Just wondering what pellets most people use for small game, there seems to be quite a lot of choice. Do you guys stick with whatever you use for targets or do you go with the PBA's. The PBA's claim better penetration, has anyone verified this. At shorter distances of under 8 steps would a non PAL work? Thanks for all the advice
what pellets for small game
- Thread starter big boar
- Start date
I haven't hunted with a pellet rifle in a long time. I used to take tons of rabbits, squirrels and various pest gophers with standard domed pellets. Shot placement is key, head shots rule. I'm sure the hollow point pellets would work fine if you had the speed. Flat heads were also very good, lots of shock.
The PBA pellets are a light alloy pellet marketed as a higher velocity pellet. They are not accurate. Even in a sub-500 fps air rifle, the standard dome or round head pellet works best. Small game hunting is not a good idea with a non-PAL (sub-500 fps) pellet rifle as they don't have enough energy or "stopping power" for anything bigger than a squirrel. To illustrate, a 500 fps 8.4 grain .177 pellet gives 4.66 foot pounds of energy. A full power rifle shooting .117 8.4 grain pellet at 850 fps gives 13.48 foot pounds of energy. A well-placed shot with a full power air rifle will do for rabbits. What small game are you hunting at a distance of "8 steps"?
idontknowjack
CGN Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Nothing but predator polymags for me. And usually with my .25 cal Talon.
Have also used my custom .22 PCP also with polymags with good results.
Have also used my custom .22 PCP also with polymags with good results.
Hunting at 8 steps? I've come across lots of grouse and squirrels at not much more than 8 steps. I bought some Gamo PBA stuff just to try out. What a mistake. I didn't have my glasses when I bought them and thought they were sold in the standard 500 count tins. Even if they were 250 count I would have been pleased but it turned out they come in 150 count packs. At the price I paid they're a lot more expensive than good quality 22 rim fires. My own fault, I should have checked before I paid. When I got home I decided to compare them to a target pellet for penetration. Not a very scientific method, just fired some into a thick wadding of compressed paper. They actually do penetrate at least 20% further than a regular pellet from a 177 from a Diana 52. Accuracy is not terrible but not nearly as good as standard target stuff.
I have a 1000 fps springer so I looked for heavier .177 pellets, bought as many different brands as I could and then shot them off the bench with an artillery hold.
The one with the best group at 15 yards is what I went with
The one with the best group at 15 yards is what I went with
Yessir ,polymags are killer on rabbits and squirrels in my Crossman phantom .22 ,of course shots taken within reason.
PT
We have killed hundreds of grouse and hares with Crosman Premier 14.3 grain .20 and .22 cal pellets. I had one pneumatic rifle that loved Beeman Silver Arrow pellets, and was my go to hare rifle... our HB20 and HB22 pistols preferred Beeman Ram Jet pellets, which do a great job on grouse heads.
You probably don't want or need better penetration.
First and foremost, what gun, caliber, and power level are you talking about? It makes a lot of difference.
And what game.
I always had crap results from pointed pellets, as they did not shoot as accurately as the round or flat nosed ones.
I would suggest taking the PBA crap out back and giving them a dignified burial. Maybe down the outhouse hole. They are crap, and mostly about the weight of the marketing adjectives. Hollow point pellets are a waste of time and money too, unless you have a pellet rifle that can push them fast enough to expand, in which case, I would still suggest round nose or flats, whichever shot better. But once you are getting in to the more powerful guns, weight differences really start to comer in to the equation too.
Cheers
Trev
What is the purpose of the link? To see squirrels being shot in slow motion?
