Need an honest opinion

[Joeryan]

Getting ready for a long weekend prowl huntin, and I'd like some opinions on the Predator polymag pellets. I'll be using my hatsan 135 .22 and foxes are a likely encounter, and 40-50yd shots are likely. Assuming my gun likes the polys, what would be a reasonable maximum effective range. Normally, I'd use use JSB heavy domes..any help ?

[gene_sc]

My suggestion is set up a target and sight your rifle in with the poly mags first. If your rifle likes them and your shots are consistent and accurate then you have a deadly combination for hunting.

Gene

[Joeryan]

Thanks Gene, I would certainly do the taste test first. I guess what I'm looking for is maximum ACCURATE effective range ?

[longhunter]

personally, i'd stick with the domes. they have better energy retention, at those ranges, which translates into better penetration. i'm guessing that you already have a pellet that performs well in your 135, so, why change??
while i agree that the polymags are a devestating pellet, they are a bit spendy for everyday use. i personally prefer to have only one pellet for target and hunting. that way, i don't have to rezero. and, you will have to rezero. i've used polymags and redfires,( gamo's ripoff of the polymag ), with good results. however, the polymag/redfire have always hit at least 1-2" away from my gun's original zero. that was with several different guns, a .25 condor, 125 sniper .22, and my.177 airhawk.
they do, by the way, perform exactly as advertised. they tear poop up. i mean REALLY tear it up. if you intend to eat what you kill, it's headshots ONLY.

now, to answer your original question. if it were me,  i wouldn't go much beyond 40 yds on something the size of a fox. that's assuming you can push that 16gr pellet at at least 850 fps. that gives you almost 17 fpe. at 50, you still have a little over 15 fpe, on target. that's the minimum i would want on an animal that size, to ensure a clean kill. providing you can consistently group your shots inside an inch, at that range.
just my 2 cents. take it for what it's worth.

[chuckinohio]

  Stick with the domes and head shoot em.

  More of a positive anchor on the animal, and less chance of a run off from a gizzard hit.

[tehsquirrel]

The .22 polymags don't really group well for me in my xs25 unfortunately...  I've heard similar reports and I think I would go with a regular round that is more accurate.  Some who have non-pellet picky rifles (such as pcps) have excellent luck with the polymags.  The 125 should have plenty of power for that weight but I would try them first like the others said.  They are about 15% heavier than regular .22 pellets.

[OleTomCat]

PolyMags, RedFires and a lot of the other gimmick pellets have devastating but shallow wound channels, meaning that they do a lot of damage in a real short distance, this is great on small game like rabbits and squirrels but for the fox or anything larger I would stick with the heavy domes to the dome as previously suggested.....

Happy hunting...