Caliber choice for pesting

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Corvid_hunter

Corvid_hunter

Member
Dec 21, 2019
1,737
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Ontario, Canada
I was thinking about pesting this morning and how penetration, or pass through, can be an issue. If you had 3 rifles all at the same power level (12ftlbs .177cal, .22cal and .25cal), would the .177cal would have the highest chance of pass through on something like a rat sized target? Although the flat trajectory of the .177cal would be nice, perhaps the .25cal would be the best choice if pass through was a concern. Or would they all be similar?

722fps 10.34gr JSB 11.97ftlbs

545fps 18.13gr JSB 11.96ftlbs

460fps 25.39gr JSB 11.93ftlbs
 
a rat is small and close range any of them will pass through ..the energy level/velocity is going to dictate what kind of backstop your shooting at .. a wood fence with 30+ ft pounds probably isnt going to stop it where at 12 it likely would ... to me, trying various calibers really depends on game size and the situation .. maybe you want it quiet with a lower velocity on squirrel - 22 is your animal likely .. maybe your doing longer shots on chipmunks - a 17 will shoot flatter .. or maybe you got a big bunny eating your garden thats ears stick up about waist high lol - a 25 at 50+ ft lbs would be the way to go ...
 
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For inside try 5.7 grain H&N leadfree pellets at 700 fps. I use them in my yard for house sparrows and rats, unless windy they are deadly accurate out to 35 yards at lowly 500fps out of my 1701P. Still can drop pigeons at 10 yards but due to low weight they lose steam really fast pass 15 yards so as safe as you can get. I’ve headshot house sparrows many times at 35 yards when wind allows, it makes a very quiet tick sound so crazy mouse fart quiet. 
 
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I pest with a Classic Leshiy that I have many barrels for.

In the ~14 FPE range it is quieter in 25 cal & I seem to get less pass through on rabbits, at least with domes. Now using 25 Polymags which seem better.

The loopy trajectory is no disadvantage in the area I shoot rabbits & is maybe even an advantage given the PBR with 25.

If I shot rabbits over greater distances or I used the same rifle to shoot targets & pests then I'd shoot 177 or 22 wadcutters. 
 
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I have a couple farmers that I clear pests from inside their barns on occasion, I use my RWS 75 TO1 match rifle with wadcutter .177 pellets @ 585fps. Never had a pass thru even at close range and it wont damage building of animals in case of a miss. Longest range from inside might be 30 yds and have plenty of power to make clean kills on pigeons and starlings. Rats usually take a couple shots unless I can get inside of 25 yds, then they drop like a rock!! With this rifle precise shots are quite easy, and the farmer is comfortable He wont see any damage in case of a miss.
 
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I have a couple farmers that I clear pests from inside their barns on occasion, I use my RWS 75 TO1 match rifle with wadcutter .177 pellets @ 585fps. Never had a pass thru even at close range and it wont damage building of animals in case of a miss. Longest range from inside might be 30 yds and have plenty of power to make clean kills on pigeons and starlings. Rats usually take a couple shots unless I can get inside of 25 yds, then they drop like a rock!! With this rifle precise shots are quite easy, and the farmer is comfortable He wont see any damage in case of a miss.
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Wow! I didn't realize that a .177, at around 600 fps, would take out animals like that at 25-30 yards!
 
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I remember watching a vid by a UK airgunner who is restricted to 12FPE.

Not sure of the details, but the footage showed how the rats were able to see the slow .25cal pellet and duck. Was quite a sight. If you're really interested and can't find it — I might have recorded the URL in my notes, send me a PM.

Matthias
 
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I remember watching a vid by a UK airgunner who is restricted to 12FPE.

Not sure of the details, but the footage showed how the rats were able to see the slow .25cal pellet and duck. Was quite a sight. If you're really interested and can't find it — I might have recorded the URL in my notes, send me a PM.

Matthias
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I could believe that for sure. I've shot at coyotes with my bow while hunting, are speed around 330 fps or so and have had coyotes duck the shot. I don't know if they see the arrow or the drop is just part of the prep to spring away at full speed at the sound of the shot. 
 
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Thanks for the replys. Let's narrow it down to rats and pigeons indoors in barns and machinery sheds.
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I would want to shoot the largest cal wadcutter I could at the slowest speed possible for the prey in question. 

I don't know of a 25 cal wadcutter other than making your own with molds. So maybe a Polymag with tip removed?

I wouldn't want to shoot them much slower than 450 FPS so I'd test them on some old roofing tin. 

If that didn't work out I'd try the JSB Ultra Shocks or some 20+ grain wadcutters that somebody makes & sells on Ebay.


 
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If you miss with a bigger caliber, with more retained energy, you're gonna leave a bigger dent. And if you're shooting rats, you're gonna miss....they can be fast. Another benefit to the faster .177, it's bound to get there quicker before the rat moves. 

.177 wadcutter would be your best bet if the shots are under 25 yards. That's if your gun will shoot them. 

I like a low powered .177 for situations like that personally. A .25 would be pointless IMO. 

Lots of videos on YouTube of guys in the UK hunting rats with PCPs. Look at the night vision equipped ones and you can see the pellet in flight very well. Find one shooting each caliber and see for yourself. 






 
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