Fps & fpe

[hkshooter]

The speed of sound (Mach 1) is on average 1125fps which is the velocity that should be avoided with typical airgun pellets for good accuracy. So virtually no pellet arrives accurately at the target before the sound does especially beyond a very few yards.

Correct. I never indicated that the pellet would beat the sound. Not once, in any way. 

What I meant is that there is often enough time between the report of the rifle to the actual arrival of the pellet at the target to allow the target to react to the sound and cause a miss. Obviously, I thought, the faster the pellet flies the less time the target has time to react in. That's why I choose a faster gun/pellet combination for my uses. 

If a gun shoots quarter size groups at 40 yards but it takes the shot too long to get there the accuracy won't do much good if the animal is skittish. Even with shooting a faster set up, at longer ranges I've seen wary animals startle and move while I can still see the pellet in the air and cause a miss. 

 

[OneGear]

^this.

.177 will take out every common yard pest up to rabbits at reasonable ranges, i.e. something in a half acre lot. 

Something like a Diana 240 or an R7/HW30 will be easy for everyone to shoot for play while also being a working gun. As you go up the power ladder you get guns that are more of a PITA tool than a fun tool.

If I was getting a magnum springer (pushing ~1000+ fps in .177) I'd get it in .22 to tame some of the recoil and take advantage of the available power. Yeah, my Vantage in .177 surprises me with the accuracy from a rest but as a solid 6' 200 lbs. adult the 35 lb. cocking effort and punch to the face recoil isn't necessary for killing a rabbit at the ranges a rabbit lets me use.