.177 pellets for hunting - is heavier always better? ( sub 12ft Lbs)

[Thegogg]

JSB Heavies & Hades for me

 

[2506sendero]

Heavier usable pellet is usually best resulting more kinetic shock if used on live quarry

This

 

[P8X]

Pretty sure @Nords did some good experiments in ballistic gel.
He may be able to show some differences

 

[Rapid7Nick]

Having had quite a few rifles over the years. My go to pellets are RWS Superdomes or Super Field.
Both .177 and .22.
I have tried all the usual suspects.
Rws Are very also very wallet friendly as I buy 10-20 tins at a time

Totally agree with RWS. They were a good pellet back in the 80s and still are today.
The Hobby is a firm favourite of mine, especially for ratting.

 

[Wing Commander]

This is a subject which keeps bouncing up into the spotlight.

JSB Heavies. . . 10.34gr. . 45 yards. One shot, one kill. . . Instantly.
JSB Exact . . . . . 8.44gr. . . 45 yards. One shot, one kill. . . Instantly.
JSB Express. . . 7.87gr. . . 45 yards. One shot, one kill. . . Instantly.

It isn't about the weight of the pellet, it is about shot placement.
Use a pellet which can hit where it is aimed.

 

[1260engineer]

Hows your fieldcraft ....if good .. Then any pellet will do. Coz a hole in the head never fails

 

[Steve sxs 1;]

I disagree with that...

If a pellet enters a thing at 9ft/lbs comes out the other side at 3ft/lbs you only put 6ft/lbs of energy into the thing.

This is fine if you're a 100% perfect marksman but we aren't, no one is.

But if you hit a thing and the pellet doesn't leave 100% of the pellets energy was put into the target. This will lead to a clean kill even if you miss vitals.

I'll agree no one is 100% (the ones who think they are "build a bridge and get over it"

 

[Mad Andy]

Ok, boffins.

What is it that causes a heavy pellet to dump its energy into a target better than a lighter one?

Is it because it's going more slowly so slows down more readily?

If the object of the exercise is the pellet to stop inside the target in order to transfer all the energy then my money would be on the softest lead possible with the biggest frontal area. Something like a .25 cal JSB loaded backwards.

However, accuracy trumps all.

 

[rabbitwrecker]

is heavier always better ?

Most certainly not. Accuracy is paramount, but after that, I'll go for something lighter - 7.9 grains or less. I only shoot springers and rammers - light pellets will most often be less efficient in a pfffttt-gun. They should still be faster however......and speed kills...

 

[Rog5]

3yds to 50yds and everything in between AADF 8.4g 4.52 have been my go to pellet for years, never had the need to mess with anything else thankfully, same in .22 16g 5.52 except not as far

 

[Dodgyeye]

.177 JSB Heavies or rebrands 10.3/4g

But due to appalling QC, I'm going to try RWS Superfield Ultra Heavy 10g

 

[P8X]

I prefer lightweight pellets. Namely JSB Express 7.87
I'll explain why.

I like the trajectory they offer. I get superb aim points on my ret with them.
I tune to 10.5ftlb in springer and PCP, which I've found suits this pellet, very well.
They deliver the accuracy I require, out to 55 yards, in all my rifles
I've found they deliver more instantaneous kills on rabbits, compared to heavier pellets. Far bloodier though.

 

[Ste Hughes]

You have a valid argument Ste.. and your reason behind it is justified..
However, even 6ft/lb correctly placed with accuracy will do a better job with (imo) more efficiency.

It's not always how hard you can hit summat, it's knowing where to hit it..

For an example... boxing.. a thumping great haymaker right hook will shake a boxer upon contact. Some go down and some take the shot...
But a sweet little jab or hook to the temple... and its usually lights out..

CAVEAT.. I am using a pugilistic sport as an example .. and am not advocating violence.

No argument there but if you're not 100% dead on with your shot (and we sometimes aren't) this is the situation I'm talking about.

 

[Deleted member 408]

No argument there but if you're not 100% dead on with your shot (and we sometimes aren't) this is the situation I'm talking about.

This is true Ste... and thats PRECICELY why we practice time and time again.. and if the shot is not on... we have the courage and conviction NOT to take the shot... and to respect the quarry we are going for.

Personally, I shot vermin/quarry and I ONLY take head shots where I know that I can perform a quick and efficient dispatch. And at every feeder or permission I go to I have a target card which I ALWAYS check zero before commencing shooting (I even re-zero the rifle on a later session if I have been out in the morning and zero'd the gun).

 

[Avalon]

It really depends on the job, the distance and the environment/back stop. The answer could be Econ II’s for close range ratting and FTT/Baracuda/JSB Exact/Heavy/QYS depending on the barrel and distance.

 

[BullsEye]

I personally use Bisley magnums, or more recently Air Arms diablo field, but that also because they group amazingly I'm my R10TH. It's about shot placement really.

 

[ninja9]

I have ued econ11 flatheads at 20 yards max on squrills and rats not sure on the weight but under 8 g i think, this is using a gun set at 10ftb and it is instant lights out. Ove 25 yards groups open up so i stick to 20 yards. So does a flat head hit harder and penitrate less.

 

[Mac22]

Hows your fieldcraft ....if good .. Then any pellet will do. Coz a hole in the head never fails

I tend to agree. A 4.5mm hole in the head will do for anyting I shoot at. One of the guys I shoot with always uses AA Express and he knocks stuff over very nicely in the walled gardens we shoot in. Having said that....I tend to use JSB 10.34 heavies as they seem to be accurate and deliver a good amount of energy to the target, but do tend to exit the target too.

 

[bill57]

Here we go again ........................

 

[Crazy]

Just started using RWS match (wad cutters) because I had a tin lying around, for rats up to 25 yards, they do the job very nicely. In the past I have used JSB Exact 8,44 and they tended to go through.