Out of all the suggestions I have gotten for a German springer for 40 yard squirrels, the HW 50 makes the most sense given my requirements: short, light, just enough power, and easy to shoot well.With that being said, which caliber makes for the easier, more comfortable shooter? My main concern is trajectory vs. ease of use. An HW 50 in .177 will shoot flatter, but I have heard that it can be jittery and more challenging to control. .22 caliber supposedly shoots more smoothly but the trajectory becomes an issue. In the community's experience, is the .177 really _that_ much less pleasant to shoot? Is there anything else I should be aware of as I consider this?Do not suggest a different gun. Someday when I have money to blow I might look at a Diana 48. That day is not this day. Do not try to convince me that .22 will be better for hunting just because it's bigger. We all have our own opinions about whether penetration or "punch" is better. That is a different discussion. This is about which is a more comfortable "fit" for the HW 50 platform, not about which caliber is theoretically more effective for hunting.Let's limit the discussion to this single question: which caliber fits an HW 50 better?Thanks,HA
it seems to like wide-mouthed pellets, it cannot drive domes with the same efficiency:https://www.airgundepot.com/vault/airgun-reviews/hw50-airgun-pellet-gun-review-part-2/ HM
Quote from: HectorMedina on May 12, 2022, 12:01:31 PMit seems to like wide-mouthed pellets, it cannot drive domes with the same efficiency:https://www.airgundepot.com/vault/airgun-reviews/hw50-airgun-pellet-gun-review-part-2/ HMI don't understand wide mouthed. More open or tight fitting skirts? What does that have to do with domes. I don't understand.
Quote from: Bayman on May 12, 2022, 03:01:49 PMQuote from: HectorMedina on May 12, 2022, 12:01:31 PMit seems to like wide-mouthed pellets, it cannot drive domes with the same efficiency:https://www.airgundepot.com/vault/airgun-reviews/hw50-airgun-pellet-gun-review-part-2/ HMI don't understand wide mouthed. More open or tight fitting skirts? What does that have to do with domes. I don't understand.Ron;If you jog your memory, perhaps you will remember that H&N used to make a pelllet under the "Hollowpoint" name. It was this:It is not made anymore, but the weight cited by the Writer points to this pellet, not to the newer H&N pellets that have hollowpoints, but bear different names.This particular pellet was made in a three step process where the pre-form was made, the pellet basically swaged and then the head received a final "punch" that formed the dimple, and expanded the flat portion to the required size. This made a pellet that sealed on the two ends: head and skirt, so it was a more efficient design and shot as well as Match WC's. Only problem was that the form was not efficient in terms of external ballistics. It was a great short range hunting pellet, though.Tin pellets, as explained, are 30% harder than lead pellets, so for the same skirt THICKNESS, they will resist more being initiated into the rifling.In spring guns this is extremely important because we have a "pulse" of pressure, if the pellet takes too much time (starting to move towards the decaying part of the pulse), then the efficiency of the pellet will be low.For the 0.177" GTO's, JSB solved this by creating a "pillar" pellet, where the waist is not truly a waist, but a slightly more slender "column", and the skirt is a hollowed out section of that column's plinth.For the 0.22" GTO they went with the tried and true external shape of the 16 grainer Jumbo.Again, theory being that a 0.22" will have more expansion ratio (therefore more force) to work with and get the pellet engraved at the beginning of the pressure pulse. Practical tests prove they were right.The case for the 0.22" GTO was posted here:https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-mauser-am03-and-shooting-the-reconstructed-original-field-course-in-delaware-co-pa And here:https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/second-round-with-the-diana-mauser-am-03-shooting-at-difta-on-cinco-de-mayo For the 0.177" GTO's, it is here:https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/noch-zwei-weitere-grossartige-damen-part-2-c The GTO's are domes, but the pellet that gave optimal performance in Eustler's tests of the0.22" cal HW50 (12.7 ft-lbs) was not a dome. So, I would not expect this power level with domes in a 0.22" cal HW50, it MAY happen, but I have found no evidence to that effect.I hope that, if HA does buy the HW50, he will find some time to test the non-lead pellets and post the results here.Keep well and shoot straight!HM
JMO, having a HW50 in both .20cal and .22cal and having a few in .177cal which I do not own a HW50 at this time in .177cal and probably never will again, I just do not care for the shot cycle of the .177cal guns unless they detuned way down! to 10lbs or less but that's just me, but the 20 and 22 work great for my usage and love hoe they shoot! slower yep! just as accurate yep 60yds no problem! It may take 2 mills of holdover but who cares their bang on!
The best I know, Derrek is pretty happy with my old self tuned 22 Hw50 at the moment. He asked me to go over his already tuned 20 caliber in the future. He's looking for a little flatter trajectory from his 20 & 22 Hw50. Maybe he'll chime in. Talk about a true hunter. He's a good guy with an impressive tally.