Am I alone

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billydjann

Member
Jun 3, 2015
460
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New York, United States
Hello all
I am in the process of looking for a high end ,177 pcp.
I have been in air rifles for little over a year and a half.
Am I alone in preferring the .177 caliber?
Before you get after me... yes I own and use .22 caliber and .25 caliber, 12 guns in all (.most pcp)
And yes I do know the pros and cons of all calibers.
I never have an issue of a squirrel getting away...ever. But I must say I 
wait for the right shot and 30 yards is my limit. I enjoy the excitement of waiting and making a good clean shot.
Also I really enjoy .177 the most..for target shooting.
I really strive to get the 5 and 10 shots into my half inch target at 30 yards.. That darn one flyer gets me most the time...

Ok, go ahead and laugh... but I am working on the 40 yard half inch groups.... Not sure if my guns or myself are good enough (yet).. but I enjoy trying.


Are there any others out there that feel this way about .177?
 
I love the .177. Actually just got back from the local store with 2k pellets worth of assorted .177 about an hour ago. Will just be using these in a break barrel but I do want the Impact by FX with interchangeable barrels so I can run them through it. 

As for takedown. I haven't had a squirrel get away from me either. Timing the shots and patience is always where I like to be in a shot. I'm no expert, but love to hunt and get a great meal for cheap ;)/////

Target shooting? yeah, I spend more time on targets than my actual hunting. As you mentioned though. I am in the less than 40yard range for the majority of the shooting with the .177/.

What are you looking for in a .177? Bullpup, traditional, classic, tactical?
 
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I too prefer .177, the majority of my rifles (springers and pcp's are .177) to me much more challenging to me.
I only have one .25 pcp and I rarely ever shoot it,
AA S510 extra fac .177 - BSA R10 MK2 .177 - Evanix Rainstorm 3D .177
FX T12 Whisper .177 - HW100 FSB .177 - M-rod .177
Beeman RX .177 - HW77 .177 - RWS 48 .177
Mendoza .177 - Beeman P1 .177 - Beeman Sportsman RS3 .177/.22
Daystate Airwolf .22 - Daystate AirRanger (50ft.lb.) .22 - FX Royale 400 Reg .22
Theoben Rapid MKII .22 - M-rod .25
 
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No you are not alone on that one, 
My .177 Steyr LG 110 Hunter has a very special place in my collection and has taken more game than all my other PCPs put together.

I have watched the trend over the last few years in the states of people leaning toward the .25 cal for everything from coyotes to sparrows to even back yard plinking and watched the quarter bore grow in popularity considerably.. I have often watched guys who only plink in their urban back yards and pop the odd starling etc use the .25cal and add 6 feet of suppressor extensions etc just so they don't bother their cranky tree hugging neighbours..
I think to myself... "why not just get the .177?"
I have a countryside property loaded with critters and no close neighbours to worry about upsetting and yet I'll still reach for my .177s 99% of the time, whether it be for pest removal or just plinking fun.
The only advantage I see in slinging a 1/4 inch of lead around it for getting a little more energy on pests or targets past 100 yards. Even then "my" .25cal is normally bypassed for my .22 cals.
The JSB 10.34gr, 13.43gr and 16.20gr .177 pellets can be very effective to about 120yards on small game if you have the power plant to push them to the 950-1050fps mark in some cases even better than a .22cal..
I have taken many starlings out to that range with the 10.34gr JSB pellets and the 10.5gr Crosman Premiers and they retain plenty of killing power.
Dont under estimate this sweet little cal.. and dont believe the ".177s are no good in the wind" rumour untill you have tried the heaver pellets at higher speeds.. Things have changed a lot in the world of airguns in a very short time and with companies evolving with higher power, faster twist rates, and heavier pellets, the possibilities are still expanding.

If you haven't already, every enthusiast should have given a change to shoot a high power .177. It´s monumentally fun, accurate and a surprisingly powerful little Bugger..

Your thoughts my power hungry brothers? Regards, Wingman
 
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You are not alone, I bought my FX Royale 400 in .177 with the intention of using to shoot FT which is trying to get up and running in this country ( Australia) but I now find when I am heading to the range with my powder burners it is usually the first rifle packed , then I find myself trying to put those pellets in one hole at 50yds and I am not happy until I have thrown a few hundred down range, sometimes the other rifles don't come out. So, no need to feel like you are the only person with this affliction,lol
 
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@Skygear
(What are you looking for in a .177? Bullpup, traditional, classic, tactical?)

I am so up in the air right now, to darn many great rifles out there...... I like bullpups but never shot one.
But love tactical and traditional..... (I am considering many makes and models)
I feel like a kid in a warehouse full of candy and told only to pick one...
I read and watch everything on high end guns...
See the only things I own now are Marauders and Hatsans.... nothing over 500 bucks a gun.

to others
I feel great I am not alone, this push for high caliber is making me feel like I should only shoot .25 or higher.
(most my guns are .22) But enjoy the .177 the most.
Thanks for input, I really feel alone here in NY, nobody around shoots air guns and I get laughed at all the time from uninformed people.
You would think there would be more around being that I live only 60 miles from the Crossman factory.

I have to depend on the Internet, We all know the people I watch ;-) (great job guys)
I am addicted real bad, I went ahead and bought a Shoebox and built my own adjustable fill station.
This opened the air gun world up to me even more ... no more pumping and rebuilding that dang Benjamin Pump.
Just sent for .22 and .177 pelletgages, and scales in hopes this will tighten up my 40 yard groups..

I really think maybe my high end rifle will be .177 .... but who know... (so confused)
This drive to get all my shots into a tight group is driving me nuts.. ;-)

This forum is great... very informative to the least..
 
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Plinker
I am by far not an expert.. on this.
I do think for most the .25 is a great choice for squirrels. ( I am sure all will agree)
I also like the.22 and have made many many kills with .22. But for some reason I am drawn to the .177.
Myself... I do not see much difference between kills of .22 and .177. With .177 I get very clean kills but, then again... I wait and wait for that good shot. It is not important how many I get... it is how I do it that gets me ...
its the challenge I guess. I will not shoot at a running or walking gray squirrel. Believe me, I have let many just walk away. It must be a clean kill or none at all. I can always return another day and get the ones that walk by.

Believe it or not I have seen gray Squirrel run up a tree after getting hit with a .25. But then again I have shot grays in the heart with .177
and watch them climb a tree... they are very tuff litter buggers.

When I go hunting... it depends on my mood and day on which caliber I take.

Only my two cents... others may have better knowledge
 
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The pros like Ted, Matt-Dubber, Manny and others do some incredible things with these guns. For most hunters fifty yards and in is probably normal and likely more like twenty-five(I'm talking hunting). I totally love seeing them push the envelope and show just what these guns are capable of. But, just like in skateboarding, I doubt you are going to see me doing a 360 off of a pool wall. I'm happy to make it down the driveway. I like knowing my gun can do it if I put in the effort. That is why I have a s&w41 though I'm not a competition marksman. I will progress to a high end pcp just because it's fun. 
 
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It does seem like the whole air rifle scene is being taken over by the larger caliber...
I even toyed with idea that I needed a 30 cal... but I really don't .. I toyed with idea of buying another .25 , do I need it (no)
I get the same enjoyment with .177 than I do with lets say a .25 on targets or hunting for that matter. (small animals)
Others I am sure will disagree... and I am sure they will...
But if I get a squirrel in my sights at 30 yards or less... you can count on it being history.... and a big smile on my face

 
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I personally think every caliber has its place and use.
I am getting a .30 Impact primarily for an issue with coyotes in my area, and I will be getting the .22 Cal conversion kit also.
I have a few .177 guns around that I love to shoot ( Styer LG 110, FWB P70, Daystate Huntsmen XL, ect.) but i gravitate to the .22 Cal for hunting small game.
I think you should use what you like .... there is no bad caliber, as long as you know each calibers limitations. 
 
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