Lighter Pellet

[hairy biker 14]

Having just gone back to .22 after several years of using .177 would it be better for me to use a 13/14gn pellet for the slightly flatter trajectory of the more heavier .22 pellets

[Dr B 186]

Hi Mate

 

Try the Uttings website for a large selection, just a few points to consider about pellets. Yes it is true that lighter pellets travel flatter, but they dont hit as hard as heavier pellets. Now some would say that as long as you are accurate and only take head shots, its not a problem. This is true. But for hunting, on occasion you have to take chest shots for some birds (for pigeon / rooks / crows / magpies). Lighter pellets wont hit hard enough in those circumstances - you need more weight.

 

In .22, the problem with weight is an increase in the curved trajectory - however, I think this is often over-exaggerated for standard mid-weight pellets (say 15-16gr). I mainly use AA field Diablo pellets (round heads) for hunting (16g). When my gun is zeroed to say 25-28 yards, I actually get a flat trajectory from 15yds to 35, and even beyond this, the drop is small to 40yds and would still be a clean head shot on rabbit quarry (a drop of less than 5mm). I've worked out that on my scope, at a mag of x6, I simply need to use the 1st mil dot below the cross hair for anything at 45-50yds (its dead on). So I've got an effective and usable range of 15-45yds in total with only minor hold-over at the farthest ranges. I cant see much beyond that let alone shoot it!!!! These pellets hit hard! Pigeons, Doves, Magpies, Crows, are easily dispatched with chest shots as well, if positioning does not allow a clean head shot due to the additional ballistics.

 

If I switch to a lighter pellet, yes the zero accuracy is extended a little beyond (no compensation needed at 45yds for example), but is it worth it at the end of the day (less stopping power)? You've got to think about a lot when picking pellets. Most of the people I chat to use between 14gr-16gr for all round hunting pellets in .22. Dont go lighter than that unless you're an Olympic level shot at 50-60yds.

 

If you only take head shots - go lighter. If you nearly always take head shots, but occasionally have to take chest shots, go slightly heavier.

 

[Dr B 186]

Oh pellet types;

 

AAs

or

JSBs

 

are what I see a lot of .22 hunters use.

[pianoman 3,589]

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

Edited February 4, 2015 by pianoman

[hairy biker 14]

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

I've just purchased a hw100

[The one 8,579]

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

Its all about the pellet that suits your gun and where you can place it mate rather than pellet weights

[Dr B 186]

 

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

Its all about the pellet that suits your gun and where you can place it mate rather than pellet weights

 

 

That's not entirely fully accurate. Can you fire a feather? Weight is important. I hinted above about the wide considerations one wants to think about and of course, accuracy is No1. With some experimentation, you can get both.

[Dr B 186]

 

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

I've just purchased a hw100

 

 

I've heard some argue that heavier pellets do well on PCP and lighter in springers (or the other way around...hahahaha), but dont quote me on that.

 

btw, lighter pellets are more screwed in crosswinds, something else to think about and another reason why a little extra weight helps in the practical field sense way. If you're hunting, you need to think about a lot more in this sense

[secretagentmole 1,701]

I found Crosman Premier Ultra Magnums to work well in HW100s, they are a 14.3 grain. I was able to do all the tricks like snapping twigs, matches etc and they also hit hard enough to kill pheasants at 40 metres!

[toby63 1,236]

 

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

I've just purchased a hw100

mine likes jsb 15.89

[villaman 9,982]

Try falcon accuracy plus 13.4gr , fly's flat and a great hunting pellet or so JSB express 14.3 gr another great hunting pellet .

Nothing wrong with a light pellet for hunting ,I use both of these pellets out to 60+ yards ,both of these pellets are soft so deforms well so no over penetration

[villaman 9,982]

 

 

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

I've just purchased a hw100

 

 

I've heard some argue that heavier pellets do well on PCP and lighter in springers (or the other way around...hahahaha), but dont quote me on that.

 

btw, lighter pellets are more screwed in crosswinds, something else to think about and another reason why a little extra weight helps in the practical field sense way. If you're hunting, you need to think about a lot more in this sense

 

This is not quite try depends on BC of the pellet and a lighter pellet is not in the air as long .

 

Test have been done which shows a .177 pellet takes less wind than a .22

[stealthy1 3,964]

Had my HW100KT for years, mostly shoot Superdomes.

[Dr B 186]

 

 

 

You really need to experiment with a variety of pellet weights and headsizes in .22 to find the one that suits your rifle's barrel and FPE hairy biker. The trouble with air rifles is that they do not always happily shoot any type of pellet weight you might think would be of advantage to accuracy.

 

What gun do you have? This might help the other lads suggest a particular pellet they know of, that works well with your type/make/model of air rifle.

 

ATB

Simon

I've just purchased a hw100

 

 

I've heard some argue that heavier pellets do well on PCP and lighter in springers (or the other way around...hahahaha), but dont quote me on that.

 

btw, lighter pellets are more screwed in crosswinds, something else to think about and another reason why a little extra weight helps in the practical field sense way. If you're hunting, you need to think about a lot more in this sense

 

This is not quite try depends on BC of the pellet and a lighter pellet is not in the air as long .

 

Test have been done which shows a .177 pellet takes less wind than a .22

 

 

 

Test have been done to show the opposite as well. When there is a controversy, the math can help (less mass in a lighter pellet). My understanding is Crosswinds are a problem, but shooting into or away from the wind is OK.

 

I'm not saying lighter pellets do not have merit. I use them myself, but I also find mid-weight pellets to be the best of all worlds, in a .22, for hunting. The stopping power is visible and noticiable between 16gr and 14gr. Coupled to high accuracy, you can be sure of clean kills with a mid-gr pellet.

 

I've been doing some ballistic / trajectory tests with heavy pellets in a .22 (18 and 19gr). I dont recommend those in sub 12ft-lbs guns for .22, but they are quite good in .177.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Dr B

[stealthy1 3,964]

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