.22 or .177 for occasional hunting and target practice.

[.22 0]

As it says in the title, what is the best caliber for occasional hunting, rabbits, pigeons, rats, and target shooting at home. The gun I'm looking at shoots at 800 FPS with .177 and 501 FPS with the .22 pellets.

Edited April 25, 2012 by .22

[stealthy1 3,964]

I use .22 for everything

[fry 209]

flatter trajectory for longer distance with 177

[PLEDGEY 496]

I like .22, better in wind.

[AR177 588]

I have a 177 and i want a .22

 

... but i think its more a case of the grass looks greener on the other side.. they both have there pros and cons and you will find different situations suit different calibre.

 

I would suggest trying both calibre and see which one you like the most

 

ATB

 

Adam

[pipa 299]

  On 24/04/2012 at 20:03, PLEDGEY said:

I like .22, better in wind.

Spot on mate, I have a 22 r10 and a hw100 177 . I believe 22 all the way

Chris

[open season 21]

22 mate great for bit of stopping power not right sure for pigeons though always told use 177 so i have

[Lewis Ste 245]

i say .22 for hunting and .177 for plinking. .22 because of the extra knock down power and isnt really to bad at range if your know your scope and gun well but the .177 because the pellets are cheaper and will still knock anything over if you place your shot correctly

 

lewis

[Buster321c 1,010]

It matters not what calibre , but where it lands . I think that a bit of lead down a rabbits ear will stop it no matter weather its 177 or 22

[zini 1,939]

Both are really good.

 

.22 is my favourite and takes more knowledge of your combo to gain the best results possible.

 

.177 is also very good though and as Craig says calibre matters not to a person who places the pellet in the correct spot.

 

Si.

[.22 0]

Thanks everyone

[silentshot1 206]

I shoot both, .177 for long range bunnies from a springer, .22 for everything else. Both do the same thing if you do your bit!

[milegajo 595]

The kill zone is said to be longer on chairgun for .177. I have always used .177 but only because that was the calibre of my first plinker and I always have loads of pellets left when I think of changing guns. I did have a Raider in .22 which annihilated squizzers.

 

Forgive parroting but .177 for feather .22 for fur and as has been said, for what you describe, i'd advise .177.

 

Throw in another variable what mechanism is the gun your looking at?

 

PCP .177 you trade shot count for cheaper ammunition and flatter trajectory...

Spring .177 recoil is normally harsher than .22 (I've never noticed personally, and certainly not after a tune)

CO2 as for PCP but add expense of bottles...

 

That muddied the waters enough for ya?! In reality go with what you like mate, it really doesn't matter in my personal opinon.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

.177 for feather and .22 for fur was the mantra long ago, when .177s where weak and feeble light guns a .177 was deemed more suitable for the lighter skulls of birds. These days with both .177 and .22 making over 10 foot pounds you can use either for both fur and feather. When I first got the Super 10 in .177 I had a long run of fur only, and in the winter was mainly using the .22 on feather! Using good quality ammunition you can use either on fur or feather!

 

.177 is easier to get on target as it has a flatter trajectory!

[StevoSmith 147]

I have used .22 all my life.......would never change it......ok i wont take any quarry over 45yds unles conditions are right but thats my choice