Comparing rimfires to pcp performance is really comparing apples to oranges. To suggest that pcp's can be substituted for rimfires out to 200 yds in my view is a misapplication of the pcp technology. I love air rifles, rimfires and centerfire rifles and have had the great good fortune of owning quite a bunch of the centerfires and rimfires over the years. I am recently coming back to air rifles and having a great load of fun with them. They all have their place and role in the hunters gun cabinet and in the field. What I see happening is the passion for pcp's getting in the way of clear, objective definition of their capabilities and role to the hunter. Let's review some facts: the laws of physics of compressed air draws hard limits in the design of the power plant of an air rifle as they function in the range of 3,000 psi. The chamber pressure of the lowly 22 lr is 24,000 psi. So although they both launch a projectile they are very different. A 22 wmr firing a 35 gr bullet at 2,350 fps, zeroed at 100 yds will drop around 6 inches at 200 yards. A 17 hmr can do a bit better. A 22 air rifle shooting a slug at 980 fps, zeroed at 100 yds will drop 48 inches at 200 yds. If a light 5 mph cross breeze is blowing it will drift off course almost 10 inches. Air rifles, due to their low velocity, poor ballistic coefficients have limitations. Understanding these, accepting these and then performing in the field within these limits is the challenge. I humbly submit that the pcp is not the best choice for hunting out at 200 yards, it has the foot pounds to do the job on small game, but field accuracy even with good range finders is problematic. The 22 lr probably isn't the best 200 yd choice. The 22 wmr would be my choice, the 17hmr is flatter shooting, but the light projectile is more susceptible to wind. Personally I do not shoot at game at 200 plus yds, I am not consistently accurate enough shooting under field conditions to place a 10 shot group in the size of the animals kills zone every time at that range.(not talking bench rest shooting here) There are those that can, but they are fewer than we sometimes like to admit. My furthest shot, standing, off hand was 177 yards on a Maine moose with a .300 Weatherby. I shot a woodchuck at 127 paces with a Springfield 22 lr with peep sight from a rest, an 8 point Idaho buck at 120 yds, standing, off hand with a Winchester Model 70 .30-06. Those represent the furthest shots in a lifetime of hunting with a good many animals put in the freezer.
With regards to reliability of rimfire ammo, testing of over 3,500 rounds of rimfire ammo of many makes and lots showed a fail to fire rate of .26% or less than 3 per 1,000 rounds. (study posted on Rimfire Central). While that may give one pause if considering a rimfire for self defense, it is a non issue in hunting. With regards to the weight of the rimfire ammo to lug around, please..... be serious.
I am in no way intending to offend the OP. He is obviously a dedicated sportsman and serious about what he does. I am not questioning his ethics or intentions. I am simply questioning the 200 yd capabilities of air rifles for small game and the passions of pcp enthusiasts in making such claims, that is why I am presenting some facts for the communities consideration. It is extremely important for us as sportsmen and women to objectively select the best tools for the job when harvesting animals. Hunting itself is at stake, the anti-hunters are ever present. No one can do that for us, it is the responsibility of this community to set the bar high, place tough standards of performance on ourselves and operate within strict performance limits that we willingly place on ourselves if we wish to maintain credibility and integrity.
