Ethical pesting

[rangur1]

All BS aside. Can a HW97k 22 cal shooting Hornets deliver an ethical head shot on a raccoon at 10-15 yards pushing 15-16 FPE? This is a fact finding post. I would not go this route as I have PCP 25 cal. But I will be asked. I specifically chose the hornet because of penetrating ability with a skull shot. Thoughts?

 

[L.Leon]

If you’re “ethical” and only take a sure shot? Why not? This gent is doing it “ethically“ with a Daisy 880

Daisy 880 & ATN

Hunting with Daisy 880 I have a koi pond in the back yard, if I take the food away from them, they will go after the koi fish.

www.airgunnation.com

 

[Lobi]

I've dispatched a handful of em with my old BSA springer .22 that came to my paw trap but always from bad breath range

 

[JimD]

Maybe you have done this already but I don't try to prejudge the penetration of hunting ammo, I test it. For penetration through skulls I test penetration of 1/4 thick pieces of MDF. One is the least I would want to see. For an animal as big as a raccoon I would want to see two which I doubt that gun, regardless of pellet, will do. But with perfect shot placement it probably could. But you could find hornets penetrate less than you are thinking.

 

[Sqwirl57]

All BS aside. Can a HW97k 22 cal shooting Hornets deliver an ethical head shot on a raccoon at 10-15 yards pushing 15-16 FPE? This is a fact finding post. I would not go this route as I have PCP 25 cal. But I will be asked. I specifically chose the hornet because of penetrating ability with a skull shot. Thoughts?

Yes. Taken groundhogs at 30 with my 17fpe .22 97K. One thing I will say though is to point blank them in the back of the skull before you handle them. They may look dead but sometimes they still have a bit of life left in them. Better safe than sorry.

Edit: As an added note here. I wasn't using any fancy pellets. Regular H&N FTT 14.66gr works just fine.

 

[BlackICE]

Maybe you have done this already but I don't try to prejudge the penetration of hunting ammo, I test it. For penetration through skulls I test penetration of 1/4 thick pieces of MDF. One is the least I would want to see. For an animal as big as a raccoon I would want to see two which I doubt that gun, regardless of pellet, will do. But with perfect shot placement it probably could. But you could find hornets penetrate less than you are thinking.

I would say to be safe test a quarter inch MDF at 45° angle. If it's still penetrates through you're good to go as long as you hit in an angle more perpendicular than 45°. Do the test exactly the same way you would hit the raccoon same location from the shooter same location for the target.

 

[JimD]

I forgot to mention it but I test penetration at 25 yards.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

OR

Just pop the Coon.

You are good to go at that FPE level with good shot placement.
You know the drill, now go execute!

 

[rangur1]

Like I said fellas, this is fact finding. I usually go 40 FPE with 25 cal PCP at close range- with no BS. But my friend knows diddly-poo. So I’m asking. Now after the hornets, my second choice would have been 14.3-14.6g pellets as to the velocity increasing penetration.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

Ahhh, I see now, it's not gonna be you.

Stress shot placement, then stress it again.

If you do not believe them to be capable enough to execute a well placed shot, you should put them off of the idea. Diplomatically of course.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Aim for the eye socket. Over and done. Dunno if he can trust his hold skills for that. That's why I hunt with a pcp and it's absolute favorite pellet. Point, click, dead. Nothing like seeing the pellet in flight at night with a red light or NV with IR, you can follow it straight to impact.

 

[BlackICE]

Aim for the eye socket. Over and done. Dunno if he can trust his hold skills for that. That's why I hunt with a pcp and it's absolute favorite pellet. Point, click, dead. Nothing like seeing the pellet in flight at night with a red light or NV with IR, you can follow it straight to impact.

Based on the angle of the shot that may just cause a blind wounded raccoon. You can hit the eye socket without hitting the brain.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Based on the angle of the shot that may just cause a blind wounded raccoon. You can hit the eye socket without hitting the brain.

I usually give them a call to get them to hold still facing me. Either go for an eye or between them. Never had a problem, but I also use a 25 cal running 50 fpe or a 32 fpe 22.

 

[Sqwirl57]

Like I said fellas, this is fact finding. I usually go 40 FPE with 25 cal PCP at close range- with no BS. But my friend knows diddly-poo. So I’m asking. Now after the hornets, my second choice would have been 14.3-14.6g pellets as to the velocity increasing penetration.

I'm a big fan of hitting them in the "temple" between the eye and ear when using a springer. The skull is typically much softer there. Through the ear is good too. Like other have said, shot placement is key.

 

[rangur1]

Guy is a decent shot. I just wish to make sure he knows what this platform can do and what is not realistic. Before the situation arises.

 

[Sqwirl57]

Guy is a decent shot. I just wish to make sure he knows what this platform can do and what is not realistic. Before the situation arises.

Its definitely realistic but I would just tell him to switch to 5.53 or 5.54 FTTs. One of those is practically guarenteed to shoot best in that gun. I'd also recommend tossing an HO PG4 kit and Vac Seal in there if he's capable of doing that himself. The extra few ftlbs wouldn't hurt.

 

[Sqwirl57]

While I personally wouldn't try this, there's a guy on Reddit who has taken a few raccoons with headshots at 10yds with a .177 30S. Your buddy is nearly double the muzzle energy.

 

[N2 Shooter]

Like I said fellas, this is fact finding. I usually go 40 FPE with 25 cal PCP at close range- with no BS. But my friend knows diddly-poo. So I’m asking. Now after the hornets, my second choice would have been 14.3-14.6g pellets as to the velocity increasing penetration.

I've shot raccoons with headshots at 25 yards with a 45 fpe .25cal shooting H&N Grizzlies, and it was exactly as you said, it was a one and done, no exit wound. But I've taken a bodyshot with the Hornets at the same distance, and they just ran off. At the end of the day, I believe in testing the ammo to see what it will do, with the rifle you plan to shoot it from and for the type of game you plan of taking.

As contrary as this may seem, there is a big difference in penetration due to ammo designs. An ammo with immediate expansion will make a larger wound channel, but it may be too shallow to get to the vitals. Another ammo may have a similar amount of expansion, but it may expand more slowly, allowing deeper penetration and adequate terminal penetration depth. Some ammo may not expand one bit, nevertheless it assures deep penetration to get to the vitals from any angle, including the Texas Heart Shot. As you familiarize yourself with your ammo you will learn where it's limitations are. I am a big fan of FX Hybrid Slugs, but as much as I love them, I don't think they are a good .30cal round in a 100fpe airgun taking a Texas Heart Shot because this is what I pulled from ballistics gel at 8 inches:

The ammo failed to remain in tact, and I'm certain penetration would have been even less if it hit the skeletal system upon entry. This is where I need ammo like the ARG, NSA, Javelin or JSB Knockouts as they would expand, but never separate from itself as it traverses the game. But you know where this ammo excels at, when you want to ensure you don't have excessive over-penetration, like shooting at a farm permission, or in residential areas.

There is so much to learn, and with the great amount of ammo and airguns we have at our selection, all I can say, it's a great time to be an airgunner!

 

[rangur1]

Its definitely realistic but I would just tell him to switch to 5.53 or 5.54 FTTs. One of those is practically guarenteed to shoot best in that gun. I'd also recommend tossing an HO PG4 kit and Vac Seal in there if he's capable of doing that himself. The extra few ftlbs wouldn't hurt.

It has a pg ho kit installed already. The pellet assortment I culled for this gun includes the FTT as well as some others. The hornets were just an inquiry.

 

[rangur1]

While I personally wouldn't try this, there's a guy on Reddit who has taken a few raccoons with headshots at 10yds with a .177 30S. Your buddy is nearly double the muzzle energy.

I actually took out a raccoon with a hammerli CO2 gun shooting 15.9g jsb at IDK 12 FPE at 10 yards. This is when I knew NOTHING. took 2 shots to the head, but I knew I had to immediately upgrade my armament.