Penetration or smacking power? What's your choice.

It depends. If you get at least 1/2 body width penetration with a hollow point use them, if not go with a dome.

I mainly use the poly mag style of pellet when taking squirrel. I seem to have much fewer pass throughs, and instant lights out. Domed, i will use the field target trophy (accuracy). For .177 the crosman destroyer and gamo red fire do very nicely. my .22 uses the poly mag. I have not had much luck with the stopping power in a pointed pellet unless my shot placement is absolutely perfect.

Disclaimer: I hunt squirrel for pest control in a neighborhood setting. Average shot is around 18 yd, max 30yd. even snipe them off the porch at 4 yds. Primarily go for headshots, don't want an injury to escape into a neighbor's yard. I need minimal pass throughs, and minimal misses unless a good backstop happens to be in line.

It doesn't make any difference. Domes are usually more accurate. Basic hollow points don't offer any real advantage at normal airgun power levels. 

Just shoot whatever is most accurate. 

I received some Polymags without the tips and they shoot surprisingly good but pretty loud POP when they hit. Pretty dang expensive though.

Pointed pellets are much quieter.

Predator Poly Mags (RULE!) in my .177, 22 and .25 because they all shoot great at short distances for ratting.

Haven't found an accurate shooting HP unless you count the Hades in that category and they shoot well in my .25 Taipan so I use those too.

I received some Polymags without the tips and they shoot surprisingly good but pretty loud POP when they hit. Pretty dang expensive though.

Pointed pellets are much quieter.

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I'd love a satisfying pop to be honest. I am gonna be hunting larger birds such as quail someday and I really am afraid a pointed pellet would pass through without any significant damage for a lights out. I have some jsb diabolo pellets at 14.3 grains but those are too expensive and I try to keep them for special shots that are at a longer distance. They shoot exceptionally accurate at 40-50 yards

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If JSB are too expensive then Poly Mags are out of the question.

I've been using LDC slugs. @ around 50fpe in .22. Massive kinetic damage, and not much energy left on pass thru. 

It doesn't make any difference. Domes are usually more accurate. Basic hollow points don't offer any real advantage at normal airgun power levels. 

Just shoot whatever is most accurate.

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+1 

Also, whichever one resists wind the best(better bc) while still maintaining accuracy will help you hit the kill zone more often. 

And practice!

Not quite the same price but a little more than DOUBLE.

JSB Jumbo Express .22 cal., 14.35 grain, 500ct = $14

Predator Polymag .22 cal., 16 grain, 200ct = $14

I am sorry to hear that and hope you and your country have a great year.

Thank You

same price as the JSB haha, trying to get some crosman hollowpoints recently as they are cheaper. but no sign of them on the market.

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Crosman hollow points do not expand well they are not made of the soft lead that most of the pellets are.

And also at the speed your air guns shooting,I don’t think the Hollowpoints are gonna expand much at all. It sucks that the stores are closed over there. And I think you said you had a hard time buying online also. Because if you could, there is all kinds of choices. Hopefully you can save up and get yourself another type of Airgun that you don’t have to depend on CO2 cartridges .I buy them in bulk online. And also stock up on Pellets But understand that it’s hard for you to do where you live.

At variable distances out to 50 yards, it is very nearly a guarantee that only a good dome will provide sufficient accuracy for small game and pests. By that I mean reliably hit a 3/4in (19mm) diameter zone to produce a clean kill, not just a hit. On occasion you may find an exception…Hades, Polymag, Baracuda Hunter Extreme are some examples worth a try. Just don’t be too disappointed if they spread out to 1 or 1.5in (25 to 38mm) groups or worse at 50 yards. Rather, consider yourself lucky if they group tightly.

For distances of 30 yards or less, I usually go with a .177 wadcutter for squirrel- or pigeon-sized critters and smaller, but generally at no less than a 750fps muzzle velocity (roughly 10fpe for a 8.2gr pellet). That’s because, as BlackIce stated, you have to be mindful of adequate penetration and at some point a wadcutter’s blunt face just doesn’t penetrate sufficiently. Granted, the 750fps minimum figure I gave is a self-imposed limit to give a high confidence level under real-world conditions. Less will suffice under more ideal conditions but that’s a judgment call each person has to make for themselves.

For larger critters (e.g. raccoons), it’s .22 or larger. Brain shots only with domes to ensure penetration through bone, especially a frontal shot where there is a risk of deflection striking the shallow angle of the forehead.

I hope this helps!