Quite right, shot placement is the key.
I have shot deer that dropped on the spot, then some that have run on over 40 yards, the main reasons are shot placement and the effect of the bullet doing its job effectively on hitting the target. Close up shots in my experience on deer do not see the bullet being able to expand to its full potential and thus creating the biggest possible wound channel, this is similar in the case of the smaller .177 pellet in the example I gave before with the through and through scenarios.
All projectiles will have an ideal distance whereby it will release its full potential of energy to the target. This coupled with the correct placement is the key to the success of the hunt. I guess the .22 and its ability to deliver more energy at sub 12ft/lb ranges is "easier" once you have mastered the loopy trajectory and accurate range finding skills or just good Olde experience.
Hence where I mentioned practice, practice and more practice.
Could go on forever with this debate man ....Ha Ha ..... Anything with a hole drilled through its brain is not gonna run/fly away
Everybody takes Dear and Fox with body shots so ya will get the odd one where shock alone is not enough to drop them and they will try to escape(its instinct)
I hit a woody years ago with a .22 Field Target Trophy right between the shoulder blades at about 40yds and it flew about 50yds before its wings folded and it crashed down
That was when i decided head shots only for me
I have shot all airgun quarry from young rats to rabbits and all the corvids with .177,used all weights and style pellets
I have found that a good well made domed pellet that we use in FT or HFT is the best as they are more accurate over distance.
Just punch a hole through its brain at 10 or 55yds and it drops
A sniper can take out a target at 1.5km with a 7.6mm round , and will use same rifle and calibre at 150yds ....
Stay cool man and keep shooting
VAYA CON DIOS
I swapped from .22-.177 a while back and to be quite honest with you matey I struggled a bit with it, correct holdover etc but have since bought a pcp in .22 so at the moment I have a 95k in .177 and a Venom Viper in .22 and to be honest they're both as accurate as each other by virtue of .177 vs recoil-less PCP...
Unless you can afford to lose money if it doesn't work out, my advice would be to stick with what you know !
Also shot placement isn't quite as critical with .22, I've taken a shot or two with the .177 that didn't exactly go to plan but I know the full well the .22 would have pulled it off, on the flip side .177 forces you to concentrate on head shots rather than any other area, great for your on aim stability !!!
The main problem I'm struggling with at the moment is finding a decent scope where the p.o.i doesn't shift when you alter the magnification or parallax, unlike my "Nikko Airking" or my "Hawke Reflex" or my blah blah blah !!!
Last edited by TORNADOS7; 20-04-2014 at 02:36 PM.
If you get the correct frequency target designator laser you should be able to see the whole beam, but the shallow angle means you will be looking along it so it will appear more of a dot.
Easier & cheaper is to make a life size rabbit target and note how big it is on your reticle at pre measured ranges (I have no idea what ret your NV has) ie at 20yds it takes 4 dots, 30yds 3 dots, 40yds 2 dots.
I found the decision easier than most.....177.
Looking at Hatchers theory (as I did all those years back) ftlb delivery doesn't matter a rats ass if the gun is producing in excess of 10.5ftlbs (a fairly easy feat even with an old HW50) because either calibre will retain enough oomph to clean kill out to 40yds with correct shot placement. Even a .177 will retain 6ftlbs at 45 to 50yds....more than enough to kill creatures upto the size of a Rabbit but where our rifle will more likely be making 11.5ftlbs....giving a surplus for margin of error.
So we forget energy retention but look closely at accuracy.
Here's my own findings.....
Pair of Theoben Rapid 7s 1998 Benched with an old 4-12 x 40 Nikko.
Zero being most reliably undertaken at 10 yards for this purpose only .....identical group at 10 yards.
20yds 1/2 inch low .22....177 1/8th above sight line (pellet still rising slightly above the point of aim)
30yds 1.2 inch low .22 ...177 back on point of aim zero after an initial rise.
35 yds 1.9 inch low .22 .....177 1/8 inch low
40yds 2.3 inch low.........177 1/2 inch low
45yds 2.9 inch low.........177 3/4 inch low.
My conclusion realised the .22 zeroed at 10 meters had a vertical group size of almost 3 inch potential when shot at the various ranges but the .177 was still within 1 inch or well within the recommended kill zone.
Case closed...easier and more reliably accurate as a pure point of physical laws and only one zero being required for most of your sub 40yd shooting.
Only argument I can think of is that some guns are not as good in .177....especially springers but choosing a gun efficient in .177 cal leaves the .22 argument mute.
Last edited by clarky; 20-04-2014 at 05:43 PM.
Interesting Clarky - however consider a little breeze that moves from 2-3 to 4-5 mph (and that's not much breeze) moving left to right and then vice-versa - well then at 45 odd yards you have about an inch and 1/2 left to an inch and a 1/2 right - which in such a situation gives 3 inches of potential eddy and miss/wound potential that although improved by better pellets remains pretty darn close irrespective of .177 or .22.
Sub 12 unless its really still or the breeze is constant I think it's too much of a crap shoot much beyond 35 yards and a lot less in some situations.
I think and therefore...... I refuse to steal someone else's quote to try to sound more erudite or profound than I actually am.
Very good post man........ .177 lot more forgiving..... think about FT or HFT...which actually use large kill zones
Almost everyone who wants to score well uses .177 cos if ya dont hit the kill ya dont score
Relying on a calibre 1mm larger in diameter but double the weight makes no sense , in case ya miss the vital and hope the pellet does enough damage anyway
Shooting anything living should be humane and not a roulette.
Use 177 and head shots only
VAYA CON DIOS