Bench rest air rifle power - 8 or 16 Joule

[Discocom]

Would welcome some advice on .177 target air rifle power as follows...

First question...

What is the maximum range an 8 Joule 10m target air rifle (such as a Walther LG400) can be used accurately at?

The reason I ask, is that I want to shoot either indoor 25 yard (NSRA 2510BR15-18 target) or 20 yard bench rest (NSRA 2010 BR17)

Will a modern 10m pcp 10m target rifle be accurate at the above ranges. As I can then use it for 10m, put a scope on and then shoot the above too.

Second question...

Am I right to assume that I would need a 16 Joule air rifle to shoot out to 50m?

look forward to responses.

cheers

[wellhouse0]

realistically you need a 12ft/lb 16 joule rifle for 25-50yd benchrest.

[robthedog]

I have a couple of hw 99's & they are reduced in power to about 7.5ftlb, i only shoot them at 6yds & 10m. But out of interest i tried one at 25m, using the standard open sights, & from a rest i got a sub 5p size 5 shot group.
This has made me re think as to what power i need to make holes in paper, so don't be put off by low power rifles

[wellhouse0]

I have a couple of hw 99's & they are reduced in power to about 7.5ftlb, i only shoot them at 6yds & 10m. But out of interest i tried one at 25m, using the standard open sights, & from a rest i got a sub 5p size 5 shot group.
This has made me re think as to what power i need to make holes in paper, so don't be put off by low power rifles

realistically if he wants to be competitive a 5p size group is not going to cut it, the bull size is only slightly bigger than the pellet, take into account windage on a low power rifle and the scores will be well down. At 50 - well good luck! Stick with a 16joule for 25-50 if you want to be competitive. If you only do 25 then the lower power will do the job but bear in mind some comps/clubs are outdoors and you will definitely be at a disadvantage. I'm struggling to think of anyone i've seen using a 10m rifle at 50m competitively against 12joule and FAC .22 which generally shoot in the same class as each other. Someone i dare say will prove me wrong!

[silversurfer]

I shoot 20 yards pistol (PL15 Target) with a Steyr LP5, the power is approximately 4 ft lbs 480 - 500 FPS with a 7 grain pellet.
The pistol is capable of maximum scores at this range, but unfortunately my ability isn’t!

A 6ft lbs rifle like the LG400 should be equally capable at 25 yards on an indoor range.

[wellhouse0]

I shoot 20 yards pistol (PL15 Target) with a Steyr LP5, the power is approximately 4 ft lbs 480 - 500 FPS with a 7 grain pellet.
The pistol is capable of maximum scores at this range, but unfortunately my ability isn’t!

A 6ft lbs rifle like the LG400 should be equally capable at 25 yards on an indoor range.

pistol targets are much bigger