Thread: .177 or .22 for Air Rifle

Originally Posted by Mintie

See I'd pick a .22 over .177 every day. Better energy retention and impacted less by the wind.

We are talking springers here. These advantages are minimal.

For the same energy, say 20 joules, with 3m/s cross wind, at 50 metres, 22 cal has 12.6j and 9.3cm drift, compare to 177 cal's 11.3j and 9.6 cm drift. But 22 cal suffers 18cm drop, compare to 177 cal's 10.3cm drop. Also 177 cal goes from -1cm at 10m to +1cm at 30m. you essentially can ignore bullet drop over this range. 22 cal drops to 2.5cm at 30m, requiring you to start dialing earlier.

These advantages to 177 cal are even more pronounced at lower powered guns.

177

22

Originally Posted by Ultimitsu

We are talking springers here. These advantages are minimal.

For the same energy, say 20 joules, with 3m/s cross wind, at 50 metres, 22 cal has 12.6j and 9.3cm drift, compare to 177 cal's 11.3j and 9.6 cm drift. But 22 cal suffers 18cm drop, compare to 177 cal's 10.3cm drop. Also 177 cal goes from -1cm at 10m to +1cm at 30m. you essentially can ignore bullet drop over this range. 22 cal drops to 2.5cm at 30m, requiring you to start dialing earlier.

These advantages to 177 cal are even more pronounced at lower powered guns.

177Attachment 238823

22Attachment 238824

Yes, but for hunting / pest control usually.22 will disperse more energy on impact - .22 will give a good thump where .177 will drill holes. It’s that dump of energy that aids an efficient kill and less pass through of the pellet.

So if it’s mainly targets go for .177, mainly pest control go .22

Originally Posted by J-S

Yes, but for hunting / pest control usually.22 will disperse more energy on impact - .22 will give a good thump where .177 will drill holes. It’s that dump of energy that aids an efficient kill and less pass through of the pellet.

So if it’s mainly targets go for .177, mainly pest control go .22

Firstly, I question if 22 really gives you meaningful additional energy dump. Theory is one thing, reality is another, see my earlier post about the supposed 22 cal advantage in energy and wind drift.

Secondly, given that springer 22cal is very range limited in the first place, i.e. you really cannot shoot more than 30 metres unless you range accurately and adjust drop accordingly. See my table in the earlier post, from 40m to 50m there is 10cm of drop. It is the difference between headshot and complete miss. I shoot a lot of possums, very small portion of my shots are within 30 metres. Rabbits are even harder to get close. Therefore I doubt you can use a 22 springer efficiently for fur pests.

If you shoot feather pests, 177 will be effective as long as it is a hit, but has longer usable range.

I admit that I dont do much pest control with air guns, I shoot pigeons and mynas in my yard and that is it. For any pest shoot trip I always use 22LR.