What is more powerful?

[Petar]

Hello everybody,

i have one question related to caliber and FPS.
What is better for deeper penetration and eventually hunting (I'm not planning to hunt) 1000 FPS with .177 cal,or 800 FPS with .22 cal?
Every comment is welcome!

[Frank in Fairfield]

More information needed..pellet weight, etc.

But a 14.3 grain .22 caliber pellet at 800 fps will penetrate deeper than a .177 shooting a 8 grain pellet at 1000 fps.

Too, you will find because of better ballistics, the .22 will probably catch and pass the .177 if the target is beyond 50 yards or so.

The high speed of the .177 will bleed off faster than the heavier .22.

IMHO

[Petar]

More information needed..pellet weight, etc.

But a 14.3 grain .22 caliber pellet at 800 fps will penetrate deeper than a .177 shooting a 8 grain pellet at 1000 fps.

Too, you will find because of better ballistics, the .22 will probably catch and pass the .177 if the target is beyond 50 yards or so.

The high speed of the .177 will bleed off faster than the heavier .22.

IMHO

Great,thanks for info.
I have one question tho,how much FPE should i get with 14,3 grain .22 800fps?

[Roadworthy]

That works out to 20.3 ft lbs.  Try this free calculator:  http://www.airguns.net/calculators.php

[Petar]

That works out to 20.3 ft lbs.  Try this free calculator:  http://www.airguns.net/calculators.php

Thank you very much!
I just hope spring from my air rifle is in good condition and will shoot at least 750 FPS

[Airgun.Sniper]

 Think about the UK guys for a minute. They have a limit of 12 fpe. Most if not all opt for the .22 cal even though it has a bad bell curve...yet a .22 cal will retain its energy longer because of its higher ballistic coefficeint and mass. For example two airguns both have 18 fpe. one in .177 and the other in .22. At 70 yards the .177 on has 9 fpe while the .22 has 13 fpe. Still 3 more energy then its smaller brother. IMO the .177 is only good for about 20 fpe and less...the 22 cal pellet to about 30 fpe and less.

 Cheers

 Jay

[Nomadic Pirate]

People that shoot those heavy .22 pellets in the 50-60 FPE range might strongly disagree with you 

[Habanero69er]

People that shoot those heavy .22 pellets in the 50-60 FPE range might strongly disagree with you 

+1, those 21gr Baracuda Match, 28 & 32gr Eun Jins easily do better than 30fpe. My Rainstorm shoots the Baracudas @ 40fpe for 30 shots & the Eun Jins @ 50fpe.

[NickB79]

Depends on what you're hunting.  For pesting birds (sparrows, pigeons, and starlings) I'd go with the .177 just because of the flatter trajectory.

If you 're hunting squirrels, either a .177 or .22 will suffice.

If you hunt rabbits, I'd go with the .22 in case you need to make the occassional heart shot when a headshot doesn't present itself.

And anything above rabbits (raccoons, crows, possums) go with a .22 AND stick to headshots.

[Charles Outdoors]

Just did a little checking on another post on the .177 vs .22 BC and found there are several .177 pellets that have BC right there with .22.

[Bullit]

X2 Craymar,  This issue gets debated a lot with wide weight differences for comparisons. Not Apples to Apples.
The .177 heavy pellets (10-11g), versus the 13.4-15g .22 pellets are close in results since the muzzle velocity is slower in the .22, if they are shot from the same powerplant for both pellets.  The .177 will penetrate approx 30% easier per FPE, than a similar .22 pellet, due to it's area.  If you keep the weights of each pellet close as you can, to achieve accurate "apples for apples" comparisons, folks will see how close they can be.

NickB79:   Rabbits go down easy.  A .177is quite effective with as little as 6fpe ... and 8fpe is a sure thing with body shots if you hit vitals.  Actually, this is required by either caliber.  I've learned that it sometimes seems that you can kill them with muzzle noise that gives them a massive heart attack!
Crows, Possums, and Coons get taken with .177 (7.9g - 11g), all the time.  There are a lot of us that hunt .177 just fine.  Maybe some others will chime in.

[anuthabubba]

Don't take much power to the boiler room or brain to kill small, traditional airgun quarry. That's right, YOU must place the pellet where it needs to go. Is there anyone out there that can claim to always make 100% effective kill shots? No. Can't take the disappointment? Don't hunt.

[btldigger]

I have just recently got into the 22 game and when I can hit with it then its great. I am much more effective with my 177 guns especially the disco. I have taken birds squirrels and ground hogs frequently at 60-75 yards. Even managed a head shot on one unlucky squirrel at 90 yds. He didnt notice the first 2 fly by as I was working out the hold over and dope but he was drt when the third connected with his head. I use 10.5 gr crossman premier ultra mags in both 177 guns and 14.3 gr crossman premiers and pirannahs in 22. Its all about good shot placement. I hate to have to take a finishing shot.

[phoebeisis]

I don't hunt-
but I'm very interested in self defense
and I like guns machines-and have biology/medical/science background

Using the same spring  and chamber
the .22 wins
Simple reason it allows MORE area for the violently compressed air to act on-
per unit of time more air molecules will transfer their momentum(hit)  the pellet
and the .22 for same "shape" is much heavier
Check every gun that offers both calibers
the .22 wins   Momentum  FPE and
Momentum is a decent stand in for penetration-(.22 almost always heavier pellet)

.22   wins -not  even close
 I am self defense  oriented-so I practice with that in mind-and study the ballistics with that in mind-
I have pets -I generally like animals-don't hunt-brother does-understand the urge-but not for me

[anuthabubba]

A pellet gun is a weak self defense option.

[WesleySnipes]

.22 cal all being equal will impart more energy on game instead of just zipping through your target with no damage

[phoebeisis]

 Yrok-you are being too polite
.22 pellet gun is a pitiful (but much better than nothing) self defense option
Which is why I have
Bushmaster 5.56-with dot type sight
sig 229
glock 27
J frame smith
LCP 380(just 10 ounces with laser)
Beretta M21 22LR- easily 3x the FPE of a pellet rifle
HB 10/22  22lr
Winchester 190   22lr($42.95)-bought mail order 1965 when I was 13 years old-maybe lied or had mother sign order form from magazine-anyway 1 month later it arrived USPS mail at post office(no to door delivery in small town)
Still wish I had sprung for the 290  it was $10 more but nicer stock  finish nicer sight-but I was cheap and  $10 was $10(like $80 today's dollars)
70 lb Arty ALARM SYSTEM-retread greyhound that thinks she is a beagle(noise wise anyway) noisy as heck
Charlie