The Best Pellets For Pest Control

Is .177 calibre pellet better than .22 for hunting and pest control

An age old question that pops up on airgun groups and people always ask me once a week and there is no definitive answer to it. All people are different and how the air rifle reacts when the trigger is pulled also makes a difference. It can be down simply to personal preference if you prefer the .22 calibre airgun or the .177. Of course you have to understand the basic physics of each one for accurate shooting and consistent kills.

You may like, The different types of pellets.

If two guns fire pellets of different weights, the gun firing the lighter pellet must fire it at a higher velocity to achieve the same muzzle energy. This is an important consideration in locations where air guns are legally restricted by muzzle energy. Because a .177 pellet is lighter than a larger caliber pellet of similar design, the .177 pellet can be propelled faster and therefore on a flatter trajectory, without exceeding the legal limit on energy. However, because the lighter projectile has a lower ballistic coefficient, it loses its initial energy to air resistance faster than a heavier, slower pellet. Therefore, a heavier pellet (typically of a larger caliber) may be preferred for hunting. (source Wikipedia) However the .22 pellet travels on a more curved trajectory due to the weight of the pellets themselves.

What Calibre Is Best For Hunting

Both calibre’s are suitable for rabbits ,rats, squirrels and corvids. However there is no perfect choice and each have advantages and disadvantages. It really up to the shooter to decide what matches their own strengths and weaknesses. Lets take each quarry and go over the ins and outs of each calibre. Always remember that the time of day and even the time of the year can have an effect. The  .22 used to be considered the best option for hunting because it ensured a clean kill due to its energy. However nowadays the smaller hunting pellets .177 calibre is more popular in sub-12ft/lbs air rifles. It doesn’t impart as much energy to the quarry as it is smaller and lighter but, if hit in the right place such as the head, the animal will be killed cleanly. Do you need insurance for your airgun when in pest control?

What Calibre Is Best For Hunting Rabbits

There is no doubt that a good shot with a .22 imparts slightly more energy into a rabbit than a .177. However the energy from a .177 pellet is more than enough for a clean dispatch as it only takes around 4fpe to cleanly dispatch rabbits. This is a definite advantage over the .22. This is especially true at night when it is far more difficult to range find. Is it a small rabbit close up or a bigger one far away? .177 helps in this case. It all depends how good you are at range finding.

The perfect scenario would be using a range finder, knowing your aim points, and using a .22. On a personal note I use a night vision rangefinder and .177 as I have great confidence in it but it’s up to you to be honest and find out your own strengths and weaknesses and adapt to them. You can help yourself by putting out painted lollipop sticks. I use different colours for different distances so I always know roughly what the range is, thats of course if you have preprepared the ground. The best hunters always prep the killing ground we’ll beforehand. This is a great help if you don’t have a rangefinder. If you can use a multishot air rifle for rabbits as its more humanly . Unfortunately a follow up shot might be needed and a multi shot can be much quicker.

Of course the kill comes down to the skill as well, practice makes perfect as they say. No mater how much power and velocity you have coming out of the muzzle if your not hitting the kill spots then it won’t happen. Study your prey. know the kill spots and the chances of success are improved.

What Calibre Is Best For Hunting Rats

.177 or .22 doesn’t really matter as long as you know your aim points and the distance. Both calibre’s are perfect as normally rats are shot at closer ranges anyway. Similarly much the same things goes for a grey squirrels as well.

Corvids and Pigeons Kill Shots

People  will have different opinions but here is some information and tips which might help you decide. Generally I only shoot pigeons  in daytime except for perhaps feral pigeons in a barn or building. .177 pellets can sometimes go straight through and miss vital organs and leave your quarry in pain. No-one every wants to leave the prey in pain, plus its unnerving for yourself as well. If you are close enough and good enough always take head shots The .177 is very good indeed especially if you are shooting up or down hill and gives a slight edge over .22 pellet.

Pigeons eat a variety of grains, seeds, greens, berries, fruits, and will occasionally eat insects, snails and earthworms in the wild. At some times of the year (spring and summer) the pigeons can be full of grain or other food which makes the chest very strong. In this case a .177 pellet will penetrate easier and is the tool for the job when going for a heart and lung shot from the front and is better than the bigger .22 pellet which doesn’t penetrate as well. See? I told you it was tricky. At other times of the year or if you are shooting your quarry from the side the .22 is less likely to go straight through and even if it does it will impart more energy into your quarry and thus ensure a clean dispatch.

Kill Times For Pigeons

Now some people prefer to get up at the crack of dawn to prey on the pigeon population as they think that after all the hours sleep they will be hungry. This is very true as on short winter days, pigeons will have spent up to 16 hours roosting, so will be understandably hungry at daybreak. However what allows them to roost for unto 16 hours is a full tummy of food. So it makes sense that in last hours of light they will be gorging to fill so I consider this the best time of day to shoot pigeons.

You can probably see by now why there are so many different answers to the question .177 or .2. The other point to add is perhaps copper pellets are best for hunting as they increase velocity by 20%. You can also get lead pellets but covered in copper, view our cooper plated pellets.

What Type Of Pellet Is Best For My Air-rifle

Airguns are known for being selective about the pellets used. Often an airgun from a certain manufacturer prefers a certain brand of pellet. Once you find the magic sauce, perfect combination then your consistency of pellet gun shooting will improve. The basic rule of thumb in matching a pellet to your particular airgun is that lower-powered airguns need a lighter pellet, and the higher-powered airguns or magnums can use a heavier pellet.

So which should you go for? The only way to find out is by trial and error. Don’t skimp on your research – airgun pellets are pretty cheap and using the right one will make a big difference to your hit rate.

Best pellets for a BSA air rifle.

The Best Type of Pellet For Hunting

The pointed pellet really is the best choice for hunting. I’ve spoken to many airgun hunters who rely on pointed pellets for humane, one-shot kills on small game. Their other advantage is that they’re very accurate. QYS pellets are executed quality and give great accuracy as well. Is it a slug or pellets that are better for hunting ?

.22 or .177 calibre? And Should They Be Copper Pellets

Pellet types

Wadcutter pellets

These are the ideal airgun pellet for target shooting in your back garden. They have a broad, round head which cuts big holes in paper targets. Wadcutters are good for shooting at home-made targets such as tin cans and logs.

They vary in price depending on the grade you choose. The shape means they are not particularly aerodynamic so they drop faster than other pellets – which is ideal if you have limited space and have your target reasonably close.

Pointed pellets

Pointed pellets are designed to penetrate so they aren’t really a good choice for target practice. They shoot straighter than wadcutters and penetrate well.

One thing that sets pointed pellets apart from wadcutters and domed pellets is the skirt, which tends to be longer to compensate for the lighter tip. If your airgun isn’t fantastic you will get greater accuracy from a pointed pellet.

A great pellet to be used in a pistol as they’re light enough to retain velocity but aerodynamic enough to push them further then they would if they were more rounded. You’ll find the pointed pellet actually works best in the low to medium powered airgun and actually don’t work that well in higher powered airguns.

Domed pellets

Domed pellets are more aerodynamic so they hit harder at long distances. These pellets have a heavier tip, and so hit a target with more power than other types. They keep a lot of that power in long range so they are not a good choice for target practice in a small area.

As domed pellets (diabolo pellets) are usually heavy, they aren’t as fast as other types, but they are more accurate over a long-range. Although the Domed pellet wasn’t designed especially for hunting, it can be used for this and if we make the assumption that your airgun has enough power then you’ll find they pack quite a punch. The main reason for this is that firstly, they have more mass than the Wadcutter and secondly, they’re more aerodynamic.

Hollowpoint pellets

When hollow point pellets are fired from a powerful air rifle, they expand to cause maximum damage. These pellets are designed to kill, so they are not a pellet to choose for a fun target practice session! You might expect them to have some mass behind them given their purpose but actually, they’re pretty light – lighter than the Wadcutter.

High-velocity pellets

High-velocity pellets come in different shapes and are designed for speed. Most high-velocity pellets are made using lightweight metals, typically lead-free alloys, so they travel faster than heavier ammunition.

Designed to be used for the more powerful airguns, this pellet can reach speeds of approaching 1,300 FPS, and some have been recorded even higher than this. This is due to aerodynamics and the materials the pellet is made of (typically, lightweight metals). Because they’re fundamentally lighter than most other pellets, they travel faster.

Hybrid pellets

Hybrid pellets have a combination of features from various other pellets and so combine the benefits. They have more mass, so are heavier, they’re aerodynamic and are pretty brutal. You obviously can’t use them in any gun, you need a high-calibre air-rifle but boy can they stop a target in its tracks.

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Pointed Pellets	Round Nose pellets	Hollowpoint Pellets
Norica Devast Pointed	Crosman Copper Magnum Domed Pellet	Norica Copper Hollow Pointed
The head of a pointed pellet is just that. It ends in a sharp point that provides maximum penetration on small game. Pointed pellets were designed specifically for hunting and field use. The waist area of pointed pellets is larger in diameter for increased weight without unbalancing the front-to-rear weight distribution, which would destroy accuracy. The skirt area is shorter than a wadcutter skirt. Some pointed designs feature forward-driving bands	Round nose pellets have a protruding area ahead of the driving band, increasing the pellet’s overall weight and providing increased knock-down power. The round shape also helps decrease wind resistance. As airguns became more powerful and provided faster velocities, round-nose bullets were developed because a heavier projectile will have greater retained kinetic energy and more excellent resistance to wind deflection at all ranges than a lighter projectile.	The hollowpoint design is somewhat of a combination or extension of the wadcutter shape. The theory behind their development is the need for a reliable expanding pellet that assures one-shot kills at shorter ranges and lower velocities. The shape also provides the efficient flight characteristics of the wadcutter and combines with that the round nose’s increased mass and knock-down power.

Types of Air rifles

Now we have come across a .177 pellet that could make all the difference to being the best pellet for pest control. The RWS Powerball has more penetration than any other pellet. Read more in our RWS Powerball Review . We also have a new contender the new Reaper .177 heavy airgun pellet has some serious stopping power.