.22 hunting for rabbits and small game

[Snowwalker]

I often shoot them around our yard with my .177 cal. air gun@ 1100fps. plus , the lead pellets I use leave more bloodshot meat on the rabbits than a . 22 cal. rifle does , just have to keep the range a little closer., but it is an instant kill.

The expanion and energy transfer for a soft lead pellet compared to the harder 22 bullet is night and day.
The pellet is going to expand and dump it's energy in to the rabbit, with just enough to carry it a few feet after exiting. The 22 on the other hand will pass through giving up a little of energy, and then fly on for many yards if it does not strike a backstop.
By the way a 1000+Fps Air rifle will kill a skunk very dead. The skull is thinner then that of a rabbit.

[Hunter John]

It will also kill a coon and I heard that it will kill a feral cat dead if hit in the lungs.

[poltrojan]

well we had to hold off our hunt due to freezing rain, ice and unfavorable conditions in unknown crown land to us. since its our first hunt, safety is a priority and we don't have a guide hunter in those woods. although hopefully next week January 31st,2015 will be sunnier. *sigh*

now looks like our family dog 'Rex' pure bread English Springier Spaniel was going ecstatic when he saw us gearing up. were gonna have to get him a jacket (orange) and a dog license.

now getting a dog license, which means our family dog can legally go out in field with us. were still new to this. trying to help my dad out with regulations.

[Richie Hastings]

The expanion and energy transfer for a soft lead pellet compared to the harder 22 bullet is night and day.
The pellet is going to expand and dump it's energy in to the rabbit, with just enough to carry it a few feet after exiting. The 22 on the other hand will pass through giving up a little of energy, and then fly on for many yards if it does not strike a backstop.
By the way a 1000+Fps Air rifle will kill a skunk very dead. The skull is thinner then that of a rabbit.

Thats why I'm thinking for small game, and skillful fun, an air gun requiring a permit might be a "safer" option as opposed to a .22 rimfire.
Plus the cost of ammo is peanuts.

[dutchhunter]

well we had to hold off our hunt due to freezing rain, ice and unfavorable conditions in unknown crown land to us. since its our first hunt, safety is a priority and we don't have a guide hunter in those woods. although hopefully next week January 31st,2015 will be sunnier. *sigh*

now looks like our family dog 'Rex' pure bread English Springier Spaniel was going ecstatic when he saw us gearing up. were gonna have to get him a jacket (orange) and a dog license.

now getting a dog license, which means our family dog can legally go out in field with us. were still new to this. trying to help my dad out with regulations.

you only need a dog lic if you are hunting big game deer moose ,or coon at night ,no need to spend the money on a dog lic if you are just hunting bunnys and birds .I do put a bell on my dog when she is running in the bush .good luck Dutch

[Snowwalker]

Thats why I'm thinking for small game, and skillful fun, an air gun requiring a permit might be a "safer" option as opposed to a .22 rimfire.
Plus the cost of ammo is peanuts.

Yes and a few raccoons and skunks have found new places to sleep, when the neighbours give the nod..
In a place where people have dogs and gardens lots of uses for a good springer Air Rifle.

[smitty55]

My understanding is that once an air rifle pellet gets closer to and over 1000fps it can start to tumble, causing a good loss of accuracy. That is why competitive air gun shooters stick to speeds under 1000. Those alloy pellets are no good for hunting like was mentioned and are just so they can market the gun as being faster. Stick with .22 cal, it has much more punch than a .177 and actually catches up to the .177 in speed after some distance. I have a Nitro Venom Crosman with a gas cylinder and it's amazing what it does to a squirrel at 40+ yards. Not the most expensive to be sure but it does the trick just fine.

Cheers

[Snowwalker]

My understanding is that once an air rifle pellet gets closer to and over 1000fps it can start to tumble, causing a good loss of accuracy.

They spiral not tumble. If your pellets are spiralling you simple need to move to a heavier pellet. Most pellet used for .177 for example are 6.5 or 7.6 Grain. Simple moving to a pellet in the 8 to 9 or even 10 grain weight class will stabilize it.

[Danny20gauge]

Ted's Holdover did a video on this. The sweet spot is lower than 1000 fps (not quite sure exact velocity) but if you find that video it will answer a lot of peoples questions. Some people here are thinking of using a .22 air rifle as a substitute to a .22 powder burner, they are very very different. With a .22lr you can shoot from 50 yards easily and hit anywhere torso to head and your guaranteed a kill on a rabbit, with a .22 air rifle your gonna need a really good quality air rifle and scope with the proper holdover calculations( or dial in the adjustments) and then you have to dope for wind and then you have a very small room for error. If you look at the YouTube air gun hunters and see there equipment (scope, scope mounts, rifle, and upgrades/accessories) its usually in the thousands. Whereas a semi auto .22lr can be had for less than $200

[smitty55]

They spiral not tumble. If your pellets are spiralling you simple need to move to a heavier pellet. Most pellet used for .177 for example are 6.5 or 7.6 Grain. Simple moving to a pellet in the 8 to 9 or even 10 grain weight class will stabilize it.

Agreed. And spiraling would be be the first symptom of a pellet starting to tumble as speed increases. The whole design of a pellet is to stabilize it and keep it from tumbling in the first place, which I'm sure would happen eventually, regardless of pellet weight.

Here's a great article I just found on airguns. Explains it real well. http://www.pyramydair.com/article/Ve...s_April_2003/2

I'm by no means an expert. I've seen a bunch of those youtube vids, and those slowmo shots at birds are amazing. Some real neat night time rat shooting vids too.

With apologies to the OP if I wandered off topic too far.

Cheers