Are pellets as affected by the transonic zone as .22lr bullets are?

[Vincine Fallica]

Are pellets as affected by the transonic zone as .22lr bullets are?

For those air gunners that don’t know; when a .22lr slows down to the speed of sound (SoS), the change in air pressure causes the bullet to pitch & yaw making it unstable, changing its direction. It may or may not regain its original trajectory and stability below the SoS.

Is it known for a fact that pellets are, or aren't?

[Bullit]

Yes it does.  Staying under 950fps, IIRC, is the velocity ceiling that keeps the pellet just shy of beginning transonic range problems.

[nced]

Are pellets as affected by the transonic zone as .22lr bullets are?

For those air gunners that don’t know; when a .22lr slows down to the speed of sound (SoS), the change in air pressure causes the bullet to pitch & yaw making it unstable, changing its direction. It may or may not regain its original trajectory and stability below the SoS.

Is it known for a fact that pellets are, or aren't?

Yer they do! Matter of fact, IMHO, even as the pellet approaches supersonac velocity the air buffeting starts to mess with the accuracy of a pellet. Myself, I prefer to keep the velocity of a 7.9 grain CPL under 900fps and usually tune my springers for around 850-880 fps.

[gandalfretlaw]

I haven't personally seen the wag. I have seen studies though. From what I remember the sonic barrier is right around 1050fps but it varies with altitude and temperature. Now just because the barrier is there doesn't mean that if your under things are all fine. In reality as you approach the speed resistance increases peaking at the barrier. It drops off on the other side. For this reason you don't really want to go above 80 or 90% of the speed of sound. 80% would be about 850fps. 90% would be about 950fps.

950 is a lot harder punch for hunting than 850. Pellets that expand, expand better. Wound tracks are more impressive. That sort of thing. 850 is very good for hunting and is absolutely fine for target practice. You could go much lower for target practice. 600fps is fine and most Olympic guns shoot around there. So I'd say that 850 is probably more accurate in nature than 950 but I personally like 950 a little more. Perhaps that 85% or about 900 is really best.

Each gun will love and hate different pellets and you could always find pellets that it liked in different grains so you could shoot target at 850 and hunt with 950 (slightly lighter) pellets. Now that pig hunting video makes sense. They had a Gamo that shot 1400fps loaded with ultra light pellets. But they were shooting a pig brain (cantaloupe) at ten feet. Accuracy was not a major concern. Cleanly puncturing the hard skull was. They also didn't care about the "crack" that could be heard a mile away.

Now here's something I've been thinking about with 22LR (powder). These bullets typically max out at around 1300fps which in all reality isn't that much more than 1050 (+24%). Your not really getting much from the extra 250fps at least on targets that you'd shoot with a 22. The FPE is similar (143fpe vs 98) Even the trajectory isn't radically different. But you do get the extra accuracy and the absence of crack. 100fps is an airgun wet dream; to be able to pinpoint it on the skull of an animal is a lethal combination. That gamo boar shot at most generated 22fpe so I don't think there is any argument that a 100fps 22LR shot could do the exact same thing. I'll be sure to keep a boar skull when I get the chance for testing and target practice.

[Bullit]

Today's newer subsonic .22s are very effective. But that's for another gate to discuss.

[Vincine Fallica]

Today's newer subsonic .22s are very effective. But that's for another gate to discuss.

IF you can find them, for less than 0.15 a round, and for more than just a box or two at a time.
Which is how I ended up here.

(I'd love to get a case of CCI Standard Velocity. Let me know if you trip over any.)

[gandalfretlaw]

I managed to pick up 450 wildcats (not subsonic) at walmart for $2.29 a box this weekend :-) . Hopefully that means the end is near. Had to go in three times. I like Remington Subsonic which are usually $3.50 a box and hear that Winchester subs are supposed to be better. Those Agila 60gn shoot sideways out of my rifle.

Walmart in Rohnert Park has had CCI high velocity in on and off but their like $6/50  which I think is downright silly for a round I don't really want. Meanwhile I didn't really mind having some cheap spare 22LR on hand as a backup.

[Sqrl Klr]

Yep I have noticed with the recent power increase on my .22 disco after getting a new shorter spring shooting at 946fps for 29fpe that my groups have become a little larger during target poi testing after resighting so I need to lower the power back down a little and resight the scope for the lower poi that way the groups will shrink back down a bit.

[Bullit]

Today's newer subsonic .22s are very effective. But that's for another gate to discuss.

IF you can find them, for less than 0.15 a round, and for more than just a box or two at a time.
Which is how I ended up here.

(I'd love to get a case of CCI Standard Velocity. Let me know if you trip over any.)

It's unfortunate that you live where you do, as it will affect all of your future purchases for any arms.

[Vincine Fallica]

It's unfortunate that you live where you do, as it will affect all of your future purchases for any arms.

On the other hand, where I live is stunningly beautiful.    That's worth something.

(By 'ending up here' I meant on GTA)

[gandalfretlaw]

Here in Northern California at least in the urban areas hunting is about as popular as pregnant women getting drunk. I look at all these people and know that if Safeway suddenly doesn't have food, they'll all likely starve.

[BudMor]

Today's newer subsonic .22s are very effective. But that's for another gate to discuss.

IF you can find them, for less than 0.15 a round, and for more than just a box or two at a time.
Which is how I ended up here.

(I'd love to get a case of CCI Standard Velocity. Let me know if you trip over any.)

Eley Tennex Red box .38-.40 cents every trigger pull. It's the reason I am looking into purchasing a PCP right now.