I have found .177 not a good pigon killer at 800 fps with most body shots. What hands on experience do some of you have with pigeons. If I go to a .22 at 900fps will this be a significant improvement, or not really. I need them DRT. Of course head neck shots work but they seldom stay still. Looking fot real experience not ideas and theory.
Pigons
- Thread starter JEFFPPC
- Start date
I use a .25 currently and it's pretty much game over on whatever it's hitting (sparrow,starling,pigeon/dove variety and grouns squirell).
I believe what you are missing is the kinetic dump of energy that comes with these larger rounds. Have you considered shooting a 20grain+ slug in .177 around that 900 range. I believe many here shoot them and can attest to the knockdown power you can get from a .177
I also believe shot placement is a big factor in DRT. With that said, this is a sparrow that's missing most it's cognitive parts and it still flopped for 2-3 seconds. Not really a DRT, but a DRT, ya know?
I can appreciate your not wanting something to suffer. A .22 will give you a broader range of ammo and concusive power and you will continue that trend the higher caliber you go.
Another thought just before I hit post, we have a member Flint, who is stretching a .177 out to damn near 200 if I remember correctly. The guys a beast with that rifle of his. I hope he chimes in. I'm just speaking as a dumb farmer guy who started with a .177 years ago, then .22 and now a .25, I'm happy with my .25
For now...
Upvote 0
I hunted barn pigeons at night with a R7 .177 cal. with a flashlight shooting wad cutters. No holes in the roof, very accurate, and instant stop with headshots.
Right tool for the job.
Right tool for the job.
Upvote 0
If I were going out to shoot pigeons, my first choice would be my red wolf high power at 30 foot pounds in 177. I would use 15 grain slugs. Or possibly Crossman Premier brown box. Depends on distance and background.
There is no comparison between a 177 at 800 ft./s, and the 22 at 900 ft./s. The 22 is a cannon in that scenario.
Really need more information. Are you shooting pellets, or slugs?. What distance are you shooting at? What weight projectile? Do you need to worry about what’s in the background? Are their buildings?
I would be pretty darn confident with my red wolf out to 100 yards. Unless there was weird switching winds .
Any high power PCP is going to take out a pigeon.
If you are currently shooting 800 ft./s with a heavy 177 pellet, you should have plenty of power out to 50 yards with good shot placement.
If you are shooting 800 ft./s with 7.9 s , different story. Pigeons are a hearty animal.
Mike
There is no comparison between a 177 at 800 ft./s, and the 22 at 900 ft./s. The 22 is a cannon in that scenario.
Really need more information. Are you shooting pellets, or slugs?. What distance are you shooting at? What weight projectile? Do you need to worry about what’s in the background? Are their buildings?
I would be pretty darn confident with my red wolf out to 100 yards. Unless there was weird switching winds .
Any high power PCP is going to take out a pigeon.
If you are currently shooting 800 ft./s with a heavy 177 pellet, you should have plenty of power out to 50 yards with good shot placement.
If you are shooting 800 ft./s with 7.9 s , different story. Pigeons are a hearty animal.
Mike
Upvote 0
Took my wife out for her first pigeon shoot and she was having issues with killing the feathered rats.
After 4 or 5 fly offs I really paid attention to what she was doing.
She shoots a Maverick VP 22 with JSB 18.13’s @ 890 fps. Should be around 30 fpe. Plenty to kill a pigeon. I saw her scope was at 6X so I turned it up to 16X and told her she needed to hit them in the top 1/4 of the breast, the neck or the head. No more fly offs. She didn’t realize that shot placement was critical.
Point is that I don’t believe any 177 or 22 with a shot placed low is going to be a reliable pigeon stopper. I have had a few pigeons that I made poor shots on fly off after hitting them with my 25 @ 46 fpe. They don’t go far but they dont die on the spot either
After 4 or 5 fly offs I really paid attention to what she was doing.
She shoots a Maverick VP 22 with JSB 18.13’s @ 890 fps. Should be around 30 fpe. Plenty to kill a pigeon. I saw her scope was at 6X so I turned it up to 16X and told her she needed to hit them in the top 1/4 of the breast, the neck or the head. No more fly offs. She didn’t realize that shot placement was critical.
Point is that I don’t believe any 177 or 22 with a shot placed low is going to be a reliable pigeon stopper. I have had a few pigeons that I made poor shots on fly off after hitting them with my 25 @ 46 fpe. They don’t go far but they dont die on the spot either
Upvote 0
Personally, I don't use 177 on anything bigger than starling or grackles. It's perfect for sparrows even with a low body shot they'll die. I've had too many fly offs unless it's a head shot with 177.
Even lower powered 22 I've had doves fly off with a breast shot. Some birds are very tough. I've had birds I've hit with 30 fpe out of a 22 fly off and drop a good distance away. If you don't hit the fuse box or the boiler room, they go until they bleed out.
Never had a bird fly off after being hit with a 25 though. Gives a greater margin of error for your shot too, the shock effect just drops them.
Even lower powered 22 I've had doves fly off with a breast shot. Some birds are very tough. I've had birds I've hit with 30 fpe out of a 22 fly off and drop a good distance away. If you don't hit the fuse box or the boiler room, they go until they bleed out.
Never had a bird fly off after being hit with a 25 though. Gives a greater margin of error for your shot too, the shock effect just drops them.
Upvote 0
i shoot alot of pigeons every year for local farms,
i took over 600 last summer (along with as many starlings and hosps)
i think the caliber you choose should be dependent on the distance you plan to be shooting.
.177 would be fine for indoors at night or when the shots will be close,
but its not the best choice for the 60 - 150 yards that most of my shots on pigeons take place at.
for pigeons i greatly prefer a .25,
i have my impact m3 compact shooting 34gn jsb king heavies at 871fps (57fpe)
the extra energy can help a marginal shot become a kill.
but i would not be opposed to using a .177 at longer distances if i were running slugs.
i took over 600 last summer (along with as many starlings and hosps)
i think the caliber you choose should be dependent on the distance you plan to be shooting.
.177 would be fine for indoors at night or when the shots will be close,
but its not the best choice for the 60 - 150 yards that most of my shots on pigeons take place at.
for pigeons i greatly prefer a .25,
i have my impact m3 compact shooting 34gn jsb king heavies at 871fps (57fpe)
the extra energy can help a marginal shot become a kill.
but i would not be opposed to using a .177 at longer distances if i were running slugs.
Upvote 0
H&N used to make a wad cutter .25 what a shock to the prey that would have . (don't know if they still market that pellet )
Upvote 0
Most of my pigeon shooting resembles this- Pigeons in the rafters around industrial buildings. All close range, no stretching ranges. When the light hits them they pick their head up to stare into the beam.
Wadcutters dump energy quick and have some thump. Head/neck/crop shots put them down. Wish there was a light target style wadcutter available in .25!
ETA- On a side profile, the brain sits behind the eye.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Ever try crow magnums? They're not good for distances past about 25 yards in my experience, but they are devastating on birds and small critters. Tend to not pass thru, unless you're pushing pretty hard. Mine will stay within a nickel group at 20 yards and that's plenty for barn besting.
Upvote 0
@Boostcreep Crow Magnums are my go to in the quarter bore. While they don't group quite as well as the diablos they are still accurate enough out to 60 yards from the Maverick. Though most of my usage is 15 to 40. Crow Mags transfer energy better than the diablos, hollow points and even the coveted Hades.
If I run them at 4 on the power wheel, I'm around 600 fps. At 7 I'm at 930ish. Either way they make a loud popping THWACK when they hit.
If I run them at 4 on the power wheel, I'm around 600 fps. At 7 I'm at 930ish. Either way they make a loud popping THWACK when they hit.
Upvote 0