Last few years I have been using an FX crown .30 PCP. This year I will be using a .177 Springer making 13 FPE using 8.4 grain JSB’s? Anybody else using a set up like this? Can you tell me how it works?
Anybody hunting squirrels with .177?
- Thread starter LSS152
- Start date
Which springer? Are you scoping it?
I use a few, but generate more than 15fpe with each. I usually shoot up to 35 yards.
My sig sauer asp20 gets 19.5 FPE (I know it is suppose to be 20, but in actuality i get slightly less). My diana is getting 18ish depending on pellet, and my ruger around 15. All have good knock down power
I personally havent hunted with less than 15 FPE.
I use a few, but generate more than 15fpe with each. I usually shoot up to 35 yards.
My sig sauer asp20 gets 19.5 FPE (I know it is suppose to be 20, but in actuality i get slightly less). My diana is getting 18ish depending on pellet, and my ruger around 15. All have good knock down power
I personally havent hunted with less than 15 FPE.
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There was a thread back on GTA about 12 fpe hunting. One of my favorite types of YouTube videos are the guys hunting pigeons, corvids, and squirrels over in the UK with sub-12 fpe rifles. In fact, here in about four days, I'll be getting a .177 Flash specifically to detune and regulate to 12 fpe. I have done a tone of pesting with 12 fpe, but none on squirrels since we don't have many where I'm at. I have taken starlings/collared doves out to 50 yards with .177 @ 12 fpe.
If you have enough skill with your rifle, you can do some crazy stuff with .177 in 12 fpe. Just look at VerminHunters on YouTube.
If you have enough skill with your rifle, you can do some crazy stuff with .177 in 12 fpe. Just look at VerminHunters on YouTube.
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I use a 12 fpe Pro Sport (among others) and it's Very effective being that it allows exact shot placement. It's preferred pellets are the AA and JSB 8.44's.
I also have a .177 Gauntlet which is tuned to 20 fpe. and it works so well,I feel like I'm cheating.
Mike
I also have a .177 Gauntlet which is tuned to 20 fpe. and it works so well,I feel like I'm cheating.
Mike
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I hunt with a Benjamin marauder 177 and have probly killed over 60 squirrels this year so far. Mostly chest shots shooting cp 10.5 at about 850 fps.
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With that setup and at That close of a range,the only problem you'll likely encounter is how much available space you have in your freezer!
I wouldn't have an issue using that rig out to 30-35 yards.
Mike
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Lss152, you will be fine. I have destroyed many with a 12.5 fpe FWB 124d and a 13 fpe r9 both in .177 with jsb 8.4. Shot placement is the key. Right between the eye and ear. Out to 40 yds you are ok. Hope it was tuned by Motorhead. Lol.
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This. When i shoot my hw97 (target, plinking) the ONLY limiting factor is me. Period. Its an awesome gun. With that FPE, scoped, at those distances you'll be perfect!
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It's been awhile, but at one time, I had a Diana/RWS Model 36 in .177. Sent it to Tom at Vortek, he chopped the barrel to 12", and I added a Model 48 barrel sleeve as a shroud, with goodies.
It did about 13.5 fpe with Predator Polymags and was very accurate, and fairly flat shooting. Very do-able, just pick your shots wisely.
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I’m in agreement. I prefer a PCP but I’ve taken scads of them at a local pecan orchard with a .177. Most at 30 - 35 yards using 14 - 16fpe but have also used as little as 8fpe. Brain shots only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtYDUK1hVt8
At 20 yards with a quality springer, good technique, and knowledge of proper shot placement, you’re golden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtYDUK1hVt8
At 20 yards with a quality springer, good technique, and knowledge of proper shot placement, you’re golden.
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In some places, any air rifle that has over 12 fpe is considered a firearm. Because of that, their entire airgun industry is based in -12 fpe airguns. If you watch some of the videos, you will see they don't look like they need any more.
I grew up killing squirrels with a Crosman 2100. It never made 12 fpe in its life. Squirrels are tough. You hit a rabbit and chances are it doesn't go anywhere. A Squirrel will take a fatal shot, jump to another limb and then climb ten feet to a hole. Figure it this way.
If you give their chest 2 inches wide, and then put a .22 through it, for me that would be a 1.7 inch wide or so pellet through my chest. There is not much chance of me going anywhere far. A squirrel will try at least, unless you shut him off on impact.
The .177 did fine at that, if and on;y if you hit them like you were deer hunting. I mean you have to pick the spot and then hit it. You cannot simply aim at the squirrel, anymore than you can simple aim at the whole deer. My uncle thought the head was the best eating on a squirrel, so i mostly shot them in the body with the rifle.
Because of the close range, i also tended to use target pellets to increase the initial impact effects.
I got a .20 and at the same ranges, using wadcutter pellets, it would knock squirrels sideways off the limb with a solid hit. Then I got a .22.
.177 is fine, if you put that pellet where it belongs. If you don't, then they get away hurt, with all that entails. A .20 will make a noticeable improvement in anchoring them right there. A 14 grain .22 will anchor even more right there.
An old saying, and I am not saying it is correct, but it has the correct spirit from what I have seen/experienced. In low powered air rifles like i grew up with, the saying was, .177 for feathers, and .22 for fur. The feathers on a bird can gather around a pellet at those energy levels, like a shotgun pellet hitting a turkey, and the .177 penetration was desired. The .22 was recommended for fur, simply because it works better when you miss by half an inch on something like a squirrel.
Just one opinion, and i readily admit to having killed a lot of squirrels with a .177 in this energy level or below.
I grew up killing squirrels with a Crosman 2100. It never made 12 fpe in its life. Squirrels are tough. You hit a rabbit and chances are it doesn't go anywhere. A Squirrel will take a fatal shot, jump to another limb and then climb ten feet to a hole. Figure it this way.
If you give their chest 2 inches wide, and then put a .22 through it, for me that would be a 1.7 inch wide or so pellet through my chest. There is not much chance of me going anywhere far. A squirrel will try at least, unless you shut him off on impact.
The .177 did fine at that, if and on;y if you hit them like you were deer hunting. I mean you have to pick the spot and then hit it. You cannot simply aim at the squirrel, anymore than you can simple aim at the whole deer. My uncle thought the head was the best eating on a squirrel, so i mostly shot them in the body with the rifle.
Because of the close range, i also tended to use target pellets to increase the initial impact effects.
I got a .20 and at the same ranges, using wadcutter pellets, it would knock squirrels sideways off the limb with a solid hit. Then I got a .22.
.177 is fine, if you put that pellet where it belongs. If you don't, then they get away hurt, with all that entails. A .20 will make a noticeable improvement in anchoring them right there. A 14 grain .22 will anchor even more right there.
An old saying, and I am not saying it is correct, but it has the correct spirit from what I have seen/experienced. In low powered air rifles like i grew up with, the saying was, .177 for feathers, and .22 for fur. The feathers on a bird can gather around a pellet at those energy levels, like a shotgun pellet hitting a turkey, and the .177 penetration was desired. The .22 was recommended for fur, simply because it works better when you miss by half an inch on something like a squirrel.
Just one opinion, and i readily admit to having killed a lot of squirrels with a .177 in this energy level or below.
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I have and HW97 in .177 with a 12 fpe Vortek kit. It's not my hunting rifle, but I have killed squirrels in the yard at 20 yards, and it works fine. Whether .177, .20 or .22, a precision hit is required for a clean kill. Even at 30 fpe, these are not powerful weapons that cause a lot of hydrostatic tissue damage. A .22 rimfire, depending on the cartridge, delivers from 100 to 150 fpe, and even with it, a lot of small game is lost to poor shot placement. I think any of these weapons are ethical, if the user knows and limits shots to his/her ability.
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I have. Love the reading here on this topic. I remember more vividly each squirrel I took with different .20 cal guns. They just dropped with the .20 cal in my Sheridan or R7. I’ll hunt with any caliber, but hate follow up shots. I don’t like twitching either. I want them dead before they hit the ground.
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I've eradicated 69 tree rats this year (since 1/3/19) with .177 air rifles only, including a Gamo Swarm Maxxim, Crosman Nitro Venon, HW97K, HW95, HW30, and a Hammerli 850. All kills have occurred under 30 yds, with the majority being at 15-22 yards. Since I use only .177 thus far, I'm as careful as possible to aim for a head shot: still, some twitch; others don't. One day, with more practice, I'll truly hit where I aim. Currently, I'm just trying to aim well.
So, yes, a .177 can truly take a squirrel. Both the medium power guns (HW30 and Hammerli 850) have made kills at 25-27 yards. I genuinely believe my 97 and 95 are capable at greater distances, but I don't have a place to test that just yet (don't visit the farm that often).
Have fun and be safe,
Arch_E
So, yes, a .177 can truly take a squirrel. Both the medium power guns (HW30 and Hammerli 850) have made kills at 25-27 yards. I genuinely believe my 97 and 95 are capable at greater distances, but I don't have a place to test that just yet (don't visit the farm that often).
Have fun and be safe,
Arch_E
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Blast from the past. Last post in the thread.
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/177-vs-22-hunting-at-a-fixed-energy-level-any-real-difference/
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/177-vs-22-hunting-at-a-fixed-energy-level-any-real-difference/
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I don’t think this is what the OP had in mind for a .177, but I use this 30 FtLb microhammer for pretty much all pesting as my go to gun. It is shooting the 15.5 grn NSA slugs just over 930 fps and is a real laser. It is zeroed at 40 yards and is 3.2 mil at 100 yards. The little slugs have pretty surprising terminal performance as well.
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I have been using my TX200 (177) here and have done quite well. I shot 10 in the head @ 25 yds using H&N. 10 shots with 10 tree rats.
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