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.22 or .177. For close range pest shooting?

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gtom.rm

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Long range I'd use a 177 but what about close range? Up to 5 to 25 yards max. I don't see the point in getting using a 177 for that in case of over penetration A .22 would do a better job and better damage and impact for the short distance or am I wrong.

What would you use for close range shooting. A 177 or 22?

I've shot rabbit before with a .177 at around 40 yards on my cousins land but I don't have rabbits here it's mainly mice/rat & squirrels. I made mistake of feeding birds now got rodents & squirrels in the garden
 
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Frog said:
.177 and around 7-8fpe....

HW 30!!
Click to expand...
Would there be over penetration at such a close range with a .177. Don't want the pellet to go right through and hit the glass door of my outbuilding at the end of the garden and shatter it😂
 
For 25 yards max, how about an HW30 in .177
I have one, lovely little rifle although I've only target shot with it.
 
If it's full power, probably won't make any difference with rats and squirrels. Both calibers will go through at that distance.
I use both for close range stuff and the only real guarantee you have is to be sure of what's behind your target.
 
I use a HW98 in .22 with RWS Hobby pellets. I'm a big fan of .177, especially for use around woodlands where different ranges and angles crop up, but it pains me to say it, .22 with a flat head pellet stops rats better for the typical close range shots I'm taking. I also find it easy to load in the pitch black dark.
 
Having (mis)spent a significant part of my youth doing short range pest control (mostly rats) on local poultry farms, I would suggest that the gun's handling matters more than its calibre.
You need something that's quick to point and to acquire a target, with a decent trigger so you are less likely to pull your shots. Power in the 7 to 8 ft/lbs range is perfectly adequate at those distances.
 
When I had X2 mega rat shoots years ago...before all the Pcps I used a
FWB 124 .177 using RWS Hobby.
I shot thousands of them over the years I had those perms... absolutely infested.
Today, given the same circumstances, I would pick my BSA R10 .177 fitted with a Photon or red T20 and use the R10 match.
My current FWB 124 is far too nice to risk in the pig pens etc and the R10 would make life much easier.
 
Hit it in the correct place and it makes no difference whatsoever , not now or in the myriad of threads on the subject that have preceded this one , or those yet to come ... ;)

If you can't consistently hit that spot then get a .410 garden gun ... :)
 
Eeyore said:
Having (mis)spent a significant part of my youth doing short range pest control (mostly rats) on local poultry farms, I would suggest that the gun's handling matters more than its calibre.
You need something that's quick to point and to acquire a target, with a decent trigger so you are less likely to pull your shots. Power in the 7 to 8 ft/lbs range is perfectly adequate at those distances.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, that is where the R10 Super carbine comes in.
Handling and pinpoint accuracy are the most important factors.
Aim for the eye ,back of the head or inbetween the eyes.
I do have .22 and .25 guns, but prefer
.177 for rats for its point and shoot when zeroed up for up to 25 yds with the scope set as low as possible.
 
@gtom.rm

This thread has been moved into the correct forum section.

Please study the forum rules before starting threads.
 
You might try hollow point or flat head pellets as a way to reduce overpenetration, it's no guarantee though. I did some gel testing and found .177 Bisley Pest Control and RWS Super H-Point gave very good expansion, and drastically less penetration than similar weight domed pellets. Results in living tissue may not be as impressive though, I never got to that point as I found the accuracy lacking, for close range, might be ok though.

EDIT: I'm referring to .177 only, sub 12ft/lb .22 hollow points don't seem to expand properly due to the lower velocity. I'm meaning if you'd like to try just buying a new tin of pellets for your existing rifle, before buying a whole new one.
 
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