What caliber do you think is the most versatile?

[Nomadic Pirate]

Either way, when I get a REX .50 I will trim down the vanes down to next to nothing.

It should become less stable.

Straight fletched arrows are a fin-stabilized projectile.

Not necessary,

My .357 Air Bolts have no vanes at all and they are lazers.

I use farely heavy heads, I'm extremely confident that trimming the vanes down to just a little fin will do no arm whatsoever to the accuracy.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Fletching is necessary in archery to impart spin and therefore help with straighter flight,
Since spin with with Airbolt is imparted by the rifling the bolt now acts just like a bullet, so it doesn't need to be helped to stabilize.

[UnderPressure]

Either way, when I get a REX .50 I will trim down the vanes down to next to nothing.

It should become less stable.

Straight fletched arrows are a fin-stabilized projectile.

Not necessary,

My .357 Air Bolts have no vanes at all and they are lazers.

I use farely heavy heads, I'm extremely confident that trimming the vanes down to just a little fin will do no arm whatsoever to the accuracy.

I forgot you were using rifling.

I was thinking of straight fletching vs. no fletching.....both being shot from a smoothbore (like Wingshot or Ernest Rowe's experiment).

[UnderPressure]

I wonder how small of a bore a person could use a straight, offset or helical fletched arrow?

Vanes can be very tough---> (notice how hard he is twisting the arrow while squeezing the vanes together)

But wouldn't smoothbore be easier on vanes all things being equal?

[Nomadic Pirate]

Rifling doesn't arm vanes one bit, I was surprised but when I had the Claw and shooting Airbolts I saw it first hand.

[UnderPressure]

I'd have to say .35  But the real challenge would be #1 putting up with the trajectory of artillery (on small game) and #2 finding a gun to shoot it slow enough, and accurate enough at very slow speeds to not be overkill on small game.  While also being capable of outputting enough power to take deer/boar

Somewhere in between 300-350 fps live targets can react and jump off the path of the pellet. There's a video of rat shooting with 12 fpe .30 and rats were dodging the pellets.

Apparently noise can also be a problem with the FX Crown Arrow for shots taken a too far of a range:

[Nomadic Pirate]

The Air Bolts fly out of my REX carbine at 505 fps

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=168472.0

[mtsheron70]

I cannot say other than I have had .177, .22 and .25 in PCP and one Turkish knockoff of a Webley Patriot that was a decent springer.

I would say overall just looking at video and spec’s I would be torn between a .25 and .30 cal as overall.  I need to get a .30 or even a .357 caliber one day to see.

[mikeyb]

In the PCP world I think it is easier to pick a single caliber to perform multiple tasks. The power level can be tuned up or down with minimal effort which helps cover a wider range of activities like paper-target, plinking, hunting, and pesting. My current "preference" is 22 caliber for my PCPs.

I have PCPs in 177, 22, and 25 but I mostly shoot springers.

When the powerplant is limited, as it is in a springer, there can be a "sweet spot" where certain calibers and pellets weights tend to shoot better. There is some overlap so depending on the SHOOTERS NEEDS that could overlap 2 calibers. For what I like to shoot, a 22 caliber springer in the 16-22 fpe range has the most flexibility.

My reasons...

1) Almost as many pellet varieties as the 177 with per-pellet cost the same to maybe 20% higher if you shop around or wait for sales.
2) Easily suitable for target practice, plinking, pest control, and small game hunting.
3) The slightly heavier pellet carriers a little more energy out to range for larger pesting and hunting.

That being said, I have NO PLANS to give up any of my 177s. They have a flatter trajectory and generally lower power which I sometimes need/prefer.

I also have no plans to give up any of my 25 calibers. The higher power level and pellet cost makes high volume target practice and general plinking a little tiring and more costly, but that nice heavy chunk of lead does some serious damage when hunting and pesting.

I plan to keep my one 30 cal break barrel cannon. Had to experience a 30 cal big bore Carnivore break barrel and have no regrets getting one. It is a good workout to shoot but pellet cost is high with limited availability so I don't shoot it too often. I'm hoping another large woodchuck starts digging under my garage foundation again. Then I can introduce him/her to the Carnivore. I think they will get along smashingly ;-P

No single rifle/caliber does everything I want, so I'm quite happy having a selection of rifles/calibers to choose from for any given days activities.

[nced]

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.

IMHO, that depends on the gun, power supply (piston or PCP) and intended usage.

After using .177, .20 & .22 cal barrels on my Beeman R9s and HW95 I've found that .177 cal is the most versatile for my plinking, squirrel hunting and the occasional field target match, however "able to limit range and ricochet potential" aren't considerations for my shooting. LOL....I shoot upstairs at 18 yards using the same guns used for all my airgun shooting.

I don't know from experience but it would seem to me that squishing the large "swept volume" of air from a large receiver piston gun like a HW80 would be counter productive unless de-tuned so a larger pellet like the .22 cal would be better .

Again, I don't know have any PCP experience since i have no interest in pumping/buying air, counting shots, messing with a "life support system", or having a "bit of trash in the frammis" cause air leaks so I'm guessing that "most versatile" depends on your preference, unless Field target matches are part of the mix which makes the .177 cal the best suited if the power level is adjusted to the US Field Target power limit of 20fpe or under.
 

[Hotled]

Way of topic again.

[Nomadic Pirate]

How can .17 and .22 be more versatile ( going by the definition of versatile ) in a general sense ( Target or hunting ) .......then .30 or .357 ?

Other then being cheaper ( which isn't a criteria in versatility ) they might have one advantage but then fall way behind in the broad spectrum of applications ( like long range target shooting for example )

I understand " PERSONAL " preference or applications, but in a general sense, cover the spectrum on all applications .17 and .22 (maybe a very, very High power .22 with a ton of up and down adjustments can sneak in there  but not your standard .22 ) cannot touch .30 or .357

[Bullfrog]

I’m fully convinced .30 is the most versatile airgun caliber.

And between .300 and .308, I think a .308 barrel that still shoots .300 pellets well and has internals that can be governed down between 75 fpe and or turned up to 200fpe  is the most versatile gun of them all. My .308 Texan SS is such a gun.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I’m fully convinced .30 is the most versatile airgun caliber.

And between .300 and .308, I think a .308 barrel that still shoots .300 pellets well and has internals that can be governed down between 75 fpe and or turned up to 200fpe  is the most versatile gun of them all. My .308 Texan SS is such a gun.

Forgot about the .308 variation,....yeah good call there brother.

[nced]

How can .17 and .22 be more versatile ( going by the definition of versatile ) in a general sense ( Target or hunting ) .......then .30 or .357 ?

Other then being cheaper ( which isn't a criteria in versatility ) they might have one advantage but then fall way behind in the broad spectrum of applications ( like long range target shooting for example )

I understand " PERSONAL " preference or applications, but in a general sense, cover the spectrum on all applications .17 and .22 (maybe a very, very High power .22 with a ton of up and down adjustments can sneak in there  but not your standard .22 ) cannot touch .30 or .357

LOL....I'll say it again..........
"IMHO, that depends on the gun, power supply (piston or PCP) and intended usage.

Could I shoot a .40 cal blow up gun upstairs at 18 yards to practice marksmanship, or would I want to?
NO

Could I shoot Field Target matches with a .40 BLASTER?
NO

Would I use one for shooting squirrels in a tree?
NOPE even if I had enough 'down range clearance" to take a high angled shot!

Would I be able to do this if my squirrels were blasted with a .40?

ONLY if head shot But then even a .177 cal dome does the job just fine.......


Would my neighbors complain about the "NOISE" of a .40 blaster coming from my 53 yard shooting lane on my "little 1 acre wood"?
Yep, and call the police too

Would these targets still be useful after even one hit by a .40 projectile?

NO

Would I be able to buy 1250 bullets for under $25 for the .40 blaster?
NO

Would I need to buy or pump air"
YEP
How many shots per fill of pumped or "store boughten" air, more than a couple before needing the "life support line"?

"fall way behind in the broad spectrum of applications ( like long range target shooting for example"
Yep ya got me there! Almost all my shots are at 10-30ish yards with the occasional stretch to 50 and 55 yards. LOL, this certainly isn't part of a "broad spectrum of applications" for me (or most airgunners), even those that could afford the care and feeding of the large bore PCP!

These are some of the reasons WHY is why the .177 cal is the most versatile for me shooting HW95 power level springers since you asked.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Well, you just said the magic word,.....for "YOU"

my .30 and .357 are more quiet then my springers,...so no bothering the neighbors

Yes I shoot targets at 20 yards, have a portable backstop for the task

yes you could have eaten your squirrels you you shot them with a .357,.....just look at these mongoose, High shoulder/neck shot no meat wasted

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=148024.0

No you couldn't compete in field target, but you can shoot target from 15 yards to 200- 300 and so on

price of ammo is not a condition of caliber versatility, nor is the need of a pump or not.


Again, if .17 is what you like and suits you that's great but sure it's not the most versatile caliber

[UnderPressure]

HAve you really tried to get round lead ball to shoot worth a "carp"....may be "perectly round"but that doesn't man they are all the same diameter.

Never really came close in accuracy with .177's, 22's,or 25's....a few were good enough to be useful...often shooting better than the worst pellet-pellets test, but not really to the potential.

Did find the bigger the bore, the better round ball shot (as a percentage of the best pellet=pellets)….so basically followed caliber(with bigger bores doing better with lead ball than little bores...but both not nearly as good a pellet-pellets).

But go ahead...give it a try...might bet lucky....whichever, post whatever you find.

Air venturi .358  67 grain Round balls did really well in this video (1/2" 3 shot groups at 45 yards with both the 34" and 24" barrels for the Texan):

With Ballistic Products Buckshot having a tolerance of +/- .003" for diameter and only coming in size increments of .010" (e.g. .170", .180", .220" etc.) perhaps a caliber like .223" (with a .217" land diameter) would work well for lead round ball usage?

Ideally the .217" land diameter would be even smaller so that round balls at the .217" end of the .220" +/-  .003" tolerance range would have some engagement by the lands.

This barrel chambered for cast bullets (of course) and also coming with a radial barrel transfer port. (radial barrel xfer port so that bore sized porting could be used with the round balls.)

Others calibers to think about would be .243" (Groove diameter) which usually comes with .237" land diameter but can also be found in .236" land diameter (Google 6mm .236) and 6.5mm (.264" groove diameter with .256" bore (land) diameter).

[nced]

LOL.....we agree that "if .17 is what you like and suits you that's great" !

[Luis Leon]

It’s the .22 people... from sparrows to small hogs. Anything above that break out a powder burner. No way .30 based on costs alone is more versatile. Yes you can tune it down as stated and lob it at targets but why? It’s not artillery. I mean if we are talking versatile in a practical, not theoretical sense. Nced summed it up nicely.

[Luis Leon]

price of ammo is not a condition of caliber versatility, nor is the need of a pump or not.

Really? Of course it is. I and many others would not lob thousands of .30 per year. The cost really does add up, even if you cast your own. And as for the need of a pump or more capable air source? Don’t these bigger calibers require more air? While we understand the niche for some of the larger air gun calibers. It’s not why the majority of airgun shooters get into the airgun game. At some point a line is drawn and a better tool used. If I needed a thirty caliber airgun, I would deploy my .22 rimfire.