Springer Caliber Choice, Why?

For hunting .22 would be my choice. Like you I have a Walther LGV master pro in .177 target shooting only gun for me. Also have a HW35 .177 for target shooting but I would use it for close range hunting. I've done lots of ground squirrel hunting some days 300 squirrels, .22 cal works better .25 cal even better.

.177 flatter trajectory over .22 will only help putting the pellet on target if you don't understand holdover. I think with a little practice using mildots .22 cal. will do a better job. I've whacked enough squirrels to know this, not just a guess. Also .22 bucks the wind a little better.

Honestly my 22 is great from 15 to 50 yard, my .177 I use it from 15 to 30 max. it's very accurate less than a dime, but My Tx 200 in .22 is something else my .177 is great but the .22 will beat it any time specially if there is wind both are tuned the same way.

Regards Dan.

For me, the gun and its accuracy are more important than the caliber. I liked my RWS 54 a lot (22). I had a gamo in 177 that was acceptable. I had a nitrogen piston 22 that i gave away under the condition I never see it again, it just jumped too much.

I agree with Roger, I have three 22’s and one 177. The 177 shoots very flat and wind can, dose make it interesting at longer distances. The 22’s are my go to rifles they all behave differently and I have to use different holdover at distance for each of them but they are more stable/accurate in the wind and make a lovely noise when hitting something.

I use the 177 to plink and hunt with my 22’s.

Gary

I second what gary said. I use my .177 for plinking and my .22 for hunting.

The one thing about .177 is that they all seem to be less pellet finicky and very accurate for paper punching and plinking.
.22 on other hand seem to have a pellet of choice and can be a little more challenging for those tight groups on targets but definitely have the upper hand on power for hunting. Now for my favorite it's the almost forgotten .20 cal which I think has the best of both worlds! The accuracy is second to none and almost the same power of a .22.
not much choices on ammo these days but mine all shoot what available awesome.
I have all three calibers but always find myself reaching for that magical 5MM Lol.

Nothing like shooting a well tuned springer in any caliber! ?
James from Michigan, 

When I was about 15ish, I had saved up to buy a Crosman 1400 .22. I was Amazed at the difference it made on impact! The funny thing is that about a year later, I broke the front sight...sooo to balance things out,off came the rear sight (intentionally,this time). It was my only airgun at the time so I just kept shooting the damn thing. Oddly enough,I became pretty good with it! Good enough that I began hitting what I aimed at much more often than not. The trigger on that thing increased in pull weight with each pump (WONDERFUL.) and it was loud! Being a dumb-ass kid,I didnt know any better and just kept shooting it and,against the odds,hitting targets at different distances.
SO,the trajectory differences between .177 and .22 dont really bother me these days. I own springers in .177,.20,..22 and (God forbid!) a .30 and thoroughly enjoy them all!

Ha! Actually,its not much worse than my .20 RX2. Not nearly as refined (as expected of coarse). I had it scoped but removed the scope and just use the stock sights. Usually I can hit golf ball size targets out to about 30 yds. Its a bit of a novelty but fun...just a little pricey to plink with. I am curious about the .25's performance (as well as the .22's). In comparison to the "upper crust" springers, it feels like it was put together in the plumbing section at Ace hardware.

I've killed starlings out to 50 yards with my .177 model 34, I shot one between 60-65 yards and he flew, lit in a tree and flew again then hit the ground dead. About 45 yards is the farthest I've killed one with my 48 in .22, when it hits there is a noticeable plop. I know the .22 carries more energy and bucks the wind better than the .177 but the 34 is a hoot to shoot.

We all know what the old timers say. Inside effective airgun range “.177 for feathers, .22 for fur". Given what you shoot and you can put the pellet on target bigger is better.

Consider Diana springers and "gas springers". I have 3 Diana's an impact, and a talon ss. The diana's are reliable and good. 2 naver iron sights and the AMO8 gas springer came with a scope and anti recoil mount. Out of the box I took 2 squirrels in the yard out of the trees.

Beeman R1 Carbine in .20.

With new spring and seals - Shoots:

- Beeman 9.8 gr. Silver Bears at 922.5 FPS / 18.42 Lb-Ft
- Benjamin 14.3 gr. Cyl Pellets at 720.4 FPS / 16.48 Lb-Ft




GR

This .177 for target only is a bunch of BS. The ,177 will penetrate deeper and this is what you want. Shot placement is the key. Pit a .177 pellet in the brain and it will kill as quicky as a .22 in my experience. Lots of things to consider before pulling the trigger. Distance, shot placement, angle. You can always past the shot up and wait for better opportunity. A jsb 8.4 around 870/890 (14+ fpe in the kill zone is just as effective as a .22 at same power level.. keep in mine it's the nut behind the trigger.