I am still going with my theory that my Condor in .22 will penetrate better than my Wildcat in .25 caliber. I think part of the problem was the larger area of the .25 cal. and softer pellets not penetrating the groundhog skulls well. Any way I remember I had some Eun Jin pellets in .22 cal. which weigh 28.5 grains. I went out today to test them for accuracy and they did really well. I had some brief disappointment with some pellet spraying but tracked it down to my moderator not being fully seated to the shroud. I managed to shoot two groundhogs and retrieved one large sow. The attached video shows some target work and the two shots at the groundhogs. WARNING GRAPHIC HUNTING VIDEO!
I Think I Got My Groundhog Hunting Pellet
- Thread starter AirgunBill
- Start date
The theory you have discovered is not a new one. WDM Bell killed elephants with a 7 mm Mauser using very long bullets with a very high sectional density. Needless to say shot placement was critical. Long, heavy for cal. bullets tend to penetrate very well. Happy Pesting.
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Dan it is like when the military considered the .20 caliber I believe back in the 60's as it had the ability to penetrate steel helmets. The construction of the diabolo pellet with its narrow waist in my opinion is just more subjected with the larger surface area of the .25 cal. to flatten out on a very hard surfaces. I don't know if there is a pellet out there in .25 caliber that has harder lead or a different shape that would penetrate the harder skull of the groundhog. And would also not be too long to fit the FX Wildcat magazine. I really would like to use my short bullpup magazine feed Wildcat to hunt groundhogs. Wish I knew how to set-up a test to simulate the groundhog skull to test penetration. I know from past experience that a .22 cal. air rifle can be very effective at killing groundhogs at reasonable distances depending on the rifles specs. I usually shoot groundhogs with my firearms but in order to shoot near houses and outbuilding the air rifle can fill the bill. In fact yesterday I got two new properties to shoot at because of my air rifles. One location is a vegetable garden on a farm and another is soybean field near a house that would not allow firearms use near. Bill
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You know TrapdorSpydr I was thinking that about the Benjamin domes too. They were one my best if not the best accuracy wise out to fifty yards. I have been thinking about doing a test to see the expansion of various pellets through a material to simulate a groundhog skull. The goal being to see which pellet expands the least going through the skull simulation material. So far I'm thinking shooting through some 1/4" plywood and backing it up with some duct seal and seeing the overall level of penetration. Bill
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You may have to tune it down a little , But have your tried the polymags 16 gr,,,
Some guns shoot it good and some do not, My Cricket has to many flyers with the 22 polymag
But my 22 mutant is a laser with them, The damage they do to flesh and feathers is really sick.
Mike
Some guns shoot it good and some do not, My Cricket has to many flyers with the 22 polymag
But my 22 mutant is a laser with them, The damage they do to flesh and feathers is really sick.
Mike
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Mike groundhogs are extremely tough critters. The only way to anchor an adult groundhog with a airgun is with a head shot that penetrates the skull into the brain. I know with centerfire rifles even with body shots unless you hit em just right they can make it back to the den hole. I thought the polymag was mainly used for its mushrooming or expansion effect like you said for flesh. I need a hard lead pellet that will poke through hard skull bone and expand very little. Thanks for the suggestion and taking the time to answer my post. Bill
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I got a groundhog 2 weeks ago with a single shot to the head from 30 yds with a 22 Beeman Kodiak from a Brocock Elite. 1 pellet (it is one of the heaviest 22s) = 1 groundhog.
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Congrats Alex. Years ago when I was taken out a lot of groundhogs one of the rifles I was using was a Talon SS in .22 cal. shooting the 21.12 Beeman Kodiaks at 750 fps. It got the job done very well out to about 35 yards. My Condor is now shooting the .22 cal Eun Jins 28.5 grains at 850 fps. I hope that will easily extend my range out to 50 yards plus. It sure did a number on the large sow groundhog in the video at a range of 48 yards. Bill
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I am having a ground hog problem myself. I am gonna give the Polymags or Gamo Redfires a try.
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I'm currently shooting a .25 SPA P10, It shoots the polymags around 875 fps and blows massive holes in whatever I hit. Anything under 60 yards and is my go to pellet. Here is the exit hole on a rabbit at 35-40 yards.
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You might want to check out this link about pellet testing it covers a lot of very common 22's 25's and 117 rounds even some cast rounds
http://www.network54.com/Forum/275684/thread/1394171916/Penetration+and+Expansion+Testing
http://www.network54.com/Forum/275684/thread/1394171916/Penetration+and+Expansion+Testing
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bhbeyes thanks for the link to rsterne's pellet penetration and expansion testing. His results mirrored mine in many ways. As far as penetration the heavy pellets as a rule penetrated better. Of course some may be looking for pellets that expand better. My use of plywood hopefully added the aspect of first penetrating a harder material first to represent a hard medium size skull critter like a groundhog. It was good to learn about his use of melt and pour soap as a medium to shoot into. I know the modeling clay I use did have the tendency to soften in the heat. Maybe the melt and pour soap will be a better and more consistent medium to shoot. Thanks Bill
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I'm using the AA TX200 at 17fpe. I took a fox in December at 25 yards and a woodchuck a couple of weeks ago at 23 yards, both with a single head shot. I was using the H&N Baracuda Green .22, 12.65 grain pellets. These pellets are made from tin and are harder than lead. I've never had a problem with penetration.
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Crosman Premier Ultra Magnum Heavy 177 10.5 Gr sent airmail at 1000 FPS worked good for me yesterday.........
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http://www.krale-schietsport.nl/en/airgun-pellets-predator-metalmag-4-5-mm-8-5-grain.html
there you go problem solved
there you go problem solved
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