POWER vs Accuracy? Both?

[intenseaty22]

My KC Mini recently had a bit of a power tune that yielded 900fps with 18gr pellets. Combine that with pinpoint accuracy and you have a solid hunting platform. 

However, for my current needs, that is still too much power. I dialed it down to shoot the 16gr at 895 instead, giving me more shots, excellent accuracy, and probably still too much power. Case in point: 

This is at about 22 yards, typical shot for me in my yard. Standing and braced against the patio door frame. The impact had that signature Smack we are all familiar with. The look on it as it froze staring into Valhala told me it was instant lights out! 

Complete pass through, shattering the crown of the head, and spilling brain matter out. While I did make sure my angle offered me a tree as a backstop, I may explore a bit lower power setting if accuracy remains consistent. 

 

[Bob_O]

Nice buddy!! 

I personally am a sucker for high power when shooting without concern for what's beyond the target.

tflats has it down to a science with shooting a low power setup with minimal pass through.

 

[Insanity]

Very nice shot.

 

[intenseaty22]

@Bob_O I don’t have the luxury of wide open spaces like farms, etc. Most of my shooting is at home in a suburban area with neighbors not too far off. “With great Power comes great Responsibility”

 

[Bob_O]

tflats shoots heavy pellets at low velocity for most of his backyard shooting....very accurate too.

 

[intenseaty22]

tflats shoots heavy pellets at low velocity for most of his backyard shooting....very accurate too.

Gonna check that out soon, thanks! I have been more and more getting into my Springers, specially in .177. Have been curious about a PCP in UK specks too. Maybe one of these days. 

 

[intenseaty22]

Oh, yeah.... I have seen several of his videos and posts, but referred to him as Leshiy in my warped brain. 

 

[intenseaty22]

& another one bites the (lead) dust from the Cricket. 30 yard Smackdown (Registered Word Hajimoto Productions) 

 

[stoti]

"With great power comes great responsibility", oh you crack me up!!!

Stoti

 

[AirNGasman]

FWIW regarding airgun power/penetration, I have a good bit of practical .22 airgun hunting experience that calls to mind a few examples that might help.

My finest tree-squirrel hunt was with a 12 foot pound .22 BSA Airsporter Stutzen spring-piston rifle shooting .22 Eley Wasp pellets (about 14.5 grain domes) 600 FPS/12 foot-pounds. I'd adopted an almost exclusively brain-shots approach, and was deadly from offhand with that rig (and successful in many offhand silhouette competitions). On that hunt I got 9 squirrels with 11 shots; and all but one kill were brain shots.

What's pertinent to this discussion is in every case (including the one body shot) the pellets were found just under the hide, opposite side of entry. Skin is extremely elastic, easily absorbing quite a lot of remaining energy from a domed pellet that has transversed some living tissue, bone, etc. 

Conversely however, I also often see full penetration (and exit) on rabbits (including big Texas jacks) with .22 Co2 pistols shooting 14.x grain domed pellets as slow as 425-450 FPS (6 foot-pounds) on broadside chest shots.

Point is, you might have to reduce power more than you think to prevent full penetration.

 

[intenseaty22]

@AirNGasman Sounds like a very nice day out hunting and a keeper of agun for sure. I’m looking to rebuild my Walther LGV in .22 and will aim to bring the power down close to 12fpe as I can. 

As for the Rabbits, they have extremely thin skin, not sure about the Jacks, but it would explain it. 

 

[intenseaty22]

I keep meaning to install the SideShot, and keep forgetting. It’s starting to be a really productive day as the rain has subsided. 

 

[Hajimoto]

BOOOOOOM! Head Shot!
Nice shooting and illustration.
Gimme some of the video footage! GIMME!

 

[intenseaty22]

Sorry Haji, I need to do better. 

 

[zx10wall]

I’d try 16gr .22 polymags at 700 fps. That may do the trick. Lower the reg down to about 100 bar or so and at 17 FPE you’d get so many shots per fill!!

 

[intenseaty22]

& then this: That last one on top, on the last picture took 2 shots from 30 yards, a couple Coupe de Grâce straight to the brain that I hid from sight & it was still gasping! WT$?!!! 

 

[Bob_O]

Video!!!

Let me know if you need any help with the Side-Shot or phone app.

 

[intenseaty22]

I’d try 16gr .22 polymags at 700 fps. That may do the trick. Lower the reg down to about 100 bar or so and at 17 FPE you’d get so many shots per fill!!

Thanks Derrick. The Polymags do good out of it, I will back out the spring a bit, but don’t want to mess with the reg for now. I have high hopes of being able to get out in the woods soonish. I’m looking to get a .177 PCP in the near future as well. 

 

[intenseaty22]

Video!!!

Let me know if you need any help with the Side-Shot or phone app.

OK, OK.... I will not take one more critter until I install the SideShot. I think it’s good to go, I have just been lazy. 

 

[douger]

let us know about the side shot im very interested in getting one in the near future to help kill some down time and have something else to do think it might be fun