What caliber do you think is the most versatile?

[UnderPressure]

What caliber do you think is the most versatile? (You can specify twist rate also if you want to)

P.S. I'm still thinking about it......IMO being able to limit range and ricochet potential is an important consideration.

[redlined_b16a]

A .25 caliber is my personal favorite for versatility.
However I can shoot my .357 with slugs for the same cost.........

[Luis Leon]

For airgunning for me it’s the .22 so many pellets to choose from... I don’t go after critters bigger than chucks with my PCP. So the .22 is king in my lineup.

[Nomadic Pirate]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

[Glem Chally]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

Yeah cost aside tough to argue with .30 as you can shoot sparrow to hogs with it if you like.

[Nomadic Pirate]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

Yeah cost aside tough to argue with .30 as you can shoot sparrow to hogs with it if you like.

yeah if you want the most versatile  most likely will not have the cheapest ammo,...but I also have a .30 cal flat nose pellet mold that makes them in I think 3 or 4 weights.


More like from Sparrow to Elk

[oledawg]

Get something that has lots of adjustability like FX or Daystate there are others too. Then you can adjust to shoot what you want when you want too. These guns are definitely not cheap. If you get an FX rifle most allow you to change calibers. I can go from .177, .22, .25, .30. I bought my FX Crown because I thought it was the most versatile for me. I can change from a pellet barrel to a slug barrel. I think a caliber change runs about $500 +/- which is cheaper than a new gun of this quality. Good luck, lots of great info above.

[UnderPressure]

For the very low power part I am thinking of how the wadcutter form factor compares to the diabolo form factor:





https://hardairmagazine.com/ham-columns/drag-coefficient-and-ballistics-coefficient-explained/



P.S. Wadcutter and Diabolo can be used for any caliber. This as a solid or any variation of hollowpoint. So no limitation there.

[Luis Leon]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

[Glem Chally]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

Well thats up to the shooter and the shot, if the slug ends up 200y in an open field who cares.  Im not talking about shooting with a backdrop of a highway

[oneshot61]

Torn between.25 and .30. I have a .25 that will go from 40 ft lbs to 90, shoots pellets or slugs. Have a .30 that will go from 75 to 120 ft lbs, pellets or slugs. I guess versatility is limited by your game size and how proficient you are with that particular choice. And if you intend to plink with it. The best of both worlds is to be able to change calibers on the same platform.

[UnderPressure]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

In the link below I plugged in numbers for 44.8 grain .300 caliber .340" long cylindrical wadcutter:

http://www.geoffrey-kolbe.com/cgi-bin/drag_working.cgi?unit_length=inches&weight_unit=grains&bullet_name=Custom+bullet&re_calculate=yes&boundary_layer=L%2FT&diameter=.300&length=.340&nose=0&meplat=.300&drive_band=.300&base_diameter=.300&angle=0&boat_tail=0&secant_radius=&weight=42.2&density=7.4

(I plugged in 7.4 gm per cc for density (which is tin's density) but I think hitting 44.8 grains with lead is attainable if the cylinder had a large hollow point or hollow base.)

Notice the B.C. for that 44.8 grain .30 is ~.030 at Mach .5 and ~.010 at Mach 1.

650 FPS is Mach .6 so the BC should still be around .030 because the drag doesn't increase until about mach .7.
 
44.8 grains @ 650 FPS= 42 FPE with BC of .030 as compared to what I found in the Hard Air Magazine BC database below:

https://hardairmagazine.com/ballistic-coefficients/

.....which is .30 JSB Diabolo Pellet @ 50.15 grains and 610 FPS for 41.4 FPE and BC of .053

So 44.8 grain .30 cylindrical slug at 650 FPS compared to 50.15 grain .30  diabolo at 610 FPS has less than 60% of the BC.

That is a very significant BC reduction (in favor of the wadcutter) but 42 FPE is still a good amount of power.

[Luis Leon]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

Well thats up to the shooter and the shot, if the slug ends up 200y in an open field who cares.  Im not talking about shooting with a backdrop of a highway

Glem, you are correct about the backdrop... my bad.

[Glem Chally]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

Well thats up to the shooter and the shot, if the slug ends up 200y in an open field who cares.  Im not talking about shooting with a backdrop of a highway

Glem, you are correct about the backdrop... my bad.

All good brother and I see your side too,  i couldn't take half those shots at the farm on rats if i was shooting a .30 even at 500 fps.  Lots of concrete and perfect conditions for a 44gr bowling ball bouncing down the lane.

[Airgun-hobbyist]

.30
I
can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

In the link below I plugged in numbers for 44.8 grain .300 caliber .340" long cylindrical wadcutter:

http://www.geoffrey-kolbe.com/cgi-bin/drag_working.cgi?unit_length=inches&weight_unit=grains&bullet_name=Custom+bullet&re_calculate=yes&boundary_layer=L%2FT&diameter=.300&length=.340&nose=0&meplat=.300&drive_band=.300&base_diameter=.300&angle=0&boat_tail=0&secant_radius=&weight=42.2&density=7.4

(I plugged in 7.4 grain per cc for density (which is tin's density) but I think hitting 44.8 grains with lead is attainable if the cylinder had a large hollow point or hollow base.)

Notice the B.C. for that 44.8 grain .30 is ~.030 at Mach .5 and ~.010 at Mach 1.

650 FPS is Mach .6 so the BC should still be around .030 because the drag doesn't increase until about mach .7.
 
42 FPE @ 650 FPS with BC of .030 as compared to what I found in the Hard Air Magazine BC database below:

https://hardairmagazine.com/ballistic-coefficients/

.....which is .30 JSB Diabolo Pellet @ 50.15 grains and 610 FPS for 41 FPE and BC of .053

So 44.8 grain .30 cylindrical slug at less than 1 FPE more energy as a 50 grain .30  diabolo has less than 60% of the BC.

That is very significant.

I'd go with the very versatile .30 caliber as well.  With a detuned 650 fps and 45 grain pellet, it has a huge drop in energy from 42 fpe to less than 18 fpe at 100 yards.  At 150 yards this hits with as much energy as a 12 foot pound gun leaves the barrel. A very good small game set-up for small critters at close range.  Add a 60+ grain slug and tune for 950 fps and it will drop any big game with a well placed hed shot for meat on the table.

[Dan H]

.30 maybe ? ...     in a lot of ways it depends on the gun  .45 can be very versatile  shooting 140g to 425g out of the right gun with different power settings / pressures xp ranger .45 and the texan i believe cover this ...     

[UnderPressure]

.30

can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

Well thats up to the shooter and the shot, if the slug ends up 200y in an open field who cares.  Im not talking about shooting with a backdrop of a highway

Glem, you are correct about the backdrop... my bad.

All good brother and I see your side too,  i couldn't take half those shots at the farm on rats if i was shooting a .30 even at 500 fps.  Lots of concrete and perfect conditions for a 44gr bowling ball bouncing down the lane.

Yes, Ricochet is very important to consider also.

I think one way to help reduce that is to have a large deep (relatively thin walled) hollowpoint.....something to act as a crumble zone when hitting something hard.

[UnderPressure]

.30
I
can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

In the link below I plugged in numbers for 44.8 grain .300 caliber .340" long cylindrical wadcutter:

http://www.geoffrey-kolbe.com/cgi-bin/drag_working.cgi?unit_length=inches&weight_unit=grains&bullet_name=Custom+bullet&re_calculate=yes&boundary_layer=L%2FT&diameter=.300&length=.340&nose=0&meplat=.300&drive_band=.300&base_diameter=.300&angle=0&boat_tail=0&secant_radius=&weight=42.2&density=7.4

(I plugged in 7.4 grain per cc for density (which is tin's density) but I think hitting 44.8 grains with lead is attainable if the cylinder had a large hollow point or hollow base.)

Notice the B.C. for that 44.8 grain .30 is ~.030 at Mach .5 and ~.010 at Mach 1.

650 FPS is Mach .6 so the BC should still be around .030 because the drag doesn't increase until about mach .7.
 
42 FPE @ 650 FPS with BC of .030 as compared to what I found in the Hard Air Magazine BC database below:

https://hardairmagazine.com/ballistic-coefficients/

.....which is .30 JSB Diabolo Pellet @ 50.15 grains and 610 FPS for 41 FPE and BC of .053

So 44.8 grain .30 cylindrical slug at less than 1 FPE more energy as a 50 grain .30  diabolo has less than 60% of the BC.

That is very significant.

I'd go with the very versatile .30 caliber as well.  With a detuned 650 fps and 45 grain pellet, it has a huge drop in energy from 42 fpe to less than 18 fpe at 100 yards.  At 150 yards this hits with as much energy as a 12 foot pound gun leaves the barrel.

Yep, I got 18.4 FPE @ 100 yards when I plugged in 44.8 grain .30 cal @ 650 FPS (42 FPE muzzle energy) with BC of .030. (i.e. the Wadcutter slug)

This, in contrast to the 25.8 FPE @ 100 yards when I plugged in 50.15 grain .30 cal @ 610 FPS (41.45 FPE muzzle energy) with BC of .052. (i.e. Diabolo pellet)

So the diabolo pellet has 40% more energy at 100 yards compared to the wadcutter slug.

With that noted, it would be good to see the power even lower at 100 yards. This can be accomplished by lowering muzzle energy and BC even more....which is possible if the weight of the 44.8 grain .30 wadcutter can be reduced further.

[YEMX]

Pretty partial to .25.  More than a few pellet designs/weight, plus slugs.  Pick the right platform and you can go low for close range/low power pesting work, or crank it up and shoot slugs.  I'm still testing, but I've got a .25 that's set up for 14+ fpe for quiet close range work, and I've owned .25's that have got a lot of chootch.  Woodchucks out at 45 yards at 40 fpe easy. 

The idea of a slow 14 fpe .25 is more surface area to completely dump the energy, and if there's pass through, it's not going to go far and/or damage much.  I built it with the intent of having something for inside barns, stables and the like.  Plus, if you get a wadcutter mold, all the better, as wadcutters will dump energy better than a domed pellet. 

Just my 2 cents. 

[UnderPressure]

.30
I
can still be used on small game and also used correctly will bring down any big game

You can detune and shoot the 44gr Predators at 40 FPE which is 650 fps and that is quite safein just about any conditions.

Tune up to shoot the 50gr at 950 fps that is 100 FPE and you have a sniper dream.

With all due respect 44 gr @ 40 FPE is not safe in many conditions. .30 pellets need the same consideration you would accord a .22 rimfire short in most conditions.

@Glem, sparrows with a .30 seems a waste of lead and that projectile will keep on going for a whiles after passing through said sparrows.

In the link below I plugged in numbers for 44.8 grain .300 caliber .340" long cylindrical wadcutter:

http://www.geoffrey-kolbe.com/cgi-bin/drag_working.cgi?unit_length=inches&weight_unit=grains&bullet_name=Custom+bullet&re_calculate=yes&boundary_layer=L%2FT&diameter=.300&length=.340&nose=0&meplat=.300&drive_band=.300&base_diameter=.300&angle=0&boat_tail=0&secant_radius=&weight=42.2&density=7.4

(I plugged in 7.4 grain per cc for density (which is tin's density) but I think hitting 44.8 grains with lead is attainable if the cylinder had a large hollow point or hollow base.)

Notice the B.C. for that 44.8 grain .30 is ~.030 at Mach .5 and ~.010 at Mach 1.

650 FPS is Mach .6 so the BC should still be around .030 because the drag doesn't increase until about mach .7.
 
42 FPE @ 650 FPS with BC of .030 as compared to what I found in the Hard Air Magazine BC database below:

https://hardairmagazine.com/ballistic-coefficients/

.....which is .30 JSB Diabolo Pellet @ 50.15 grains and 610 FPS for 41 FPE and BC of .053

So 44.8 grain .30 cylindrical slug at less than 1 FPE more energy as a 50 grain .30  diabolo has less than 60% of the BC.

That is very significant.

I'd go with the very versatile .30 caliber as well.  With a detuned 650 fps and 45 grain pellet, it has a huge drop in energy from 42 fpe to less than 18 fpe at 100 yards.  At 150 yards this hits with as much energy as a 12 foot pound gun leaves the barrel.

Yep, I got 18.4 FPE @ 100 yards when I plugged in 44.8 grain .30 cal @ 650 FPS (42 FPE muzzle energy) with BC of .030. (i.e. the Wadcutter slug)

This, in contrast to the 25.8 FPE @ 100 yards when I plugged in 50.15 grain .30 cal @ 610 FPS (41.45 FPE muzzle energy) with BC of .052. (i.e. Diabolo pellet)

So the diabolo pellet has 40% more energy at 100 yards compared to the wadcutter slug.

With that noted, it would be good to see the power even lower at 100 yards. This can be accomplished by lowering muzzle energy and BC even more....which is possible if the weight of the 44.8 grain .30 wadcutter can be reduced further.

So if take the .30 44.8 grain 650 FPS wadcutter slug (used in the above example) and reduce its weight to 33.6 grains we get the following stats:

33.6 grain .30 wadcutter slug
650 FPS
31.5 FPE muzzle energy
BC .0225
10.3 FPE 100 yard energy

So a pretty massive decrease in 100 yard energy just by reducing weight to 75% of what it used to be. (reason: not only does the weight reduction hurt the muzzle energy it also hurts the BC.)

EDIT: One more comparison.....well one more comparison for now.

From hard air magazine BC data base + JBM ballistics calculator:

https://hardairmagazine.com/ballistic-coefficients/

https://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj-5.1.cgi

.177 JSB Exact Beat Diabolo 16.2 grain
716 FPS
18.45 FPE muzzle energy
BC .029
7.9 FPE 100 yard energy