4-97’s, 4 calibres and 2 gel rabbits

[crowski]

Pouring rain all day = gun day. Today I’m comparing 4 - 97’s all different calibers. .177, .20, .22 and .25.

Shooting them into Clear Balistics Gelatin. Two rabbits.

The first was the .177 to see distance travelled with JSB 8.44 through the gel. 7 inches dead on was on my tape rule.

The .20 travelled 7 7/8 inches. JSB 13.73

The .22 travelled 6 7/8 inches JSB 15.89

The .25 travelled 6 3/4 inches JSB 25.39

No science behind here so I put them beside each other and shot through the sides of both rabbits to see what happens.

They all when through the first this is penetration through the second.
.177 went 2 3/4 inch into second rabbit
.20 went clean through both.
.22 went 1 3/8 inch through second rabbit.
.25 went 7/8 inch through second rabbit
Interestingly the .20 seemed to out perform in both tests by a landslide. ?
Just a wet fun day thought I would share. Crow

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Oh what a blast that had to be!!

 

[0akhonor]

That's very interesting. You would think the heavier calibers would penetrate further. I'd have to suspect that the additional width created enough drag to overcome momentum quicker than the narrower calibers. Any chance you could post the crony numbers as well?
In my personal experience, just talking about ground squirrels, The 177 cleanly kills what I often have to take two pellets to do in the larger calibers. When we get up to 30 Cal it's a whole different ball game but I like 177 for many species

 

[bdzjlz]

What fpe are you shooting at Crowe?

 

[Ranchibi]

.20 is so UNDERRATED! With the slug market heating up, wondering why more AG manufacturers are not producing some .20 cals to test the waters. Great small cal platform. I guess one could purchase a .20 barrel and machine a probe.....

 

[bf1956]

For P-Dogs 20's are all the rage, that is powder burner.

 

[patrikky]

I like all four calibers however .20 is my go to for most hunting. I will sometimes use ..177 for starlings and .25 for bigger rodents. .22 is redundant for me.

 

[uglymike]

Same spring/tune inside all 4?

 

[bdzjlz]

I have four 97s, two in .177, one in .20, and one in .22. All are extremely accurate and dependable.

 

[crowski]

Oh what a blast that had to be!!

It was, big time. The gel is fun and interesting. When I got the 2 rabbits I bought a rectangler mould. You can melt them down and reuse. Crow

That's very interesting. You would think the heavier calibers would penetrate further. I'd have to suspect that the additional width created enough drag to overcome momentum quicker than the narrower calibers. Any chance you could post the crony numbers as well?
In my personal experience, just talking about ground squirrels, The 177 cleanly kills what I often have to take two pellets to do in the larger calibers. When we get up to 30 Cal it's a whole different ball game but I like 177 for many species

It’s really interesting. I have a few others I want to compare.
The crony numbers are an average of the last time I cronied that gun.
.177– 867 fps.
.20– 735 fps. Vortek spring. Before spring was 720 fps.
.22– 630 fps.
.25– 550 fps.
Crow

What fpe are you shooting at Crowe?

Don’t know. Never Calculated. Crow

.20 is so UNDERRATED! With the slug market heating up, wondering why more AG manufacturers are not producing some .20 cals to test the waters. Great small cal platform. I guess one could purchase a .20 barrel and machine a probe.....

You’re a hundred percent correct. The Vortek increased the speed by 15 fps. It blew through the 2 rabbits side, need a third rabbit. I like it’s accuracy as well. Crow

For P-Dogs 20's are all the rage, that is powder burner.

I don’t know about P-Dogs, but they’re on the money. Crow

I like all four calibers however .20 is my go to for most hunting. I will sometimes use ..177 for starlings and .25 for bigger rodents. .22 is redundant for me.

I’m with you. My .20 stole the show. Love them all. My .25 is special, I’m lethal with it. Crow

Same spring/tune inside all 4?

I tried. I have 6 - 97’s, the .20 is the only one with Vortek spring only, no piston seal. All the rest, never opened. I will put Vortek’s in the rest, and do again, one day. Crow

 

[Farmplinker2]

Crap! Now I gotta get a .20!

 

[crowski]

Crap! Now I gotta get a .20!

AOA has them. Feel like a sales man! Crow

 

[drsquall]

AOA has them. Feel like a sales man! Crow

Do you like that blue laminate stock? How does that synthetic stock with a thumb hole feel and shoot compared to the laminate. I am going to get a 20 and get it set up for Field Target. That way I can switch between the TX and it
Thanks
Jon

 

[Frogy]

It was, big time. The gel is fun and interesting. When I got the 2 rabbits I bought a rectangler mould. You can melt them down and reuse. Crow

It’s really interesting. I have a few others I want to compare.
The crony numbers are an average of the last time I cronied that gun.
.177– 867 fps.
.20– 735 fps. Vortek spring. Before spring was 720 fps.
.22– 630 fps.
.25– 550 fps.
Crow

Don’t know. Never Calculated. Crow

You’re a hundred percent correct. The Vortek increased the speed by 15 fps. It blew through the 2 rabbits side, need a third rabbit. I like it’s accuracy as well. Crow

I don’t know about P-Dogs, but they’re on the money. Crow

I’m with you. My .20 stole the show. Love them all. My .25 is special, I’m lethal with it. Crow

I tried. I have 6 - 97’s, the .20 is the only one with Vortek spring only, no piston seal. All the rest, never opened. I will put Vortek’s in the rest, and do again, one day. Crow

With the pellets you’re using and feet per second you posted an usin AOA calculator. The 177 is 14.09 ft lbs. the 20 is 16.47 ftlbs. The 22 is 14.01 ftlbs. The 25 is 17.06 ftlbs No wonder the 20 is a smoker. Thank you for posting. ( Frogy )

 

[bdzjlz]

My blue laminate 97 is tuned just short of 14 fpe. The .20 and 22 are right there with your .20 and they hit like a hammer.