💢 Talk me into KEEPING a .25cal PCP! — What does .25cal do that .22cal can't?

[ctshooter]

Just my 2 cents here from a non-hunter. This argument could be made between most calibers and I think it is made possible by the crazy trend and advancements in the past 5 years that are bringing much higher powers to Airguns.

When I got back jnto this hobby about 7-8 years ago it seemed that .22 standard was about 30fpe with longer barrels getting up to 45fpe. In .25, 45fpe was basically standard with the HP versions getting up to 60fpe.

Fast forward to 2-3 years ago and we now have .22 capable of up to 90fpe and .25 up to around 130fpe (going on the new Mora Standard specs). With numbers like this there is very little left to discern a benefit of .22 vs .25.

That being said, if you’re shooting pellets only then .25 may still have a benefit. I haven’t heard of any .22 pellets over 25gr that do well out to 100 yards. So 34gr .25 pellets will take an edge if you need that extra power at a distance.

For me I mostly shoot .22 under 25fpe and under 50 yards. If I’m going past 50 I’ll choose the .25.

 

[JungleShooter]

Yes, ctshooter,
we've got the POWER!!

And we like it (well, most of us).


Now the question is how to transform that into the desintegration of the trash bird feral pigeon.


What's the minimum combination of:
▪︎ Caliber
▪︎ ME
▪︎ Projectile
▪︎ Shot placement
that will produce desintegration?




And the basic question: To keep or not to keep that .25cal P2...?

➧ Maybe my .25cal P2 will be the "JSB Heavy Dome gun" shooting them out to 200y — as Bob (@Arzrover) suggested.


➧ Maybe my test shoot tomorrow will provide some desintegration shots that will justify the existence of the .25cal P2 in my tiny gun collection....

Tomorrow's plan:
• I'll up the power by another 5FPE.
• I'll try to take frontal chest shots, as the solid breast flesh should aid in HP expansion, as a helpful poster suggested.
• I'll give the Hybrids another chance.

• It seems that at the relatively small caliber (.25) the wadcutters are not up to the task of desintegration.
The airgun sirens above (you know who you are!) a singing their beguiling .35 caliber song.... Doom is knocking on my digital door....


Matthias

 

[Danman]

Well sir here is (.22) 55FPE vs 30FPE Both domed pellets, both @45Yards. I redid the test, same results. Once you cross 30FPE, things get violent fast! I hit a dove @ 98Yards with the 55FPE gun (mrds) and it was 100% pass through and not even a flap of its wings. And it was mostly luck not skill as I guessed on the hold, and let's be real I was shooting Mrds.....at that exact point I hadn't shot the gun past 60yards yet!

 

[Farmplinker2]

Farmplinker and Mike!

don't you give me any ideas...!!
You zip this talk of .35cal right now before I get myself in trouble, financial and otherwise...!!

Matthias





Man, this place is dangerous...!
Filled with people that give you bad ideas — that sound so GOOD!

This place is a safety zone..... filled with irresponsible posters like myself!

 

[Luis Leon]

This place is a safety zone..... filled with irresponsible posters like myself!

So you freely admit to being an enabler…? Yes, a “safety zone” for “forever” airgun loving boys and girls…

 

[Farmplinker2]

So you freely admit to being an enabler…? Yes, a “safety zone” for “forever” airgun loving boys and girls…

We can't all be as good of enablers like Steve or Tom Gaylord.... but we can try!

 

[JungleShooter]

I am sorry that my ability to predict the future was so pityfully defective.

And I am so glad to report what actually happened to me:

A very kind airgun buddy brought both a .25cal long barrel (600mm) and a .30cal barrel down to Peru. One of the barrels was attached to a very nice gun....!

The glory kills on feral pigeons seem to await the recommended .35cal Mora.
However, my long anticipated long range hits with hyper heavy slugs are happening now, using the long .25cal barrel (mine was only 510mm short, and these XLR slugs usually only come in up to .25cal size.)
Even with KO slugs I am getting good groups. And the H&N Baracudas are very precise, if I need pellets when I lack a backstop on an angled shot.

So, the .25cal is staying in my stable. Plus the .30cal..... You can imagine that his wreaked havoc with my ammo storage space.... (An inconvencience I happily put up with, I admit.)

Matthias