22 compared to 25 caliber PCP

[DHart]

If hunting and greater than about 60 yard range is important to you, for the bulk of what you need it for, I'd say go .25.

But for shorter distances, with a mix of target and small pesting, a potent .22, especially one with multiple power levels, is the sweet spot in my view.

For myself, not needing to reach out farther than about 60 yards, I find the Red Wolf .22 High Power to be ideal. On high power, it can launch 25.4 gr JSB Monsters at somewhat under 1000 fps for 50 fpe (getting about 85 shots on an air fill), which is a seriously respectable and hard-hitting pellet! Or, power down to low power, with about 32 fpe and launch 18 gr. pellets at targets, getting about 150 shots on an air fill.

You get great versatility with a .22.

You've got to examine your unique shooting needs carefully before deciding what caliber will serve you best.

 

[steve-l]

I have a FX Crown in 25 and a Artemis PP700S-A in 22. They cover every thing I want to do with an air weapon. I question John's estimate of range though. The 25 does reach out to 100 yds, but the drop is around 2 feet. If you check the ballistic tables with Chair Gun, all pellets fall very quickly after that and that is their advantage. If your purpose requires greater ranges, ballistic coefficients and cost, use bullets and powder burners.

 

[Saltlake58]

I have both .22 and .25. The .22 is treat out to about 75 yards, but unfortunately, for me seems to tumble around 100 yards making accuracy problematic. While I haven't had teh .25 out to 100 yet, but since it does so well at Extreme Bench, I don't think there will be any problems reaching 100 yards and then some.

.22 is less expensive, and takes less air, lower energy at around 22. to 28 fpe for me, with the .25 reaching 48 fpe and requiring more air. Since I shoot bench most often, those items are what's most important for me.

 

[Hookster]

You can shoot 100 yards easily with modern PCPs. Started shooting the Mrods in .177 at the 100 yard starling tree out back and dumped many. Now with Redwolf and WCs the tree still stands at 100 yards and the birds keep falling. Practice at long range and you will be shocked at just how far you can accurately shoot. My RW HP .22 is sighted in at 80 yards, 2 mil hold for 100 and 4 mil hold at 130 yards. The little wild green apple tree out back at 130 has lost many apples so far this year. They average 2-3 inches around. Not bad for a pellet gun. The 22 cal 25gr JSB redesigned has changed my .25cal outlook. 

 

[Dairyboy]

To me I prefer a .22 much more than .25. I've had bad luck with bad tins of .25 pellets and left a bad taste in my mouth. For most my shooting .22 suffices. With my WARP I can shoot squirrels out to 100yds no issues at all if I do my part and have hold over correct. However I also have a .30 barrel but use that more for fun than anything and if I need to for coyote or something. With a Donnyfl Shogun my .30 is seriously backyard friendly. But I live in the country as well so have no worries of neighbors complaining and plenty of places to shoot a high powered one safley.

Personally though I think we're heading towards slugs in PCP use so much so I plan on setting one up to use .177 slugs and .25 slugs. 

 

[DonC]

JSB sells .177 pellets that weigh the same as .22caliber.

 

[Scrufhunter]

Question, I only have .177's. I mostly shoot around the property. I have thought about getting a 22. Just to buy and try one. but I wonder about having to much power? The other day I shot my block wall from 75 yards and was surprised the pellet stuck in the block. Now just barley but that made me wonder if I would regret more foot pounds than the .177.



thanks

I have noticed using a 22 vs 177 at about the same FPE the 177 will penetrate just about every material further than the 22. The 22 seems to shed all of its energy upon impact vs the 177 will just punch a 177 size hole into/threw things. So with my NP break barrels, we shot at an old microwave, the 22 left a big smack and dent. The 177 left a smaller dent , but fully penetrated the sheet metal. When shooting at birds. It seems when I hit a bird the bird bounces off of the 22 but when i nail it with the 177 it blazes right threw them. both those NP guns are 17/18fpe guns or so says the box. I'll take the 177 all day every day

 

[2manyAirGunz]

"...The 22 seems to shed all of its energy upon impactvs the 177 will just punch a 177 size hole into/threw things..."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like the .22 cal is doing exactly what I want a bullet to do on impact.

A bullet passing through a target amounts to wasted energy beyond the target/down range.

Also, my .22 caliber PCPs all deliver 32-35 fpe stock, straight out the box.

To each his own though.

 

[2manyAirGunz]

"...The 22 seems to shed all of its energy upon impactvs the 177 will just punch a 177 size hole into/threw things..."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like the .22 cal is doing exactly what I want a bullet to do on impact.

A bullet passing through a target amounts to wasted energy beyond the target/down range.

Also, my .22 caliber PCPs all deliver 32-35 fpe stock, straight out the box.

To each his own though.

 

[Scrufhunter]

well when it sheds it energy and the bird flys off its pretty much useless to me as opposed to a pellet that goes threw the bird and kills it where it stands but i guess each his own

I only mentioned the NP's because they are the only 2 guns I have that are comparable as far as FPE/power plant. But I guess if you use a 22 it needs to be over 30fpe to work as good as a 177 @ 17/18fpe

 

[Hookster]

When I shot 10.5 gr .177 pellets at 900 fps I lost very little game, like wood chucks, skunks, possums etc. When I switched to .22 cal shooting around the same fps 870-900 I did see a difference with how the critters reacted when hit. I shot same area on the game but they didn't get "Anchored" like I was used to seeing with the .177. The 22 cal was with the standard 18.1gr, when switching to 25gr JSBs this has gone away and critters are "Anchored" again. You need penetration to break bones/skulls. As for the comparison of .22 VS .25 what I have seen and keep in mind I shoot animals not much paper, if the weights are equal and fps is close the .22 flys better and penetrates further. When i use 34gr 25cal the penetration is as good or better than the 25gr 22cal. So you have a 25cal wound channel and complete past thru on fair sized game like woodchucks, raccoons etc.