I am addicted to watching some of the guys doing backyard pesting.. edgun leshiy for eg.... What I'm noticing is some of them really focus on low power tunes in the 525ish fps range. The tree rats don't seem to be any less dead and the accuracy is superb. Is it hard to tune for low FPS?
lets talk low power tunes vs high power for backyard
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I think you will find that many pellets don't shoot very well at such low speeds. Of course, distances are close. If you are shooting a .177, then there should be some light, Olympic style match pellets that are designed for 10M rifles that should work well. I just shoot standard power rifles at squirrels in the yard. My rifles are silenced, so that's not an issue,and I just limit my shots to those with a safe back stop, tree or ground. Some of my shots are from an elevated deck, which makes it easier to be sure of a safe shot. Almost forgot, I have an HW97 spring gun in .177 with a 12 fpe Vortek kit, and it does the job fine if I do my part. I think it shoots the 10 grain JSB a bit over 700, so still hotter than you suggest.
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I asked a similar question in another thread earlier today. I also want a low power gun, say 12 fpe which would be around 800 fps on an 8 grain pellet. Not a lot of choices in the US where the UK probably has quite a few. One person recommended a T200,
as for tuning, it can be difficult if your gun just doesn't have tuning capabilities or the range to get that low. My Marauder really bottoms out around 19 or 20 FPE. Going lower doesn't seem to work.
The air arms T200 shoots out of the box 6 fpe, so it is designed to go that low.
Low power has a couple advantages though. Quiet, and if a pellet gets away, short range and little damage.
as for tuning, it can be difficult if your gun just doesn't have tuning capabilities or the range to get that low. My Marauder really bottoms out around 19 or 20 FPE. Going lower doesn't seem to work.
The air arms T200 shoots out of the box 6 fpe, so it is designed to go that low.
Low power has a couple advantages though. Quiet, and if a pellet gets away, short range and little damage.
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I have a 177 cal Brocock Bantam. On low power with 8gr pellets it's just a little above 12 fpe. There are many PCPs in the US with adjustable power wheels and most will get down to 12 fpe.
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Please don't rely on this for safety or legal liability. If a pellet "gets away", you have the potential for a very big problem. I can promise, your neighbor and his attorney will not be impressed by fpe power ratings, but much more interested in showing that your safety precautions were negligent. I appreciate your point, but plaintiff attorneys make their living creating favorable realities for juries.
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I think 12 fpe is enough for backyard shooting. I tunes my Leshiy .177 shooting 14 fpe ... quiet and less damage things ... but accurate enough to take starlings/doves at 100 yards ...
Kenny,
Kenny,
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The Maximus just needs a smaller transfer port, I bought one for the Maximus Euro for a couple bucks from Crosman. Also with a tss on the marauder it goes that low and gets around 100 shots for 40 yds or less. Also mAkes it very easy to cock.
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The AA T200. Perfect choice for the OP, imo.
I added a HUMA external regulator and a moderator. My best tune (adj transfer port screw):
H&N 8.18gr Match; avg767 fps; SD 2.53 fps; ES 9.0 fps; FPE 10.69
H&N 10.65; avg707 fps; SD 1.95fps; ES 7.2fps; FPE 11.83
I mostly shoot the 8.18gr wadcutters for paper target. My backyard range is *just* under 30 yds (a bit more than 29 1/2, in fact), and it’s one hole accurate.
Pesting or hunting, which I do little of, I would use the heavier 10.65gr pellets.
I’ve had my T200 almost 4 years— never a hiccup. Very high quality piece. Just works great every time I pick it up.
I added a HUMA external regulator and a moderator. My best tune (adj transfer port screw):
H&N 8.18gr Match; avg767 fps; SD 2.53 fps; ES 9.0 fps; FPE 10.69
H&N 10.65; avg707 fps; SD 1.95fps; ES 7.2fps; FPE 11.83
I mostly shoot the 8.18gr wadcutters for paper target. My backyard range is *just* under 30 yds (a bit more than 29 1/2, in fact), and it’s one hole accurate.
Pesting or hunting, which I do little of, I would use the heavier 10.65gr pellets.
I’ve had my T200 almost 4 years— never a hiccup. Very high quality piece. Just works great every time I pick it up.
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An FX Streamline would give you excellent accuracy and easy 3 level power adjustments.
In .22 caliber
Level 1 = 10fpe
Level 2 = 20fpe
Level 3 = 30fpe
High shot count, efficient, & regulated with a repeatable turn of a knob / dial... Just saying.
In .22 caliber
Level 1 = 10fpe
Level 2 = 20fpe
Level 3 = 30fpe
High shot count, efficient, & regulated with a repeatable turn of a knob / dial... Just saying.
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Most of my suburban pest removal the last few years has been with a .177 at 850-900fps (14-16fpe). That gives a nice flat trajectory for the 50-60 yard shots that arise from time to time, however the vast majority of my shots are in the range of 25 - 35 yards.
Just in the last few months I began playing with low power tunes--mostly regulated PCPs--for back yard fun shooting. By low power I mean 550-650fps (6-9fpe in .177). After building confidence in how well they group, I decided to try them first on the smallest of pests like rats, chipmunks, and house sparrows. The result? A resounding success.
Then I decided to step up to gray squirrels. Brain shots only. Anchors them where they stand. Even wadcutters have no trouble penetrating their heads. I have captured some on scope cam...haven't processed most of it but here's a short clip (1 minute) showing a couple of chipmunks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDxLiw86DZ0
So far, I've only experimented with slow .177. I haven't tried slow .22 or .25 on larger critters. The slowest I've gone on raccoons is a .22 at 750fps (20fpe) and those were complete lights out with brain shots.
FWIW, I've had no trouble finding pellets that will group 1-2 MoA at these distances and relatively low muzzle velocities.
Now the caveats:
1. I don't have to deal with much wind where I am, and it is true that domed pellets typically achieve their best ballistic coefficient in the 800-900fps range. In windy conditions, I would think twice about picking up a 550fps airgun to shoot at a living thing.
2. Ranging is critical. For example on my 560fps .177 shooting RWS Supermags, from 20 yards to 35 yards, there is an almost 3 inch elevation difference. If I get the distance wrong and use the wrong holdover, it's a miss. Or worse, a wounded animal. That won't do. We're talking about the back yard here so there's no reason to get the distance wrong. Just have a good range card and use it.
Just in the last few months I began playing with low power tunes--mostly regulated PCPs--for back yard fun shooting. By low power I mean 550-650fps (6-9fpe in .177). After building confidence in how well they group, I decided to try them first on the smallest of pests like rats, chipmunks, and house sparrows. The result? A resounding success.
Then I decided to step up to gray squirrels. Brain shots only. Anchors them where they stand. Even wadcutters have no trouble penetrating their heads. I have captured some on scope cam...haven't processed most of it but here's a short clip (1 minute) showing a couple of chipmunks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDxLiw86DZ0
So far, I've only experimented with slow .177. I haven't tried slow .22 or .25 on larger critters. The slowest I've gone on raccoons is a .22 at 750fps (20fpe) and those were complete lights out with brain shots.
FWIW, I've had no trouble finding pellets that will group 1-2 MoA at these distances and relatively low muzzle velocities.
Now the caveats:
1. I don't have to deal with much wind where I am, and it is true that domed pellets typically achieve their best ballistic coefficient in the 800-900fps range. In windy conditions, I would think twice about picking up a 550fps airgun to shoot at a living thing.
2. Ranging is critical. For example on my 560fps .177 shooting RWS Supermags, from 20 yards to 35 yards, there is an almost 3 inch elevation difference. If I get the distance wrong and use the wrong holdover, it's a miss. Or worse, a wounded animal. That won't do. We're talking about the back yard here so there's no reason to get the distance wrong. Just have a good range card and use it.
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I have the same gun only I had AOA build me a 12ft.lbs version. On high my Brocock Bantam shoots H&N field target trophies 8.64 gr. In 4.52 size right @ 13 ftlbs. On med it's right @ 10 ftlbs. And on low it's 6 ftlbs. The gun has no regulator but does come with the Harper Slingshot valve which is the next best thing. 240 shots per fill and dead quiet.I had this gun made for my backyard but I have also used it in field target. Prices on the original Bantams are down so some good deals can be had.
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My .177 S500 will shoot NSA 15.5gr hollow point slugs at 25fpe and I haven't had a pass through from 20-40yd on a squirrel.
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I have the same gun only I had AOA build me a 12ft.lbs version. On high my Brocock Bantam shoots H&N field target trophies 8.64 gr. In 4.52 size right @ 13 ftlbs. On med it's right @ 10 ftlbs. And on low it's 6 ftlbs. The gun has no regulator but does come with the Harper Slingshot valve which is the next best thing. 240 shots per fill and dead quiet.I had this gun made for my backyard but I have also used it in field target. Prices on the original Bantams are down so some good deals can be had.
Did you get that side wheel off of an old wester stagecoach? That thing is huge.
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