What caliber should I get next?

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Stackofhay

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Aug 19, 2022
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Boxford, MA, USA
Experienced powder-arms and springer shooter getting into PCP here.

I have dipped my toe, deeper than I'd really wanted to go, into PCP rifles by picking up a pair of Huben K1's in .22 and .25. They are awesome in my opinion, with the .22 set up for rodents and the .25 set up for longer range and larger targets/game. Both are amazingly powerful and accurate field guns that have been completely drama free over 1000 pellets, combined, so far.

I've always been a precision junkie and am looking for my next gun/caliber. The first question is "What will you be using the gun for?" and I cannot really answer this. Part of me wants a super precise 100 yard shooter in .30 or larger and I am looking at the new Ghost HP as a candidate, for example. (But I don't know if there is an intrinsically more-accurate caliber at subsonic velocities and would appreciate advice here).

I am drawn to the .30. This is because my best shooting (with non-air rifles) out to 500 yards has been in .308, but I'm completely open to data/opinions/experience!

What does everyone here think? Rabidus Hobbius has struck!
 
I would vote for the 30. I purchased my first 30 about 3 months ago. They are real hammers. As far as rifle recommendation I pass. My preference is for hunting and informal target practice. My 30 is a semi-auto and shoots good but not a one holer at 50.

A friend of mine has a Brocock Ghost coming. He chose them for the accuracy and build integrity they are capable of. They are a good looking rifle.
 
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I’m not sure you’ll see a real-world accuracy benefit trying at 100y using .30 vs a powerful .25 or .22. But you will drink more air shooting a .30.

Reference this thread, where optimal velocity is discussed: basically you want to push up to but not into transonic speeds.

Wind drift question.

I pulled this from this article: https://hardairmagazine.com/ham-columns/the-external-ballistics-of-slugs-in-airguns/ The drift was calculated using ChairGun. Note that the least wind drift occurs when starting with a muzzle velocity of about 900 fps, and increases when the MV is either slower...
www.airgunnation.com www.airgunnation.com
As a powder burner myself I often forget that crosswinds introduce a significant vertical movement on pellets and slugs that bullets don’t exhibit, so this is especially influential.

What might be more relevant is whether you want to try and put together a slug gun. Slugs and pellets tend to be their own separate animals, even if the caliber is the same.
 
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Sicumj said:
I would vote for the 30. I purchased my first 30 about 3 months ago. They are real hammers. As far as rifle recommendation I pass. My preference is for hunting and informal target practice. My 30 is a semi-auto and shoots good but not a one holer at 50.

A friend of mine has a Brocock Ghost coming. He chose them for the accuracy and build integrity they are capable of. They are a good looking rifle.
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I am looking seriously at the Ghost HP in .30 and will be watching folks here for their experiences!
 
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A little .30 data for you on my Raw hm1000x. 30. Hope this help.
IMG_0190.jpg
Screenshot_20221129-095117_Strelok Pro.jpg
Screenshot_20221129-095743_Strelok Pro.jpg
Screenshot_20221129-095405_Strelok Pro.jpg
Screenshot_20221129-095510_Strelok Pro.jpg
Screenshot_20221129-095541_Strelok Pro.jpg
 
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The 25 vs 30 debate has been hashed over plenty if you care to search at all. In my own testing, 25 was superior every time unless you just want more thump. One exception maybe... I tested some 30 cal, 49 grain NSA's in my Safari that were among the best 100 yd accuracy results I've ever achieved but they need some pretty good push.
Then there's the noise, expense, and air use of the 30, comparatively.
The suggestion for a 177 is a good one to me. It's unlikely you'll significantly better your Hubens with one of the other suggestions but I think you'll find a completely different experience with the 177. I have all calibers for my Safari and by far, the most pleasant and rewarding is the 177 with 16.1s. It's just so smooth, efficient, quiet, and accurate, and at 33 ft lb, still has and impressive thump when it hits.

Tough problem you have 😉, but good luck and enjoy whatever you choose .

Bob
 
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Mrshosted said:
What about considering a .177? I personally enjoy .177 to .30, often when it’s cold and snowy. I’ll shoot around the house and the .177 offers up some challenges that the larger calibers don’t.
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Thanks - I have a pretty accurate Beeman springer in .177 that I've shot for years. I too like .177 for plinking around and also for occasional basement 10 yard shooting. The economy of 177 (and the shot count) is appealing in PCP!
cmatera said:
Kelly at KrazCool can make you a Huben K1 in .177. That would be my pick.
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I had not thought of the custom option!
 
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Arzrover said:
The 25 vs 30 debate has been hashed over plenty if you care to search at all. In my own testing, 25 was superior every time unless you just want more thump. One exception maybe... I tested some 30 cal, 49 grain NSA's in my Safari that were among the best 100 yd accuracy results I've ever achieved but they need some pretty good push.
Then there's the noise, expense, and air use of the 30, comparatively.
The suggestion for a 177 is a good one to me. It's unlikely you'll significantly better your Hubens with one of the other suggestions but I think you'll find a completely different experience with the 177. I have all calibers for my Safari and by far, the most pleasant and rewarding is the 177 with 16.1s. It's just so smooth, efficient, quiet, and accurate, and at 33 ft lb, still has and impressive thump when it hits.

Tough problem you have 😉, but good luck and enjoy whatever you choose .

Bob
Click to expand...
Tough problems, all first-world for certain! ;-)
 
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dgeesaman said:
I’m not sure you’ll see a real-world accuracy benefit trying at 100y using .30 vs a powerful .25 or .22. But you will drink more air shooting a .30.

Reference this thread, where optimal velocity is discussed: basically you want to push up to but not into transonic speeds.

Wind drift question.

I pulled this from this article: https://hardairmagazine.com/ham-columns/the-external-ballistics-of-slugs-in-airguns/ The drift was calculated using ChairGun. Note that the least wind drift occurs when starting with a muzzle velocity of about 900 fps, and increases when the MV is either slower...
www.airgunnation.com www.airgunnation.com
As a powder burner myself I often forget that crosswinds introduce a significant vertical movement on pellets and slugs that bullets don’t exhibit, so this is especially influential.

What might be more relevant is whether you want to try and put together a slug gun. Slugs and pellets tend to be their own separate animals, even if the caliber is the same.
Click to expand...
This is great input!
 
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Stackofhay said:
This is certainly quite helpful (newbie question - what app did you use here?) It's interesting that there is still plenty of energy for rodents way out at 300 yards (for me this would be beyond my limits humane-kill wise but it's great data.
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Strelok Pro, purchase from app store on your phone or tablet. It along with a decent range finder will take your pcp experience to a new level. Just like Golf, it's all about knowing distance to target.
 
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In the off chance that you might want to cast your own slugs, 30 cal and larger will be easier to get cleanly filled out slugs than the smaller calibers. I feel like I can shoot all I want of the 30 cal slugs since all they cost is an hour of my time to make several hundred. Once I run out of the free lead, the cost per slug will only be about a penny and a half each. One of the main reasons I bought my first PCP gun was for CHEAP ammo vs 22 LR. Some of the high end ammo costs MORE than decent quality 22 LR, so finding a combo that equals 22 LR energy at a fraction of the cost appeals to my inner penny pincher.

This FX M3 700mm Sniper I have been borrowing shoots soft lead cast slugs from the NOE 55 grain Hollow Point mold almost as well as FX/JSB pellets. The 5 shot groups with the NOE slugs as they drop out of the mold are usually not more than about 1/10th of an inch larger than what I get with the 44.8 FX pellet and sometimes they give me equal or smaller groups than the pellets. Both projectiles produce one hole groups on my indoor range at 15 yards. I haven't had the chance to stretch out to 50 / 100 yards yet.
 
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Geezerhood said:
In the off chance that you might want to cast your own slugs, 30 cal and larger will be easier to get cleanly filled out slugs than the smaller calibers. I feel like I can shoot all I want of the 30 cal slugs since all they cost is an hour of my time to make several hundred. Once I run out of the free lead, the cost per slug will only be about a penny and a half each. One of the main reasons I bought my first PCP gun was for CHEAP ammo vs 22 LR. Some of the high end ammo costs MORE than decent quality 22 LR, so finding a combo that equals 22 LR energy at a fraction of the cost appeals to my inner penny pincher.

This FX M3 700mm Sniper I have been borrowing shoots soft lead cast slugs from the NOE 55 grain Hollow Point mold almost as well as FX/JSB pellets. The 5 shot groups with the NOE slugs as they drop out of the mold are usually not more than about 1/10th of an inch larger than what I get with the 44.8 FX pellet and sometimes they give me equal or smaller groups than the pellets. Both projectiles produce one hole groups on my indoor range at 15 yards. I haven't had the chance to stretch out to 50 / 100 yards yet.
Click to expand...
shambozzie said:
Strelok Pro, purchase from app store on your phone or tablet. It along with a decent range finder will take your pcp experience to a new level. Just like Golf, it's all about knowing distance to target.
Click to expand...
Agree - I have a nice laser rangefinder and have used a few shooting software programs - mostly for 100-600 yard .308 shooting. Consistent velocity and knowing your range are the essential elements!!! I like the simplicity of (your) program and will have a look.
 
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