a 177 more nostalgic than anything, using Hades to 20 yards most went through rats , even Hades in 22, Now i use JSB domed field 22 and it kills 90 % with first shot, other 10 % i have missed ha ha, PCP or Springer Steve ?? Edited January 6 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted January 7 Report Share Posted January 7 Hi sorry a bit late to this thread . For me a .177 is superior to a .22 for 20 yad rats . It's not really because one kills better than the other (it's not hard to kill a small mamal with such a small skull ) .but from a safety point of view. Ricochet is the biggest issue around barns and walls etc .coming back at you or hitting windows, cows etc . A slower heavier pellet will always over penetrate more than a fast light weight one especially one with a flat head on it. So a .177 fast light weight flat head will stop that rat in its tracks and you can shoot in safety .mount the 1 - 4 x scope as low as possible for optimum close range hits and you will have a perfect ratting machine .even a 8 - 9 fpe gun will suffice .if you prefer just be aware of co2 winter issues . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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