Hunting with a stock .22 Beeman R9

[Buddy2023]

Hi everybody, I was wondering if any of you have hunted squirrels with a stock Beeman R9 .22 and what results you've gotten, what ranges and what types of pellets you're using? I recently bought a new R9 in 22 cal and it seems really under powered for hunting, I've shot 1/2" plywood at 25 yards using RWS Super H Points and they just stick visibly into the wood, They bounce off cherry firewood pieces at 15 yards. I shot a squirrel in the chest at 25 yards that was getting into my storage trailer using the RWS hollow points and it didn't even fall the pellet made a thud and the squirrel just ran away. It was a good solid hit the rifle shoots one hole groups with these pellets at 25 yards and I've been very impressed with the rifle's quality and accuracy with a variety of pellets but it seems to be producing velocities well below 700 fps, perhaps mid to low 600 fps range. Could there be something wrong with my rifle even though it's brand new? Can the rifle be tuned to shoot these pellets 750 fps? I posted a similar question in another thread, I hope this doesn't upset anyone
Thanks eveyone.

 

[shambozzie]

Welcome Buddy2023, you came to the right place for all airgun related info. For some reason your gun seem a little underpowered. You really need a chrony to test. The R9 is a fantastic hunting machine when properly maintained. This is my R9 in .20 cal. Zeroed @ 45 yds I can take head shots at that distance on tree rats. Perhaps you ate due for a tune on gun. Your .22 should have no problem putting them down with proper shot placement.

 

[Sqwirl57]

I've taken squirrels with a .22 HW50S at 55yds. The 50S puts out about 20-25% less power than your R9. While I would not recommend that being your typical range, it is doable with a solid brain shot. A more appropriate max range would be closer to 40-45yds.

Fyi, installing a Vortek PG4 kit will up your muzzle energy to about 17ftlbs (720fps) with 14.66gr FTTs. Lighter pellets will obviously be a bit faster but I find the 14.66gr in whichever head size (typically 5.53 or 5.54) work the best.

 

[Buddy2023]

Thanks for responding so quickly, I thought the R9 was supposed to produce 17 ft/lbs from the factory? I was hoping for closer to 20 ft/lbs with the kit, but maybe I'm expecting too much out of the rifle?

I've taken squirrels with a .22 HW50S at 55yds. The 50S puts out about 20-25% less power than your R9. While I would not recommend that being your typical range, it is doable with a solid brain shot. A more appropriate max range would be closer to 40-45yds.

Fy, installing a Vortek PG4 kit will up your muzzle energy to about 17ftlbs (720fps) with 14.66gr FTTs. Lighter pellets will obviously be a bit faster but I find the 14.66gr in whichever head size, typically 5.53 or 5.54) work the best.

 

[Sqwirl57]

Thanks for responding so quickly, I thought the R9 was supposed to produce 17 ft/lbs from the factory? I was hoping for closer to 20 ft/lbs with the kit, but maybe I'm expecting too much out of the rifle?

Factory R9/HW95 is 14-15fpe from the factory depending on the pellet used. You may get more with ultra light pellets but I dont use them so I can't verify.

 

[Buddy2023]

Factory R9/HW95 is 14-15fpe from the factory depending on the pellet used. You may get more with ultra light pellets but I dont use them so I can't verify.

Well I need more horsepower than that LOL I was hoping for a rifle in between the power of my .177 RWS 34 and my .22 Diana 350 Magnum, but this thing is closer to the model 34 in fact I've killed several rabbits and squirrels with my model 34 and never had such dismal results that I've so far gotten with the Beeman. I'm really disappointed with this rifle's performance!

 

[Sqwirl57]

Well I need more horsepower than that LOL I was hoping for a rifle in between the power of my .177 RWS 34 and my .22 Diana 350 Magnum, but this thing is closer to the model 34 in fact I've killed several rabbits and squirrels with my model 34 and never had such dismal results that I've so far gotten with the Beeman. I'm really disappointed with this rifle's performance!

Not sure why you'd be disappointed. The gun is doing exactly what its advertised to do. Your .177 Diana is penetrating the wood better because its a much smaller, faster caliber. You really don't "need more horsepower". I've taken tons of squirrels and rabbits with under 12ftlbs. My buddy even took a groundhog recently with his 11.8ftlb Pro Sport. If the accuracy is there, its all about putting the pellet where it needs to go.

Now if the accuracy isn't there thats a different story. What pellets are you using?

 

[Sqwirl57]

I think you may have mixed the R9s specs with the HW80's specs. The 80 is closer to 17fpe from the factory and can be tuned over 20fpe with a Vortek kit.

 

[Buddy2023]

I think you may have mixed the R9s specs with the HW80's specs. The 80 is closer to 17fpe from the factory and can be tuned over 20fpe with a Vortek kit.

I probably did I do stupid things to myself all the time LOL!!

 

[Buddy2023]

Not sure why you'd be disappointed. The gun is doing exactly what its advertised to do. Your .177 Diana is penetrating the wood better because its a much smaller, faster caliber. You really don't "need more horsepower". I've taken tons of squirrels and rabbits with under 12ftlbs. My buddy even took a groundhog recently with his 11.8ftlb Pro Sport. If the accuracy is there, its all about putting the pellet where it needs to go.

Now if the accuracy isn't there thats a different story. What pellets are you using?

I've been using the RWS Super H Points the rifle really likes them I can get 3/8" groups or better 5 shots at 25 yards. Do you think the performance might improve once the rifle is broken in?

 

[Sqwirl57]

I've been using the RWS Super H Points the rifle really likes them I can get 3/8" groups or better 5 shots at 25 yards. Do you think the performance might improve once the rifle is broken in?

If by that you mean "will accuracy improve" then yes. As you become more accustomed to the gun and as the spring settles in the gun will become more consistent. If you're asking if tge numbers will climb, more than likely not. Have you chronoed the gun to see your actual velocity?

 

[Buddy2023]

If by that you mean "will accuracy improve" then yes. As you become more accustomed to the gun and as the spring settles in the gun will become more consistent. If you're asking if tge numbers will climb, more than likely not. Have you chronoed the gun to see your actual velocity?

I don't have a chronograph, but this thing is below 700 fps I'm certain of that. It's a pretty nice rifle and it's quite accurate, but after getting it I don't think it was worth $500.

 

[Sqwirl57]

Its a workhorse. Compared to its competition and the fact that it'll last a lifetime kind of proves that the price is fair. Mine is in .20 cal and will just keep tossing pellet after pellet through the same hole at 35yds.

Shoot, even taken a few flies with it

That being said, as great of a gun as the 95 is, I wouldn't pay $500 for a second one either. I find the gun to be fairly boring and a tad underwhelming myself. It gets the job done right the first time though and for that it has my full support.

 

[Buddy2023]

Its a workhorse. Compared to its competition and the fact that it'll last a lifetime kind of proves that the price is fair. Mine is in .20 cal and will just keep tossing pellet after pellet through the same hole at 35yds.

View attachment 376176

Shoot, even taken a few flies with it

View attachment 376177

That being said, as great of a gun as the 95 is, I wouldn't pay $500 for a second one either. I find the gun to be fairly boring and a tad underwhelming myself. It gets the job done right the first time though and for that it has my full support.

I just wanted a rifle in between the power of my .177 RWS 34 and my .22 Diana 350 Magnum. It'll be ok I guess, but I'm definately going to limit my shots to under 30 yards. Also for $500 it should have a walnut stock.

 

[Sqwirl57]

It doesn't really help you out much now but if you want a nice walnut stock for your R9, Custom Stock LTD sells a CS500 that looks fantastic on that gun

 

[willy]

Iv worked on R-1 in 5.5mm and the best i could get out of it was 750 FPS. 14.5 g.im thinken a R-9 should pull 575- 600? TX 200 in 22 750 no problem"Ya might have a two tight piston seal?

 

[Ace1969]

My .22 R9 is 3 months in use by me now and about 900 rounds through it.I have taken 4 adult crows at 66yrds, 47x2 ,and 35 ,

2 squirrels 50 to 55.Its a capable hunter using JSB Hades and Barracuda 15s.These 2 pellets at 15.89 grains seem to be the sweet spot for this rifle in accuracy and carry energy down range better.Ive used RWS superdomes and number one it's not a soft lead pellet and second would be they shed velocity too fast to equal less fpe on targets at further ranges .

 

[Buddy2023]

My .22 R9 is 3 months in use by me now and about 900 rounds through it.I have taken 4 adult crows at 66yrds, 47x2 ,and 35 ,View attachment 3763272 squirrels 50 to 55.Its a capable hunter using JSB Hades and Barracuda 15s.These 2 pellets at 15.89 grains seem to be the sweet spot for this rifle in accuracy and carry energy down range better.Ive used RWS superdomes and number one it's not a soft lead pellet and second would be they shed velocity too fast to equal less fpe on targets at further ranges .

Thanks for the reply, I'm using the RWS H Points 14.2 grains my R9 loves them for some reason, I've been told these pellets don't shoot well in a lot of rifles but I have two rifles that they shoot really well out of, the R9 and my Diana 350 Magnum, 5 shot cloverleaf groups at 25 yards when I'm feeling good LOL. I think the H&N pellets are harder lead as well, I have some of the H&N 14.66 gr pellets in 5.52 diameter, but I got them from Midway and the people who work in the shipping department decided to use my pellet tins as hockey pucks and I have tons of damaged pellet as a result so I'm not going to try those until I can get a new tin from somewhere else LOL

 

[chip78]

Hi everybody, I was wondering if any of you have hunted squirrels with a stock Beeman R9 .22 and what results you've gotten, what ranges and what types of pellets you're using? I recently bought a new R9 in 22 cal and it seems really under powered for hunting, I've shot 1/2" plywood at 25 yards using RWS Super H Points and they just stick visibly into the wood, They bounce off cherry firewood pieces at 15 yards. I shot a squirrel in the chest at 25 yards that was getting into my storage trailer using the RWS hollow points and it didn't even fall the pellet made a thud and the squirrel just ran away. It was a good solid hit the rifle shoots one hole groups with these pellets at 25 yards and I've been very impressed with the rifle's quality and accuracy with a variety of pellets but it seems to be producing velocities well below 700 fps, perhaps mid to low 600 fps range. Could there be something wrong with my rifle even though it's brand new? Can the rifle be tuned to shoot these pellets 750 fps? I posted a similar question in another thread, I hope this doesn't upset anyone
Thanks eveyone.

Your R9 should be able to hunt squirrels without any problem. I had a Walmart special Beeman something with cheap plastic stock. It came with two barrels, 177 and 22. My guess it was about 12 ft-lbs. I have killed quite a few squirrels using it and Crosman hollow point 14.3 in 22. My distance was between 20 and 40 yards. Very lethal at that distance. To be sure, you would want to chronograph it. But mid to low 600FPS is good enough to kill a squirrel at 35 yards. 14.3 gr pellets running 615 FPS is 12 ft-lbs. R9 should be a little more powerful than that, perhaps 14 ft-lbs. So 664FPS for 14.3 gr.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I just wanted a rifle in between the power of my .177 RWS 34 and my .22 Diana 350 Magnum. It'll be ok I guess, but I'm definately going to limit my shots to under 30 yards. Also for $500 it should have a walnut stock.

Not saying anything wrong with the hw.22 but true a sub 750 gun.( With light pellets). Now a r9/95 in .177 with 8 grain pellets your hard pressed to beat it.. hw .177's fit that bill nice...

Anyway .22 squirrel woods thug it's my gamo mach1. It lays a smack down on 'em and just near as accurate as my hw/ r9 at 800+ fps