Pellet Guns - Is stepping up to .22 worth it?

[SeventhSon]

I've shot .177 all my life, like I'm sure everyone here has. I'm thinking of getting another pellet gun and was considering going with .22 caliber. I was looking at the Benjamin Trail NP, but I'm not married to it. I've heard good and bad about the Gamo so unsure about those. Anywho, in your opinion, is it worth stepping up to a .22 caliber or just stick with .177? Mostly just plinking but I'll also be thinning out a herd of wild squirrel at the inlaws house for them (damn critters keep stealing their pecans). No plans on hunting coyotes or Cape Buffalo with it. What say you guys?

 

[nola_]

I got a Hatsan .22 a while back to dispatch of critters going after my chickens. It does the job and is nice to just shoot targets with as well.

 

[1911Dave]

I have the Benjamin NP. Very happy with it. You are welcome to come check it out if you want.

 

[Request Dust Off]

I'd say your best bet is a good .177 pellet designed for hunting. Just check for accuracy in your gun and go to killin' critters. I don't see a need for .22 pellets. Plus just changing pellets is the cheap route.

Legalities of it are up to you.

 

[hunter5567]

The TrailNP is a good rifle but could use a trigger upgrade. The stock trigger is long and hard.

 

[lsu fan]

I've always had a .22 air rifle. I don't use it very much anymore, but I do bring it to the stand when I get fed up with the coons. It works wonderfully.

My buddy got a Benjamin NP a while back and it's awesome. A good bit quieter than the spring piston guns. He hasn't had any issues on squirrels and coons, and I would definitely buy one if I was going to purchase another one.

I currently have an RWS 52, which weighs about 10 lbs with the scope.... it's a beautiful gun but I get pretty tired of lugging that thing around.

 

[tallwalker]

Probably depends more on what ranges you are shooting. A .177 is faster and flatter longer than a .22 is. I tried a .22 for a while thinking it would be better, but for the ranges I like to shoot (60-80 yds) i just did better with the .177 so I gave it to my nephew. I have an old RWS Diana which is a heavy sucker, but 1100fps puts the hurt on stuff if you put the shot where it counts. A pass through is usual even on coons.

 

[barbarossa]

Oh Geez, I researched the crap out of this a couple of years ago. For meat hunting, it's .22 hands down. I've taken a couple dozen rabbits with mine.

Google it, there's a ton of info out there.

And once you get into it, make sure to check out this guy's YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...j3j1.4.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.M6DrWDK8Trk

 

[AustinBR]

Oh Geez, I researched the crap out of this a couple of years ago. For meat hunting, it's .22 hands down. I've taken a couple dozen rabbits with mine.

Google it, there's a ton of info out there.

And once you get into it, make sure to check out this guy's YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...j3j1.4.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.M6DrWDK8Trk

I also researched it a bit before I bought mine earlier this year, and all in all a .22 was better.

I have a Gamo .22 that puts the PBA pellets down range at 975 ft per second. I shoot non PBAs probably somewhere around the 700 FPS range and it still packs more of a whallop than the .177 does. I have shot my gun next to a .177 and the .22 is quieter due to the pellet being a bit slower, which was a plus for me.

As for accuracy, I have been hitting quarter sized groups at around 30 yards. If you are ever in BR, you are welcome to come try it out.

 

[tallwalker]

If you are into that kind of thing, there is a very cool free ballistics app for air rifles by Hawke Optics called "Chairgun". It has a database of most pellet brands and calculates trajectory, drop, poi, etc. really fun to play with. http://www.hawkeoptics.com/chairgun.html#.UnmtRLK9KSN

 

[LACamper]

I used to shoot a .22 pellet gun regularly (break barrel czech model). I found it quieter than equivalent .177's. Also, the pellets are a little bigger making them easier to handle and load if you're in a hurry. Just my humble opinion.

My next one will be a .22...

 

[1911Dave]

The TrailNP is a good rifle but could use a trigger upgrade. The stock trigger is long and hard.

Gonna do one on mine. There is one for $30 that has great reviews.

 

[XDguy]

http://www.charliedatuna.com/GRT-III Trigger New.htm
I did one of these in my son's crossman nitro venom, made a huge difference and was easy to install.

 

[1911Dave]

http://www.charliedatuna.com/GRT-III Trigger New.htm
I did one of these in my son's crossman nitro venom, made a huge difference and was easy to install.

Yup that's the one I am going to do.

 

[Old School]

I bought a Beeman that has both barrels, easy change, best of both worlds.

 

[SeventhSon]

I've only found the .177 in the gun I wanted and I really wanted something for this weekend to take out some squirrels at the in laws house. May just go that route and look at a .22 later.

There is a Gamo Whisper in .22 available for about the same price. Not sure of the Gamo is equal to the Benjamin Trail though.

 

[AustinBR]

I've only found the .177 in the gun I wanted and I really wanted something for this weekend to take out some squirrels at the in laws house. May just go that route and look at a .22 later.

I had that problem. I had to order mine and all the ammo online.

Sent from my Galaxy S4

 

[SeventhSon]

I had that problem. I had to order mine and all the ammo online.

Sent from my Galaxy S4

I edited just before you posted. I did find a Gamo Whisper in .22.

 

[AustinBR]

I edited just before you posted. I did find a Gamo Whisper in .22.

Silent stalker whisper? I think that's the one I have. If so...its good.

Sent from my Galaxy S4

 

[SeventhSon]

Just a standard Whisper. For the price I bit the bullet. If nothing else then my son just got a new air rifle.