Air Gun Home :: View topic

diipii · Member

I am considering buying a new springer and was contemplating which caliber to choose.
Given the available energy is the same for both calibers a heavy .177 might carry it's velocity and accuracy farther than a similar weight .22. (due to smaller frontal area and drag)
I would be grateful for any facts shooters might have to aid my decision.

rsterne · Moderator

You will get lots of opinions on this.... I personally prefer .22 for hunting because of the extra momentum of the larger pellet.... Even if the energy is the same (and in most guns, especially Springers, the .22 version has a bit more energy than .177).... the larger caliber has more "knockdown" power....

The accuracy of both calibers is indistinguishable (unless you shoot FT and are trying to stuff the pellet through a 1/4" hole).... The performance at longer ranges is a combination of two factors.... Muzzle Velocity (MV) and the Ballistics Coefficient (BC) of the pellet....

The MV will be higher in a .177 compared to the same gun in .22, no argument.... This is an advantage in low to medium powered guns.... but may be a disadvantage in the higher powered guns as the pellet gets into the transonic (or even supersonic) region it becomes less efficient, and may become unstable and begin to tumble.... With the highest powered guns, you will have to use heavier pellets to stay subsonic.... and staying under transonic (~950 fps) will usually give better accuracy and actually keep the pellet in it's best BC range....

The BC of the pellet is a measure of how much energy the pellet retains.... higher BCs are better.... Pellets are very inefficient compared to bullets.... even a .22 rimfire has a far more efficient bullet shape.... Flat nosed pellets (known as wadcutters) have the lowest BC (0.009 - 0.012) and are really only suitable at close ranges.... True round nosed pellets have the highest BCs (0.020 - 0.050) and are the best choice for long range shooting.... they retain more energy, and have a flatter trajectory.... Domed, pointed, and hollow-point pellets generally fall in between (0.011 - 0.018).... The BC is further complicated by the MV of the rifle shooting them.... The BC of wadcutters tends to get worse at high velocities.... while round nose pellets tend to get better until they get in the transonic range when the BC starts to drop again....

Generally speaking.... within a given caliber.... heavier pellets have a better BC than light pellets of similar shape.... When comparing different calibers, all that really matters is the MV and BC.... Higher MVs and higher BCs.... both give flatter trajectories and have less wind deflection (except for some cases in the transonic range).... When you look at virtually identical pellets in .177 and .22.... the edge in BC seems to go to the .22 cal.... This means that in higher powered airguns, the .22, and not the .177, will have the better long range performance.... but only by a small margin, and only with the proper pellets....

A .22 Springer, compared to the same gun in .177.... will always have more "smack" at whatever range with similar pellets.... Up until you run into transonic velocities (ie a "Magnum" springer).... the .177 will have a flatter trajectory.... One additional factor.... pellets in .177 tend to be cheaper than in .22 cal....

Bob

Slavia · Moderator

T191032 · Veteran Member

Or select an airgun using the .20 caliber. . .

I've got mostly .177s in the stable (Spring piston and Multi-pump Pneumatic), with only two .22 calibers, both of them spring-pistons. Since I don't exactly do much "hunting", just paper punching, I go .177s I guess.