Is the 35 caliber not such a popular round in the pcp game?

Many people who shoot calibers which are above 0.30 are using them to hunt larger game. If they are hunting Deer, Wild Pig/Hog, etc.. they are bound by state laws on minimum caliber/FPE required to hunt large game. In Arizona, you must be 0.35 or larger to hunt large game animals. Other states require much larger calibers. As such, if you want to shoot deer, your caliber of choice is largely driven by the hunting laws in your local. Only a few states allow large game hunting with a 0.35 (or smaller) projectiles. Because of the cost, I don't plink with my 0.35 caliber rounds.

Also, it takes a lot of air to hurl an 81gr JSB pellet and many PCPs aren’t up to the power required to shoot it at good speed. 

I would say cost of ammo & air usage are the biggest cons of the .357 PCP pellets shooters. 

But another is accuracy. You don’t hear much about this pellet being used but when I have, it’s not been talked about as being spot-on in the accuracy department. Lock time and or recoil could be contributing factors here.

+1 as per zx10wall mentioned. 

I will add that for some reason, the 81gr jsb 35 cal pellets are not very consistent. The head sizes vary, and with its short and stubby shape, causes groups to be larger than they should be. There just seems to be something aerodynamically incorrect on the 81gr JSB 35 cal. The 81gr 35 cal Predator Polymags are much more consistently made and shoot pellet on pellet for me, but they are expensive - It is the go to pellet for my 357 Flex, but at a cost of almost $0.30 a pellet(same as my 5.56mm NATO AR rounds). I have also had great experience with the Morrill 97.5gr Diabolo pellets - great BC and hits like a truck - these are my go to pellets for longer range.

Having said that, any 357 cal air rifle is going to be an air guzzler... power-wise, a 357 hi-power PCP is also the inflection point in terms of FPE versus a 22LR - they both have about approximately the same FPE, but a 22LR round can be had for a fraction of the price of a 35 cal pellet - so there's the economics of that.

My arsenal, and ammo storage beg to differ.....5 .357/9mm PCP's and counting....my favorite of the big bores....I mostly shoot bullets though....with the exception of the aforementioned Rick Morrill 97 gr pellets ( astounding).....



DJ

My arsenal, and ammo storage beg to differ.....5 .357/9mm PCP's and counting....my favorite of the big bores....I mostly shoot bullets though....with the exception of the aforementioned Rick Morrill 97 gr pellets ( astounding).....



DJ

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Awesome. Happy for you. Let’s hear more about this arsenal. What guns?

PCP's? too many to list but lets say I cover some of these MANY times over Airforce,Hatsan,Evanix,QB,JKhan,Huben to name a few...calibers....177.22.25.30.35.45, as far as the 5 ,357/9mm's, 2 JKhans, Texan, Hatsan Bully, and Custom built "Talondor"



DJ

DJBriez said:

PCP's? too many to list but lets say I cover some of these MANY times over Airforce,Hatsan,Evanix,QB,JKhan,Huben to name a few...calibers....177.22.25.30.35.45, as far as the 5 ,357/9mm's, 2 JKhans, Texan, Hatsan Bully, and Custom built "Talondor"



DJ

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Could you recommend some places I can get quality hollowpoints in 357 for an Evanix Max, maybe some short polymags or any other exotic ammo out there for 35?
Thank you.
I'm on the east coast, NY

BabySherman said:

Could you recommend some places I can get quality hollowpoints in 357 for an Evanix Max, maybe some short polymags or any other exotic ammo out there for 35?
Thank you.
I'm on the east coast, NY

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I would definitely recommend https://griffinairgunammo.com. Running their 68gr .358 HP-CB in my Leshiy north of 100FPE, and they're under an inch at 100y when I run a higher power optic and they hit hard. I would contact them (Mike Walker) and ask him for recommendations. I would also ask him about making a sample pack order, so you can figure out what works best.

mtnGhost said:

I would definitely recommend https://griffinairgunammo.com. Running their 68gr .358 HP-CB in my Leshiy north of 100FPE, and they're under an inch at 100y when I run a higher power optic and they hit hard. I would contact them (Mike Walker) and ask him for recommendations. I would also ask him about making a sample pack order, so you can figure out what works best.

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Thank you so much.

For deer hunting, yes indeed!

I think the vast majority of airgunners in their airgun environment, can’t safely shoot a .357. I have a lot of room where I live and won’t even venture to a .30. If they suddenly invented a .23 caliber, it would be more popular than a .357 just because Billy can shoot it in his tiny back yard.

I purchased two AEA guns somewhat recently in 30 cal that were also available in 35/357 ... Terminator and Challenger Pro. With the CPro I can get 138 fpe, that's more than enough for me.

You don't get a ton more power with the 357 models and they eat more air and more expensive ammo. Also gonna be a little louder in the back yard. Gonna need a Donny either way though.

30 cal is my favorite for shooting paper and metal. Higher velocities and somewhat lesser weight ammo means a flatter trajectory / less drop at distance. You get 50% more ammo for your money than 357.

If I was hunting larger game that would be a different story. I had a regular Challenger SL 357 until last year I sold it, just overkill for backyard shooting.

It's just easier to buy a mold and shoot slugs out 357 than buying pellets for me any ways

Why shoot 81 gr when you can get slug molds any where from 105 gr to 158 or heavier possibly they way I think of it is big bore doesn't really start unless it is 357 or larger I don't think of the 30 cal as a big bore I guess

If you shoot .357 there's a huge ammount of cast bullets out there,

This is who I've used for .357 for over a decade now, good quality and great prices,....I urder them unlubed and then size them down to .358

with the distance being less than 20yrds, i use the 81gr jsb pellet on deer and hogs
with shot placement being the #1 rule. if i dont get that shot, they walk.
i usually get a couple each in the season.
and i dont shoot them in the boiler room.....

I’m thinking of going impact 357 for coyotes. 90% of my shots are 30-50 yards, closest has been 20yards.

I guess this same question could be asked about the .20 caliber pellets/airguns.

Yes, I said it... LOL!

Prove me wrong! (wink/chuckle)

p.s.

I guess this will really put me in the crapper with some springer lovers... (silly grin/smile)

Oh, get over it! Facts are facts! LOL! (ducking and running) (coming back standing up straight!) LOL!