60~ FPE For Medium Game Test

Thats one heck of a energy dump. 

You're testing probably had the pellets strike the test medium at 90 degrees. I wonder how well that energy level would work at a 45 degree angle. Sometimes you don't have the perfect shot that's perpendicular.

34 grn mk2 hitting a steel plate at 100yards closest I could figure it was very close to 30fpe. I’m shooting a old circular saw blade and golf balls at 100 and the golf ball will fly 10-15 yards off of the post

45 degrees is far from ideal but very possible when shooting a raccoon that is facing the barrel at the same or higher elevation. These shot are usually at night so the lighting and scope image is far from ideal. Even if the raccoon's head is tilted slightly down due to the scope of the skull the pellet will still not be impacting at 90 degrees. The vertical size of the brain is probably 1.5" or less and just above the eyes. If the raccoon's head is tilted down and you aim between the eyes, bad shot missing the brain. So you have to aim about and 1/2-1" higher than the eyes but if the head is level the pellet will impact at an bad angle. I have taken 2 shots just above and between the eyes the they just walked away no signs of blood. I don't think the shots missed. I have previously taken 2 just like that the fell over and did the death dance. So now I'm reluctant to take a frontal shot at a raccoon from level position and will only do so from an elevated one. Side shots have a much higher percentage but they are not always presented.

I was using a red led flashlight with a 0.25 JSB Kings at about 35 FPE at target. The problem with the light is when you light them up they turn to look at it. If you wait awhile they may go back to eating, but sometimes they walk away. I have read stories of even 22 LR with muzzle FPE over 100 bouncing off raccoon skulls. Some have said that a more blunt pellet like a wadcutter or HP are less likely to deflect of the skull than a dome pellet. However I'm reluctant to experiment on live subjects. I would interesting to see how other types of pellets do at an angle.

I'm am glad u r foing this testing.learning a lot.alex

We have shot totes in traps with 22lr and had them growl when we took them out of the trap. Took a second shot, didn’t want a mad yote in th canoe with us! I would guess 50 yards max on a 60fpe gun on a yote, but that’s perfect shot placement. I would much rather have more energy!

i would normally reach for my 204 

Looks like that 60 FPE setup will work good if you decide to hunt wallets and particle board!

Ballistic "tests" using gelatin or other media is pretty silly IMO. Doesn't really prove much of anything - except that the tested projectile may or may not go through the media. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4sVQ_ZwI04

I'm not doubting your hunting abilities or your ability to take game with an airgun. I'm merely stating the fact that shooting through a wallet and particle board doesn't prove anything - except that you can shoot through a wallet and particle board. 

That gives no one any real indication of how it's going to behave when the pellet encounters the hide, skeletal structure, organs, etc. It's not really replicating anything. I've personally never seen an animal made out of particle boards and wallets. A pellet may behave very differently when it enters an actual animal. 

I fail to see how this "replicates a real world hunting hunting condition" (unless you're hunting in a particle board factory) nor do I see how particle board is a "good representation of a thick skull". These statements are a bit of a stretch. 

No need to be hostile over some very fair criticism. I'm sure 60 FPE will work for medium game, but I don't see how shooting through a wallet and particle board proves that. 

I agree that 45 degrees is a terrible angle, yet if you look at a raccoon's skull, unless it has it head tilting way down, hitting it strait on will be at 45 degrees or worst. Yet many have taken the successful shot like that, but I my limited experience the percentage is less than 75%.

I don't have a wallet but I think I will try some plywood at 45 degrees with Kings, Polymags to see which do better. If either buries into the wood I would call that a success.

Nice experiments.