R9 barrel

[Mark 611]

Lee, that's why we do what we do! Not everybody is the same and we all do things differently! your going to get a wide range of opinions on usage and and calibers, everybody has their favorites and WHY!!! I'm going to have to agree with ED a lot! A good HW95 or R9 in .177CAL if your a decent springer shooter and have your rifle set up right its a pretty tuff gun to beat! But its not a do all! That's my opinion, I personally prefer the larger calibers because of the shot cycle, hold over to me is nothing because I have learned over the yrs how to shoot the larger caliber lower powered guns at distances most people think is un realistic, but that's my experience with shooting, I also think some folks like sweet and easy? not me! I love the challenge with a spring gun if I didn't I be shooting a custom PCP from ALLEN Z, where I point and pull the trigger! Nothing to it! JMO

[Yogi]

I've shot most things between a .22 powder to a 90  mm cannon and did quite well with all. Pellet guns about all I have done is targets off a bench.
Pellet guns are a different area than I am really use to.
A lot of the info I am asking is just for my knowledge just in case I need it at some point in time and to get some experience. That might sound funny to some people and that's OK. In preparation just in case I might need it.
And no I'm not a nut.lol

Lee,

The hardest thing to learn about spring powered pellets guns is the artillery hold.  This is where you hold the gun very loosely and let the gun recoil the way it wants too.
With a PCP, pellet gun you can hold the gun as tight as you want.

-Y

[Bayman]

Lee, that's why we do what we do! Not everybody is the same and we all do things differently! your going to get a wide range of opinions on usage and and calibers, everybody has their favorites and WHY!!! I'm going to have to agree with ED a lot! A good HW95 or R9 in .177CAL if your a decent springer shooter and have your rifle set up right its a pretty tuff gun to beat! But its not a do all! That's my opinion, I personally prefer the larger calibers because of the shot cycle, hold over to me is nothing because I have learned over the yrs how to shoot the larger caliber lower powered guns at distances most people think is un realistic, but that's my experience with shooting, I also think some folks like sweet and easy? not me! I love the challenge with a spring gun if I didn't I be shooting a custom PCP from ALLEN Z, where I point and pull the trigger! Nothing to it! JMO

Mark what you can do is not unrealistic but it requires skills that most people either don't have time to develop or perhaps the talent. What you can do and what is easier for most people are two different things. As human beings we innately feel that everyone should understand our point of view and adopt it. It's just normal psychology. Realizing that we're not all gifted equally and it's ok if people have different views from us is a part of the wisdom we're supposed to gain as get older. Most of what we deal with in life is subjective. Still given the latitude for differences in thinking there's some facts that are hard to argue with. No matter how much our personal talents and experiences defy them. We are not all the same and not every glove fits every hand..
Am I impressed at your proclaimed abilities? Of course but it doesn't mean I can duplicate them. What works for you might not work for me. What works for me might not work for someone else. The difference is I don't call them lazy or stupid because they don't do things exactly like I do. Different strokes for different folks. I honestly think Ed and Deeco have a much better grasp on airgun hunting than either you or I. Sometimes it's best to let it be and listen to or at least respect the people actually doing it on a regular basis. I will discuss mechanical stuff with people with some confidence because of my extensive technical background but I submit my ego to those with more experience in other areas.

[Mark 611]

Ron agree with you 100% not trying to knock anyone's views or knowledge, I also agree I've gotten a little tunnel vison on my views over the yrs

[nced]

Ron agree with you 100% not trying to knock anyone's views or knowledge, I also agree I've gotten a little tunnel vison on my views over the yrs

"I've gotten a little tunnel vison on my views over the yrs "
LOL....me too! After trying different options over the years with my different "HW platform springers" I've settled on what works for me and that is my focus why trying to give points of view. Definitely not the only valid points of view for all!

[ER00z]

I'm very surprised, Yogi gave an unusual response right at the beginning of this thread, and then the classic .177 vs .22 debate continued like nothing. Half scratching my head in curiosity and half laughing. It would seem this would have ended there, with that bombshell response. But no. Lol.

It really doesn't matter, the caliber won't make a difference if you put the lead in the right place. Figure out your realistic range you normally shoot (for trajectory), energy needed for quarry, look at pellet availability and cost and just go with it. Unless going after 30-40 pound creatures, 5-10fpe on target in either caliber is usually more than plenty for the "usual" game.

Best luck to you. Take it easy.

[Mark 611]

Absolutely AGREE ED what works for us works

[avator]

Practice, practice, practice...
I need to learn my gun, my scope and my own abilities with both. I'm sending a clunky hunk of lead down range at relatively slow velocities.. as opposed to a precision bullet at supersonic speeds.

[Yogi]

I'm very surprised, Yogi gave an unusual response right at the beginning of this thread, and then the classic .177 vs .22 debate continued like nothing. Half scratching my head in curiosity and half laughing. It would seem this would have ended there, with that bombshell response. But no. Lol.

It really doesn't matter, the caliber won't make a difference if you put the lead in the right place. Figure out your realistic range you normally shoot (for trajectory), energy needed for quarry, look at pellet availability and cost and just go with it. Unless going after 30-40 pound creatures, 5-10fpe on target in either caliber is usually more than plenty for the "usual" game.

Best luck to you. Take it easy.

Zack,

I recently saw a coyote right in the middle of my street.  I keep wondering if I have a 16-17 fpe .22 in my hands at the time, would I take the shot?    No more than 10-15 yards...
If I was holding a 16 fpe .177, I would not even think about it.....

-Y

[nced]

I'm very surprised, Yogi gave an unusual response right at the beginning of this thread, and then the classic .177 vs .22 debate continued like nothing. Half scratching my head in curiosity and half laughing. It would seem this would have ended there, with that bombshell response. But no. Lol.

It really doesn't matter, the caliber won't make a difference if you put the lead in the right place. Figure out your realistic range you normally shoot (for trajectory), energy needed for quarry, look at pellet availability and cost and just go with it. Unless going after 30-40 pound creatures, 5-10fpe on target in either caliber is usually more than plenty for the "usual" game.

Best luck to you. Take it easy.

Zack,

I recently saw a coyote right in the middle of my street.  I keep wondering if I have a 16-17 fpe .22 in my hands at the time, would I take the shot?    No more than 10-15 yards...
If I was holding a 16 fpe .177, I would not even think about it.....

-Y

When my brother was stalking squirrels at "the ole home place" outside Harrisonburg, VA he spotted a 'yote in a gulch at only about 30 yards away. Since my brother was on the edge of the gultch hidden by grass and the breeze was away from the 'yote my brother was able to place a 7.9 grain CPL on the "flat between the eyes" when the critter looked up at him. The hard lead .177 CPL from his Beeman R9 penetrated the skull into the brain dropping the 'yote.

At my uncles farm near "the ole home place" he raises sheep and coyotes have become a problem in the last few years. My uncle told me that mostly the lambs are taken and the coyotes seem to enjoy simply killing the sheep because often only the "muzzles" (do sheep have muzzles?) would be crushed and the lamb dropped uneaten. Obviously such a damaged lamb is a loss so the farmers in the area occasionally go on night hunts for the coyotes because they loose their beagles and pets to the coyotes. On one hunt my uncle found an abandoned den that had the collar of one of his missing beagles.

Anywhoo....as with most things related to airgun hunting it's all about precise placement and enough power to penetrate the vitals.

[ER00z]

Yogi, I agree .177 can be effective against lager critters with proper placement, and in some instances at certain power levels may be better than .22 (Or .25). Usually most who buy airguns (that I know) only go after squirrels, rabbits or similar sized (or smaller) animals. Sometimes raccoon if PB's aren't an option. I'm still laughing a bit to the 40lb monkey reply.

It amazes me what some members here are able to accomplish with what I consider very mild power levels. I've seen first hand what 20+ fpe can do in .177, or ~30 fpe in .22. What I've read what others do with 13-16fpe rifles has me (almost)  question the need/want for higher energy levels. The R9/HW95 platform is impressive but if going after bigger-small game I personally would prefer to have more power than less.

Ed, I always enjoy the stories and agree placement with enough power to hit the vitals is key.

I personally have no prefered caliber, but think one should pick the right tool for the job. The HW95 I have in .177 is great, but just use It for light yard duty and plinking. If it were a .22 it would serve the same purposes. I've gone to the dark side and came up with a 33+ fpe .177, questioning if it's a bit much now 

I still don't think there's a "right" or "wrong" caliber, just how one intends on using it. Hopefully the OP isn't spun in circles in their decision.

[PGunner]

Still undecided I like the powder of the .22 but I like the speed and distance of the .177. I think if the .177 liked heavy pellets it would be better.
But then would a heavy  .177 act the same as a medium weight .22?

[Struckat]

I'm not trying to something or that I don't appreciate the pictures and all the good info I have gotten from this forum so don't think I am picking on anyone.
I see a lot of targets with some excellent shooting.

What I would like to see is some targets shot free hand standing, sitting and prone at 15 to 20 yards or more with or with out a scope.
I hope that no buddy takes this the wrong way.

I have both 177 and 22 barrels for my HW95. I bought it as a 177. Never had a 22 air rifle so I bought a 22 barrel. So far I think I like it better as a 22, but I haven’t shot any critters with it, so I can’t comment n that.

In 22 I am getting 700fps with 13.43 AA Falcons.

I didn’t see any off hand targets posted as you requested.
The target on the left is my 95 in 22, the right is my HW30 177. Both shot indoors off hand with peep sight last winter @ 10m.