I have applied for licence B to begin to practice an air rifle. I still don't have one and I'm wondering what to buy.
I'm intending to use the air rifle bothe for target shooting and rabbit hunting. But I'm confused if the gun to choose is either a .22 or a .177 caliber.

Can someone please tell me which caliber is the best for the two practices?

Any help and guide is very appreciated.

Thanks

.177 is the best caliber for both types of shooting in my opinion.

.177 has a flatter trajectory, can be used for hunting up till a 50m range and target for shooting don't even think of the .22 caliber, you will find it hard to deal with especially because of the very loopy trajectory.

.22 is a good caliber for hunting as it delivers a greater punch as it's heavier but effective range is about 30-35m max.

The above facts are only applicable to an airgun with 12ft/lbs muzzle energy....................with a higher powered airgun the case is different....................

Depends on the power output.

I'd be looking at 800 ft/sec+ irrespective of calibre.

So if you buy into .22 @ 800ft/sec you will have more energy delivered at the target.

Basically, anything up to around 15 ft/lbs is probably better off in .177 and from 18+ (a natural almost-limit for .177 anyway) then you are going for .22.

RB

In the field with a .177 cal. a rabbit will be your next meal, guaranteed

Thanks for your replies.

Since the .177 has a less impact effect than the .22
Is there any pellets for the .177 that increase the impact like magnum or flat pellets or something else? 

(Besides, any more opinions from you guys about .22 or .177 is much appriciatied)

Thanks

for hunting its difficult to beat the FX monsoon or Revolution. Have seen both at work in 22 cal and can deliver quick follow up shots very easily that way you can mount a hologram sight for upclose shots and scope for longer shots.

If by impact you mean energy imparted to target, 177 will do the job but it will never carry alot of energy, its small and low velocity. Having said that, there are 16grain 177cal pellets which can do a good job. impact signature is very low with 177calibers and typically if you miss, its difficult to say where you hit, not to speak of the damn small pinhead holes.

For a longshot with some significant downrange energy, nothing can beat a 0.25cal with some heavy 31 grains...) being larger than conventional 22 diabolo pellets, twice the weight of a 16grn JSB and softer than 22lr lead, it will flatten out any rabbit or critter of that size past the distance you would like to shoot them...

Hehe, just bought into .25 via a Webley Patriot - still to give it a workout however and may be some time because I scr*wed my left shoulder and hey you need all the shoulder you can get to cock a gas rammed Patriot.

Should be fun though! But hardly recommended as an all-rounder 

RB

Hi Nemesis,
Welcome to the sport of Air-Rifle Shooting. Your best bet before you choose your rifle/s for your preferred type of shooting do give a visit to the shooting clubs where airgun shooting is practiced namely the Malta Allied Airgunners Club who deal mostly with Field Target Shooting and the Malta Air-Rifle & Pistol Shooting Club in Bidnija where Olympic/ISSF 10m air-rifle and air-pistol shooting is practiced.

Ideally you should have two different rifles - one for hunting and another specifically for target shooting. Getting such advice is of utmost importance because it may save you from big heartaches if you find that you spent a considerable sum of money on a rifle and then find out that you cannot use it for competition. As a rule in 10m air-rifle, only 0.177 calibre is allowed. Also although no restriction on power exist, it is advisable that for this indoor shooting sport it should be as low as possible (circa 7.5 Joules) thus giving you the best accuracy possible for the 10 metre shooting distance.

As regards Field Target, I am sure that the good people from MAAC can advise you much better than myself. It all boils down to what type of target shooting you really want to do coupled with your existing budget.

For hunting or otherwise, it is useless investing in an expensive high powered air-rifle when the pellet gets so deformed coming out of the barrel that it will miss the target by a mile. A .177 pellet although smaller, has got a flatter tragectory and more penetration power for its size. This I found out, when once I was training at our indoor shooting range in Bidnija and a rat came over to give his support. Just one clean shot with my Walther LG300XT match rifle from some 15 metres, straight in the eye. With the impact it spun 3 times in the air and fell legs up motionless on the floor. My advice to you is to go for accuracy and not power.

If need any more help pls send us an email on e.marpsc@gmail.com
Lawrence

Lawrence, I'd just became a member of MAAC last Sunday and done the course already in order to obtain licence B. 

Welcome to the club mate......................and get ready to get infected with the airgun virus 

Have you decided which type of gun to buy...............pcp or springer, FT or sporter stock, type of scope......................? 

Luger, to tell you the truth I'm still learning about airguns, but what I'm sure about right now is that I'm going for a springer with a calibre of .177 since I found out that its the best caliber that can be used for both target shooting and rabbit hunting.

You'll be fine. There's always a good reason to have and keep a decent springer in .177 so even if one day you decide to go deeper your gun will still be a keeper. Oh the poetry... 

RB