Best .22 pellets for rats that don’t blast through

[NotSure2020]

I have been picking off rats at close range (sub 10 yards) in the backyard. I was using a 1322 but I just got my p-rod to where I wanted to give it a go. Man it was so satisfying, perfect shot through the heart out quick. I am currently using Crosman premier ultra mag 14.3 gr as they have been by far the most consistent and accurate on both guns. My issue is that even with the 1322 it’s going through them and hitting the fence or whatever is behind it which is definitely impacting my confidence in taking shots due to both noise and potential for damaging neighbors property. I was under the impression that maybe I wasn’t getting a good enough shot with the 1322 and the p-rod might fix this. While I feel it is slightly more accurate the pellet definitely blew through that sucker and thwacked the fence behind it last night making a little dent and a decently loud noise. Like I said it was a perfectly placed shot so my initial suspicion was incorrect and now I’m leaning to potential pellet change up as an alternative. TLDR: Are hollow points or wadcutters or other pellet shapes more likely to stay in the animal instead of blasting through?

 

[Gerry52]

Try H&N Hunter, Hunter Extreme or Crow Magnums. The Hunters & Crow Magnums have large open "hollow points". Both shot well out of my Bobcat, .22 at that distance. Should help with pass through.

 

[NotSure2020]

Try H&N Hunter, Hunter Extreme or Crow Magnums. The Hunters & Crow Magnums have large open "hollow points". Both shot well out of my Bobcat, .22 at that distance. Should help with pass through.

Thank you, Do you find they stay in the rat or just don’t blast out as much?

 

[Gerry52]

Thank you, Do you find they stay in the rat or just don’t blast out as much?

Some stay but even the ones that don't are SERIOUSLY slowed down by their expansion through the rat. Like hitting them with a brick.

 

[Zebra13]

I would try a lightweight, target/wadcutter type of pellet. The light weight of the pellet, coupled with the flat, near full diameter nose of the pellet, should help reduce penetration.

Can a P-rod be tuned down? I am unfamiliar with them. If they can, that would be another option. It doesn’t take a whole lot of foot pounds to kill a rat.

Justin

 

[NotSure2020]

I would try a lightweight, target/wadcutter type of pellet. The light weight of the pellet, coupled with the flat, near full diameter nose of the pellet, should help reduce penetration.

Can a P-rod be tuned down? I am unfamiliar with them. If they can, that would be another option. It doesn’t take a whole lot of foot pounds to kill a rat.

Justin

So it’s unregulated, but yes they can be tuned. As I’m a newb and have read that doing so can mess with the noise level which is a priority, I am trying to do the least invasive changes possible first. But I have considered this as well. Still need to right pellets though.

 

[beerthief]

How did you do with the 1322 ? still pass through ? pump one time less or 2 or 3 ?

 

[kwaping]

I would try a lightweight, target/wadcutter type of pellet. The light weight of the pellet, coupled with the flat, near full diameter nose of the pellet, should help reduce penetration.

I thought this same thing, but it's not going to plan. My 18.8 wadcutters are going through the rats, while my 25.39 JTS are not. Counterintuitive but that's what happened. So, avoid the wadcutters.

 

[NotSure2020]

How did you do with the 1322 ? still pass through ? pump one time less or 2 or 3 ?

Yea surprisingly the 1322 would also go through which has a max of 4-500fps reported although I don’t have a chrony it has been slightly modded. I am doing a full 10 pumps bc less seems inhumane. I was convinced I just wasn’t landing the shot centrally enough to have them absorb the impact initially. Idk about doing like 7-8pumps though, I didn’t even really consider it bc it seems like they are pretty slow just the ammo I’m using likes to go right through em.

 

[rangur1]

Predator polymags.

 

[NotSure2020]

I thought this same thing, but it's not going to plan. My 18.8 wadcutters are going through the rats, while my 25.39 JTS are not. Counterintuitive but that's what happened. So, avoid the wadcutters.

Idk what gun you’re using them on but I’d almost guess it’s bc they’re so heavy and maybe don’t have enough power behind them bc yea I’d assume at that grain they’d be going through and then some

 

[MJS]

Try RWS Hobby 11.9 gr wadcutter in the 1322 with 5 pumps. Good knock down punch. Cheap and pretty consistent.

 

[Ranchibi]

Softer lead pellets usually flatten out more upon impact to bone....I use JSB 18gr @ 700fps thru my Notos @ 10-20yds on rats and no pass throughs when aim is at vitals....I do get pass throughs on all head shots.

 

[RoosterCogburn]

In my experience, HN baracuda hunter and hunter extremes expand and dump energy incredibly well

 

[kwaping]

Idk what gun you’re using them on but I’d almost guess it’s bc they’re so heavy and maybe don’t have enough power behind them bc yea I’d assume at that grain they’d be going through and then some

They're actually both going around 930 fps from my Blackwolf. I know what you mean though, it's hard for me to understand as well.

 

[NotSure2020]

Softer lead pellets usually flatten out more upon impact to bone....I use JSB 18gr @ 700fps thru my Notos @ 10-20yds on rats and no pass throughs when aim is at vitals....I do get pass throughs on all head shots.

Did you tune down the notos or that’s the stock fps? Mine is out the box but seems like it’s packing a big punch.

 

[Berserkeley Mike]

At that distance a lightweight pellet loaded and shot backwards might still be accurate enough, and will both lose energy fast if it misses and expand if it hits.

 

[Back_Roads]

Did you tune down the notos or that’s the stock fps? Mine is out the box but seems like it’s packing a big punch.

Easy way to detune a Notos is to clock the barrel so the transfer port is partly blocked, it can be reset to the barrel divots to be back to normal easily.

 

[Ranchibi]

Did you tune down the notos or that’s the stock fps? Mine is out the box but seems like it’s packing a big punch.

That is how I got it shooting 700fps with 18gr.....FYI