pellet weight consideration

[AB173]

What is the heaviest pellet, for hunting, can I use in the HW30s and in the RWS 34 ? I like my HW30s for up close hunting of pests but would like more energy on target.I am using RWS Superdomes 8.3 at the moment in both the 34 and the 30. Only trouble is,I am hitting some of the larger rats with the HW30s and they sometimes just hop and run for cover like they weren't even hit.I am shooting at them 20 and 30 feet away.Sometimes they don't present head shots. I don't want to hurt these rifles by shooting to heavy a pellet. I was thinking of ordering some JSB Exact heavies or something else that might lend themselves better for absolute humane knockdown power.

[Motorhead]

In the 30 ... try going FASTER with a lighter 7 grain pellet and being a WAD CUTTER.
RWS Diablo Basic or Hobby pellets are real killers on small critters because of there flat profile at closer ranges .... refer to them as Flying Frying pans.

[Bwalton]

You could be hitting them with the pellet passing thru without hitting a vital kill spot, those pellets and power are more then enough. if you are going to take body shots then use the Predator polymags, or some type of hollow points. You should sight your gun in every time before a hunt. That way you know exactly where you are putting the pellet.

[Bullit]

Rats are survivors.  Less than headshots or vitals,  they'll get away,,,and expire later.  At such close range, or 20yds or less, the pelletweight you are using has plenty of FPE (power).   The JSB Exact 8.4g is also a good pellet.
EDIT:  Forgot to mention how the Beeman CrowMagnums (8.8g) work for me!  They're softer and really expand, even outta a 12fpe rifle.  Accuracy is very good out to 25yds.  Worth the price, for a hunter.

[GunnerAl]

The best rat I ever got was with a forkhoist. I saw what looked like a lizard right beside a bale of recycle plastics. I was on a forklift at the time and I dropped the blade ontop of this "lizard". Lizard my butt, a reasonably large rat started squealing and jumping around like a madman (wonder why).. Boy what a noise. I picked up a metal bar used to open the compacter and clobbered it - dead... Caught or not, that rat really wanted a piece of me before its demise... I calcluate that the forklift weighed about 54 million grains. Now that's one big lump of metal headed for a rat. It was always going to end up as a bad day for that rat...

[palonej]

Can we figure fpe for that weapon Al??
 

[AB173]

Thanks for all the replies. I see that there are many options to try.I'll have to try for good body shots in some cases as I am using a Williams peep sight and pin point accuracy is not possible since these rats that are invading my chicken coop are wise to me being there waiting in ambush in my golf cart with camo netting all over it and a 2x4 clamped across the front roof supports for a rifle rest.Yep,I have it going on.It sorta puts you in mind of Fred Flintstone,doesn't it ?

[Oldgringo]

Thanks for all the replies. I see that there are many options to try.I'll have to try for good body shots in some cases as I am using a Williams peep sight and pin point accuracy is not possible since these rats that are invading my chicken coop are wise to me being there waiting in ambush in my golf cart with camo netting all over it and a 2x4 clamped across the front roof supports for a rifle rest.Yep,I have it going on.It sorta puts you in mind of Fred Flintstone,doesn't it ?

I remember taping a flashlight to the barrel of my 39A and going to the dump to shoot rats at night.  That was a long time ago when I was a 'yoot in southern Illinois....pre-FOID and pre-EPA.  Ah, those were the good 'ol days.

I wish I still had that 39A.   

[AB173]

Thanks for all the replies. I see that there are many options to try.I'll have to try for good body shots in some cases as I am using a Williams peep sight and pin point accuracy is not possible since these rats that are invading my chicken coop are wise to me being there waiting in ambush in my golf cart with camo netting all over it and a 2x4 clamped across the front roof supports for a rifle rest.Yep,I have it going on.It sorta puts you in mind of Fred Flintstone,doesn't it ?

I remember taping a flashlight to the barrel of my 39A and going to the dump to shoot rats at night.  That was a long time ago when I was a 'yoot in southern Illinois....pre-FOID and pre-EPA.  Ah, those were the good 'ol days.

I wish I still had that 39A.   

I still have mine