What caliber do you think is the most versatile?

[anti-squirrel]

versatility
[ˌvərsəˈtilədē]
NOUN
ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.


Hmmm.  While .22 can be claimed to be the most versatile, it simply is not, at least not until .22 bolts are invented and laws are changed.  You see, bolts with broadheads can be use to harvest any game currently walking on this planet.  Else, large game would never be able to be procured with archery gear.  We have pellets and slugs in every caliber, but arrows/bolts only in the larger bores.  Since the very definition of versatility is the ability to adapt, once one of you fine folks comes up with  .22 bolt or arrow you can continue the claim your low-energy projectiles work.  Please be mindful I'm taking the stance of truth regarding "most versatile", not the biased "most versatile to me and my needs".  You can simply do more with a bigger bore because you have the option to shoot way the F out there as well as hurl bolts, something no .177 or .22 can do thus meaning them dinky bores are not truly versatile.

Now I'll take the "biased for my needs" route- since I live in VA and deer-hunting requires a minimum bore size of .35 (thank you Person in NC for ruining it for us), I can unequivocally state that anything smaller than .35 can not to be considered versatile in VA if it cannot be used to legally harvest deer, hence .35 is the most versatile.

Thus, by both truth and bias, .35 is the most versatile.

[subscriber]

I am pretty sure this does not imply "air bolts".

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

If air bolts are important, then a larger caliber would seem better; no?  Perhaps it depends on whether the arrow goes into the tube; or slips over it?  With a .50, you can shoot ball, pellet, slug or arrow...

[Tweaker]

For small to small-medium game .22 caliber would be most versatile imo. A 22 caliber heavy pellet can get to 70+ FPE with exceptional range and penetration. Also most airgun platforms power lvl is not efficient for bigger calibers. WHen you start getting into 100+fpe pcps and bolts for big game then a higher caliber for sure.

[anti-squirrel]

I am pretty sure this does not imply "air bolts".

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

If air bolts are important, then a larger caliber would seem better; no?  Perhaps it depends on whether the arrow goes into the tube; or slips over it?  With a .50, you can shoot ball, pellet, slug or arrow...

The caliber is the topic, not the projectile.  Larger bores can do what smaller can.  Smaller cannot do what larger can.  IE: you will not see any .177 airguns shooting at 350 FPE currently.

[subscriber]

The caliber is the topic, not the projectile.

Yet twist rate was mentioned, implying a spin stabilized projectile. 

[Earl]

I prefer .177.
I shoot targets only between 10 and 30 yards.

[nced]

versatility
[ˌvərsəˈtilədē]
NOUN
ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.


Hmmm.  While .22 can be claimed to be the most versatile, it simply is not, at least not until .22 bolts are invented and laws are changed.  You see, bolts with broadheads can be use to harvest any game currently walking on this planet.  Else, large game would never be able to be procured with archery gear.  We have pellets and slugs in every caliber, but arrows/bolts only in the larger bores.  Since the very definition of versatility is the ability to adapt, once one of you fine folks comes up with  .22 bolt or arrow you can continue the claim your low-energy projectiles work.  Please be mindful I'm taking the stance of truth regarding "most versatile", not the biased "most versatile to me and my needs".  You can simply do more with a bigger bore because you have the option to shoot way the F out there as well as hurl bolts, something no .177 or .22 can do thus meaning them dinky bores are not truly versatile.

Now I'll take the "biased for my needs" route- since I live in VA and deer-hunting requires a minimum bore size of .35 (thank you Person in NC for ruining it for us), I can unequivocally state that anything smaller than .35 can not to be considered versatile in VA if it cannot be used to legally harvest deer, hence .35 is the most versatile.

Thus, by both truth and bias, .35 is the most versatile.

"(thank you Person in NC for ruining it for us)"
LOL....you're welcome!

I had decided to "let this one go" a while back, however since you brought it up again...........

The issue was never about AIRGUNS & CALIBER but the fact that it was LEGAL to hunt deer in VA with a .22 cal springer but not a .222 centerfire. Hummmm....even a .22 magnum rimfire can put out over 300fpe but it's illegal. VA still has no fpe limits on airguns used for deer, only caliber.

For my brother and I hunting with a non-resident permit in VA we couldn't use a .222 for deer because it wasn't .23 cal even though it put out 1000 fpe, However at that time we could legally take a .25 cal Beeman R1 into the woods to legally hunt deer! LOL....how 'bout them rulz?

Some VA game laws........
https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/general/
From the above...............


*Air guns (.35 caliber or LARGER)
LOL....no fpe restriction for airguns?

*Rifles and pistols using rimfire ammunition and air guns (.35 caliber or SMALLER)
So can the .35 cal pellet be both legal and illegal for deer?

*Rifles and pistols using centerfire ammunition (.23 caliber or LARGER) Pistols must generate at least 350 foot pounds of energy or greater.
Why no fpe restrictions for airguns?

*Rifles and pistols using centerfire ammunition (SMALLER than .23 caliber)
A .222 with 1000+fpe isn't legal for deer but a .35 cal pellet gun is legal?

Anywhoo....the VA game laws seem illogical making me wonder why there were ANY fpe restrictions at all for the powder burners if "ultra light airgunning" is also an ethical method of taking deer. If no power restrictions are ethical for taking deer, that's assuming that the purpose of fpe restrictions was the ethical harvesting of deer.

I took the initiative to call a "VA game rule maker" questioning the lack of fpe requirements for airgunners if the fpe restrictions for "powder burner hunters" taking of deer. A review of the laws was done and the current convoluted "minimum airgun caliber law" was hatched. LOL....the According to the "official rulz" me minimum cal for a black powder deer hunter is .45 cal but the airgunner cal minimum is .35 cal with no fpe requirement! How 'bout them rulz?

[mr3D]

5 years ago I might have said .25 was most versatile. However, the recent popularity of .22 slugs than can be pushed to 100+ yards has changed my mind. With .22 you can have everything from a 15ft lb backyard plinker to a high powers long range varmint gun.

[Bryan Heimann]

I’d say it is pretty much a draw between .177 and .357.

Even Though most .357 don’t make enough power to hunt big game in Texas, according to the law.

But you are not shooting any HFT with a .357 either.

Neither are you shooting a .357 in your back yard if you live in a subdivision.  Even in an unincorporated area somewhere that it is within the law- better have a heck of a backstop.  More like a big dirt berm or something.

With a quiet (accurate)  .177 Springer and a .357  PCP that makes plenty of power you’d have all your bases covered for any airgun situation in the U.S.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I am pretty sure this does not imply "air bolts".

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

If air bolts are important, then a larger caliber would seem better; no?  Perhaps it depends on whether the arrow goes into the tube; or slips over it?  With a .50, you can shoot ball, pellet, slug or arrow...

.357 can shoot the soft Predator at 500 fpe for 44 FPE, not something that is overly dangerous for backyard,
can shoot Roundballs, Domed pellets, Cast slugs, and AirBolts......all out the barrel all one after the other,
When hunting I have an Airbolt loaded but have 190gr bullets set up for fast follow up if needed.

one of these days I'll chrono what fps the REX shoots the Predators at the half power cocking level.

[Nomadic Pirate]

For small to small-medium game .22 caliber would be most versatile imo. A 22 caliber heavy pellet can get to 70+ FPE with exceptional range and penetration. Also most airgun platforms power lvl is not efficient for bigger calibers. WHen you start getting into 100+fpe pcps and bolts for big game then a higher caliber for sure.

Even for small game seems the trend has moved much towards .25,

if staying under the "mid bores" .30 and .357 the .25 caliber then would surpass the .17 and .22 in every single category but cost.

[anti-squirrel]

The caliber is the topic, not the projectile.

Yet twist rate was mentioned, implying a spin stabilized projectile. 

Twist rate was mentioned, but not demanded.  So I guess a .35 smoothbore using air for propulsory mechanics is not allowed?

LOL....you're welcome!

I had decided to "let this one go" a while back, however since you brought it up again...........

The issue was never about AIRGUNS & CALIBER but the fact that it was LEGAL to hunt deer in VA with a .22 cal springer but not a .222 centerfire. Hummmm....even a .22 magnum rimfire can put out over 300fpe but it's illegal. VA still has no fpe limits on airguns used for deer, only caliber.

For my brother and I hunting with a non-resident permit in VA we couldn't use a .222 for deer because it wasn't .23 cal even though it put out 1000 fpe, However at that time we could legally take a .25 cal Beeman R1 into the woods to legally hunt deer! LOL....how 'bout them rulz?

Some VA game laws........
https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/general/
From the above...............


*Air guns (.35 caliber or LARGER)
LOL....no fpe restriction for airguns?

*Rifles and pistols using rimfire ammunition and air guns (.35 caliber or SMALLER)
So can the .35 cal pellet be both legal and illegal for deer?

*Rifles and pistols using centerfire ammunition (.23 caliber or LARGER) Pistols must generate at least 350 foot pounds of energy or greater.
Why no fpe restrictions for airguns?

*Rifles and pistols using centerfire ammunition (SMALLER than .23 caliber)
A .222 with 1000+fpe isn't legal for deer but a .35 cal pellet gun is legal?

Anywhoo....the VA game laws seem illogical making me wonder why there were ANY fpe restrictions at all for the powder burners if "ultra light airgunning" is also an ethical method of taking deer. If no power restrictions are ethical for taking deer, that's assuming that the purpose of fpe restrictions was the ethical harvesting of deer.

I took the initiative to call a "VA game rule maker" questioning the lack of fpe requirements for airgunners if the fpe restrictions for "powder burner hunters" taking of deer. A review of the laws was done and the current convoluted "minimum airgun caliber law" was hatched. LOL....the According to the "official rulz" me minimum cal for a black powder deer hunter is .45 cal but the airgunner cal minimum is .35 cal with no fpe requirement! How 'bout them rulz?

No idea what rulz are.  You can make any claim you want and that's fine; it impacts me not.

 Some folks get unhappy because they don't get their way so they go out of their way to push for more legislation, because rules and laws are certainly something we need more of. What is so hilarious is that the DGIF has no clue about anything airguns or archery because they do not do any testing nor have they kept up with technology.



Back to the topic:  Per the .30 and larger bores: tune down for paper, tune up to power.   Shoot bolts when ya need to kill something.  In simplest terms, as the .25 bolts never materialized, the most versatile  caliber, as per the definition of versatility, is whatever caliber offers pellet, slug, and bolt-shooting.  Anything smaller than .30 does not allow arrow shooting except where the arrow/bolt slides OVER the barrel, in which case bore size is actually a non-starter. 

[Nomadic Pirate]

I would expand on that :

"Tune down" .......for paper and small game ( I've shown that .357 is by no means to much for squirrels, if shot in the right place there's no wasted meat. )

"Tune up" ......for long range paper and silhouette target, and big game ( with the Arrows can go as far up as Elephant )


Talk about versatility ? ? ?

..... I will buy those rubber pellets, ...if I find the link  and test them at low power to see what they do.

[Bob Pratl]

.357 can shoot the soft Predator at 500 fpe for 44 FPE, not something that is overly dangerous for backyard,
can shoot Roundballs, Domed pellets, Cast slugs, and AirBolts......all out the barrel all one after the other,
When hunting I have an Airbolt loaded but have 190gr bullets set up for fast follow up if needed.

one of these days I'll chrono what fps the REX shoots the Predators at the half power cocking level.

Manny, you are 100% correct in that the .357 is the most versatile air gun for the above reasons; but it is not the most practical which all depends on ones needs whether it be hunting, paper shoot, field target competition  or plinking. Most of us enjoy all of the above and I greatly enjoy my .357.

[Nomadic Pirate]

.357 can shoot the soft Predator at 500 fpe for 44 FPE, not something that is overly dangerous for backyard,
can shoot Roundballs, Domed pellets, Cast slugs, and AirBolts......all out the barrel all one after the other,
When hunting I have an Airbolt loaded but have 190gr bullets set up for fast follow up if needed.

one of these days I'll chrono what fps the REX shoots the Predators at the half power cocking level.

Manny, you are 100% correct in that the .357 is the most versatile air gun for the above reasons; but it is not the most practical which all depends on ones needs whether it be hunting, paper shoot, field target competition  or plinking. Most of us enjoy all of the above and I greatly enjoy my .357.

Absolutely Bob,

If the question/questions where,
what caliber is the most practical ?, cheapest ?, safest ?, most powerful ?, longest ranging ?, what you use the most ?, what is best for you ?..........  and so on answers will be totally different.



Once you go int specific categories and or personal needs/wants there's gonna be all kinds of best,


Versatility is the action of covering the most of them not being the best at one thing.

[AlanMcD]

I have agreed that the .35 wins, even though I have no use for it - but let's not get too celebratory about it any potential "win" here . . . . 

These "debates" are an interesting way to pass time and learn stuff, but don't really amount to much.  A similar question could be "which size combination wrench (one end open, one end closed) is the most versatile?"  Do you vote for 3/4"? Maybe 7/16"?  Of course there is metric - maybe 10mm?  In the end, would anybody that uses tools for what they are good at have only one such wrench? Of course not - we buy what we need to cover our uses.

And before anyone says it, the most versatile combination wrench is either 1/2" or 13mm, since they can both do each other's tasks . . . . 

[Nomadic Pirate]

So, out of curiosity since I've never done it before I went to Chrono my REX Mini-Carbine at the half power level.

At full power shoots the Arrows at 475 fps for 175 FPE

can't remember the numbers on the 190gr bullet but I think it was 145 FPE.

With the Predators I got

447
456
460
475
483
481
492
506
510
516
515

Perfectly acceptable numbers for yard shooting and small game hunting

gun was pretty quiet too considering it has a naked barrel, once I get my Neil Clauge LDC I'll test again.

If I was to use the .360 ballistic product roundball it would be as cheap as to use a quality .22 pellet

[Nomadic Pirate]

Since safety was an other subject that was brought up,

safety is in the shooter regardless of caliber user.


Anyway, months ago I made this portable backstop, used to be pretty light now probably weights 70 # ...need to make a new one soon

I've shot anything from .17 to 200 FPE .50 cal into this backstop, al it happened is that it got significantly heavier

[Bryan Heimann]

That REX is a cool gun, but even if you max it out you can’t use it on big game in Texas and maybe some other places.  I only know for sure Texas, requires like 230 fpe or so.  Maybe it was 215, I can’t recall exactly just know it was over 200 fpe.  Might be able to use it with the air bolts though, I am not sure how the law is written with regards to “arrows”. 

I would use a 44 fpe .357 in the backyard if it was quiet enough, sure.  Still need a fairly decent backstop but a box of rubber mulch or something I think you could get away with that. 

But to shoot a trash panda, in the suburbs... only if I got a full trash can right behind him. Haha

[Nomadic Pirate]

That REX is a cool gun, but even if you max it out you can’t use it on big game in Texas and maybe some other places.  I only know for sure Texas, requires like 230 fpe or so.  Maybe it was 215, I can’t recall exactly just know it was over 200 fpe.  Might be able to use it with the air bolts though, I am not sure how the law is written with regards to “arrows”. 

I would use a 44 fpe .357 in the backyard if it was quiet enough, sure.  Still need a fairly decent backstop but a box of rubber mulch or something I think you could get away with that. 

But to shoot a trash panda, in the suburbs... only if I got a full trash can right behind him. Haha

You shoot trash pandas in suburbs with .25 cal airguns anywhere between 40 to 60 FPE .....a .357 predator at 44 FPE will penetrate less then a .25 at 44 FPE


My backstop is made of denim and other cloth ( I'll go see if I can find the thread when I made it ) and I shoot 200 FPE .50 into it,.......people make way to much of big bore airguns blowing through things   LOL


And this is the Mini-Carbine, my REX Carbine makes 225 FPE