Jock if you want a multi purpose tool,then it's .177.I've been shooting for the best part of 30 year's.I love old springer's and as a kid i only bothered with man size pellet's .22.Now with the pcp's on the scene,shooting an air rifle is far easier than when i started out,zero recoil,quieter,more acurate,etc.While i don't consider myself a marksman,i'm more than competent with an air rifle..177 has a flatter trajectory,so is easier to aim at distance,as there will be less pellet drop,is more penetrative,which when shooting feather is more important than stopping power.While a .22 is a handy to