Desired Feet Per Second for .22 PCP

[FineleN16]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and look forward to contributing and learning. Been a powder burner for many years but really like the PCP options. I am considering a BSA PCP airgun but the specs say the gun will max out at 800 FPS for a .22 pellet. That seems a bit slow to me. Any thoughts on whether 800 FPS is adequate for small game hunting and varmint control? 

 

[Tn_airgunner]

Which bsa you looking at? I have the bsa r10 mk2 .22 and it shoots like a dream. I haven't got to run it through the chronograph yet. Chronograph will be here Tuesday.
But it definitely has the power to kill small game.

 

[Tominco]

Welcome Finele16! 
It can depend on the brand, style, and weight of the pellet your using. Just like PB's load their own and fine tune every little detail. 
What ranges (yardage) will you be shooting at in general? 
I'd shoot 18g JSB Diabolo's at around 900fps.
Tom 

 

[FineleN16]

Thanks for your quick replies Tn_airgunner and Tom. I'm looking at the BSA r10 MK2 in .22. The online seller quotes 900 FPS but the BSA website says the max is 800 FPS.

I'm coming from an old RWS Diana Model 48 that is a side cocking gun. I want something that will have the right amount of knockdown power without breaking the 1,100 FPS sound barrier. I've heard that the sweet spot is somewhere around 900-1,100 feet per second. 

The ammo I will start with will be RWS Superdone at 14.5 grains.

Any thoughts? 

 

[fe7565]

I would like to chime in with the ammo. I used RWS Superdomes for my Airking a long time ago. Then two decades later I tried JSB's with my PCPs and I would never go back using the RWS pellets. The JSBs are superior in consistency, quality, and results. As far as the velocity for accuracy, anything over 1,000 fps and most pellets will have problems with stability. Most shoot between 860fps and 960fps, but it depends on your rifle and the pellet. I think 900fps is a good middle point.

 

[Erik]

18gr at 880 FPS will give you a great BC. More retained power downrange.

Check this video out if you have time, he tried different speeds with .22 and found out a lot.

 

[Yammytyz]

I own the same rifle in the uk. The 800 fps corresponds to the claim of 30fpe in FAC spec. I believe this figure is achieved using 21.4gn Bisley magnums as a test pellet. I have tested from 16 to 25gn JSB pellets achieving averages of 900fps down to 735fps respectively for the heavier pellets. I tend to use the 16 and 18gns for pest control and they are very effective. 

 

[Tn_airgunner]

I'd suggest using the 18gr jsb if you get the r10 mk2 that's what most people shoot and there a very accurate round and quality.

 

[zebra]

Energy is more important than pellet speed for hunting. 

My Mutant Shorty fires many pellets at between 800 and 850fps. I can get a little more speed by choosing lighter pellets but typically it is the heavier pellets that take down small game more efficiently.

Pellet design makes a huge difference too. My preferred hunting pellet in both 22 and 25 is the H&N Hunter Extremes. Nothing runs away after a direct hit with one. I can't say the same for JSB 18's (at any speed). 

Btw, the Mutant Shorty is significantly more accurate than my other 22's which all fire the same pellet 100 fps more (in most cases). The trajectory won't be as flat at lower speeds but what is more important is that the poi is the same each time. As long as the poi is the same, it doesn't matter to me if the holdover or hold under is one dot or five. Just make sure you buy a mildot scope or equivalent. 

All air gun pellet speeds will seem slow if you used to center fire powder burners. Air gun hunting has more in common with the approach they used to take with black powder rifles. I.e. They made up for the slower speeds by using heavier ammo to make sure there was enough energy. Also, as with black power guns, game will die from blood loss and not hydrostatic shock so if you don't take head shots, game might run of and die somewhere else. 

You will be fine for small game hunting with any of the BSA pcp rifles. BSA makes a great air rifle for a reasonable price. I'm a big fan of that company. 

 

[FineleN16]

Thanks everyone for your insightful comments and suggestions. And thank you Erik for sending the video. I learned a lot. My plan was to buy a .22 but the .25 offers some impressive benefits when it comes to hunting and energy delivery. Although I would imagine that the .25 would be considerably louder.

I haven't decided on which PCP I will eventually buy just yet. As I mentioned, I have my eye on the BSA R-10 MK2 but RWS and Weihrauch appear to make some high quality PCP rifles as well.

I realize opinions on which gun is the best could go on forever, like which is better a Ford or a Chevy, but I would appreciate any suggestions about which PCP rifles you all have experienced and which you suggest I might want to consider. 

Cheers!

 

[sharroff]

Like others have said fps depends on pellet weight and I've shot them from 10g to 25g in the .22 size. My gun (Daystate Airwolf) favors the JSB 18's at 935fps.

 

[Wager]

Erik, thanks for sharing the video! I didn't expect those results at all.

 

[SWEJaeger]

Depends on the weight and type of the pellet.
the best balistic coffecient will be better at higher speed with heavier pellet.

For example a jsb 16grain could have best BC around 250-260mps but a 24grain can peak at maybe 290-300mps.

If you want more power for hunting. Just use heavier pellet and dial up the speed if you are afraid of instabillity and accuracy, by driving a light pellet to fast