FPE chart for small game

I have seen that many times in the field. Same energy but different velocity usually means that more energy is wasted on a pass through or outside of the area that need the greatest transfer of the energy. We used to have the standard campfire argument. " I want pass though so I can have a good blood trail for tracking." " I want no pass through and all energy dumped into the heart lung so I get dead right there I don't like tracking" We would see Elk drop dead from a big bore magnum that never passed through, yet a deer hit with the same charge ran to beat hell and died a ways off because of energy that passed through. There are always exceptions but the basics still apply. Bigger slower is not bad at all!

Lou, I’m thinking if you had shot that second chuck in the head/brain you would’ve drop him right there. Chucks are tough critters, I only take head shots on them whether shooting a PCP or rimfire.

I’ve even noticed on birds when my 25 and 22 were set at 30ish ftlb the 25 had a higher rate of death on the spot. Both were making pass through, but I believe the larger frontal area imparted more shock and energy into the animal. And once I started using polymags the exit hole really shows the difference. The 25 left an exit hole almost double the size and close to triple when i turned it up to 55-58 ftlb. 

I think the larger frontal area has a lot to do with it especially shooting non expanding projectiles. 

Hey LOU, any reason you choose to shoot pellets at a Woodchuck? I remember seeing some slugs in a post of yours. Just curious. 

I always liked the .25 cal. over .22 cal. for the higher number of pests that were DRT . I also usually always shot Barracuda Hunters (.25 cal. only) because they do hit and transfer energy better than a dome. 

I saw a lot of Ground Squirrels run off through the grass wounded after being hit by fellow airgunners using 18.1 domes this spring.

I had to many with a .25 cal. @ 52 FPE shooting pellets for my liking also. That's what helped me finish a slug and gun combo. 

I personally went down the .25 cal. 75 FPE HP slug gun road. One way for me. DRT out to 200+ yards accurately. 

I shot a Ground Squirrel at 276 yards last Sunday. The impact sounded like a .22 short being fired out there. The HP still expanded even at that range, based on the exit wound. 

I know that 75 FPE with a functional HP is what I needed. Everyone has different needs though. An English Sparrow at 15 yards, or maybe a Prairie Dog at 250 yards. 

Just my opinion......