Hunting .177 vs .22

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JeffJames

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Just curious on everyone's thoughts on choosing an air rifle for hunting.

Pro's and con's of the .177 vs .22 and for argument sake lets keep the topic on the high power air rifles (1000FPS and above or any requiring a PAL to purchase)

I do have a Ruger Air Hawk .177, but have yet to take it out in the bush. I am also thinking about getting something in .22
 
Id rather have a 22 it has more mass and speed dont vary too much with the high powered rifles better and it has better wind resistance.

But I still think the 177 is more accurate.

JeffJames said:
Just curious on everyone's thoughts on choosing an air rifle for hunting.

Pro's and con's of the .177 vs .22 and for argument sake lets keep the topic on the high power air rifles (1000FPS and above or any requiring a PAL to purchase)

I do have a Ruger Air Hawk .177, but have yet to take it out in the bush. I am also thinking about getting something in .22
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I have to agree with the posters above.

I've spent years firing Dianna Model 34's (a rock solid gun btw) in both calibers. Using the 22, myself and my siblings have been able to take cottontails cleanly using head-shots at 40+ yards (scoped with LOTS of holdover). The .177 just does not seem knock them down the same way, even up close.

That said, the .177 caliber pellets are easier to come by, and cheaper as well in my area. If all you will be doing is punching paper (or possibly pennies*) the .177 works great.

Hope this helps in your decision

* Destruction of currency is illegal. I, of course, have not destroyed currency, nor do I advocate doing so.
 
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JeffJames said:
Just curious on everyone's thoughts on choosing an air rifle for hunting.

Pro's and con's of the .177 vs .22 and for argument sake lets keep the topic on the high power air rifles (1000FPS and above or any requiring a PAL to purchase)

I do have a Ruger Air Hawk .177, but have yet to take it out in the bush. I am also thinking about getting something in .22
Click to expand...

Any suggestions on which .22 to purcase?I would be shooting gophers,pigeons rodents etc. and what you have to spend for a decent shooting 1000fps air rifle? Thanks for any suggestions.
 
I have heard it said that for feathers, the .177 is better, but
for fur, use a .22. Shot placement, however is more important
than caliber. I use a Weihrauch 95 (Beeman R9) in .22 on pigeons and squirrrel
and have found that it is completely reliable, as long as I do my part.

Just for informational purposes, almost none of the airguns advertised
will reach 1000 fps with a standard weight pellet. Most will chrony well under
that magic mark. A good pellet weight for a .22 is at least 14-16 grains, which
will bring the actual, chronographed velocity to a more reasonable 700-800 fps.
 
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I only have experience with 177, and found it to do well on small game and small varmints. I remember using pointed head pellets, mostly, and getting as close as I could sneak up to the target. However, the most important thing is getting a quality air rifle, because many are kind'a cheap and not accurate. The gun I used to have was a German made Diana, and even though it was the cheapest Diana model, it still out pre-formed all the guns Canada Tire and the hardware stores sold back then.
 
I have a "Ukrainian Tire" Hungarian pellet rifle in .177 that likely did 650fps new .Killed animals and birds up to crow and skunk size no problem.Rebuilt it last year now I'm good for another 40 years............I also use a HW80K/.22 at 800 fps advertised for grouse and crows.............Harold
 
I shoot a Crosman 2240, Averages 480 fps with warm Co2. Out in the cold it still kills..
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I believe in buying the best you can afford right away. You'll end up with a nice piece of equipment you can pass on through generations and you'll be happy to use.
Forget about spring powered air rifles which shoot 1000 fps or greater. Pellets become too unstable and in-accurate at these speeds. You'll want a .22 cal which shoots between 650-850 fps. Pushing a 14-16 grain pellet at these speeds allows enough energy to CLEANLY kill small game within 50 yds. Remember, you can have the most powerful air gun but accuracy is everything; if you can't hit it, you can't kill it.
Some quality name air rifles I recommend are Diana and Weirauch. You may be paying prices as high as some nice powderburners but these are quality air rifles.
This is just some info based on my experience so do some research and check out some sites of dealers who specialize in air guns.
Good Luck
 
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177 field points

I've had lots of luck with a Crosman American Classic pump pistol with 177 field points. Grey squirrels at up to 40, and a rabbit at 65 yards. :shotgun:
 
gunhark said:
I've had lots of luck with a Crosman American Classic pump pistol with 177 field points. Grey squirrels at up to 40, and a rabbit at 65 yards. :shotgun:
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I would'nt expect much energy left at 65 yds with a .177, even at 490fps at the muzzle.......seems like a long shot for both ranges you listed, you sure it was'nt feet?? :confused:
 
defintely a .22 cal air rifle would be best- even with ideal conditions: excellent shot placement, and a respectible distance to cover, its always best to be safe than sorry (i've seen some crows put up a fight)
 
I've killed some game with an airgun.

Most of it was gophers and marmots with a Diana 34 in 177 as a kid.

Recently bought a RWS Magnum 350, and used it all fall to kill ditch chickens. Only pellet we recovered was a Crosman Premier Hollow Point out of a ruffie, that was shot at a lasered 87 yards. Entrance near the bung, was caught in the throat.

Well, that doesn't count the two pellets I managed to keep inside this one, but I weren't digging around in it to find them. T'were a target of opportunity in my field when I was sniping magpies off of a deer I had hanging.

30+ yards for the first poke, broadside into the ribs resulted in 10 spins, managed a reload and when he stopped he was facing me, sitting up. Second one went in above the left eye. Sproing-flop.

There wasn't any blood, till I pushed on the ribs with my foot to try and find the entrance. Then it squeezed out.

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KodiakHntr said:
I've killed some game with an airgun.

Most of it was gophers and marmots with a Diana 34 in 177 as a kid.

Recently bought a RWS Magnum 350, and used it all fall to kill ditch chickens. Only pellet we recovered was a Crosman Premier Hollow Point out of a ruffie, that was shot at a lasered 87 yards. Entrance near the bung, was caught in the throat.

Well, that doesn't count the two pellets I managed to keep inside this one, but I weren't digging around in it to find them. T'were a target of opportunity in my field when I was sniping magpies off of a deer I had hanging.

30+ yards for the first poke, broadside into the ribs resulted in 10 spins, managed a reload and when he stopped he was facing me, sitting up. Second one went in above the left eye. Sproing-flop.

There wasn't any blood, till I pushed on the ribs with my foot to try and find the entrance. Then it squeezed out.

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Thats pretty awesome!!! Is that airgun a .177 or .22cal?
 
3macs1 said:
I have a model 34 new in 177 and now looking for a 22. My 177 will not kill crows unless I hit them in the head.
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What distance are you shooting them? I've taken crows with a .177 sub 500 ft/s pistol with shots to the chest. It was within 20 yards. They usually dive, and crash land, into the nearest bushes. If they are hit a little higher they just flop to the ground.

SLC said:
...Remember, you can have the most powerful air gun but accuracy is everything; if you can hit it, you can't kill it.
Some quality name air rifles I recommend are Diana and Weirauch. You may be paying prices as high as some nice powderburners but these are quality air rifles.
This is just some info based on my experience so do some research and check out some sites of dealers who specialize in air guns.
Good Luck
Click to expand...

I take it you meant if you can't hit it, you can't kill it. Other suggestions for quality air rifles are Feinwerkbau and CZ.
 
My favorite kind of coyote...........DEAD! Try JSB Predators for nasty expansion.I found when I owned the same gun 10-10.5 gr pellets were best[most accurate and stable].......Kodiaks..........Harold..........and I thought a 30lb porcupine was big game with a springer.....nice job!
 
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