.22pcp vs .25 springer

What would you rather choose for hunting raccoons?

  • .22

    Votes: 22 88.0%
  • .25

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • Total voters
    25
AGT Vulcan 3 with a 40 grain 22 slug will do it no problem

Even a 25 gr 22 pellet at a reasonable distance leaving at around 900 fps will be enough energy for the average raccoon

Besides potential energy, the pcp also offers a better chance for best possible shot placement in my experience.
I’ve got 3 springers and each one the dovetail is crooked to the irons and they don’t align right but shooting with the irons is no problem and all of them are made by Hatsan witch I believe they make better pcp rifles so I just stopped buying springers because the ones I have can only be used with the irons for accurate shots the scopes are useless because of the defect I notice a lot of springers have this issue.
 
I’ve made quick ends to multiple average size raccoons at 25 yards with 18gr JSBs leaving at 30 FPE in the past.

I’ve always prioritized shot placement and refuse to take a shot if it doesn’t present itself.
And that’s some smack down for a coon tbh considering most coons don’t even weight that much I’m sure it puts them flat out lol.
 
Except at short range, a .25 springer will have marginal penetration for a proper brain shot. Particularly for a frontal shot where the skull can potentially deflect it. And in terms of shots placed to the vitals, a raccoon will cover a lot of ground before it runs out of steam so unless we are talking about taking raccoons exclusively from a tree, expect a significant percentage to never be recovered.

So for me it’s a .22 PCP without question. One in the ballpark of 30fpe is a raccoon wrecking machine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jayjay.22cal
I have not owned a 25 springer.
I do think that the 22pcp will be a much better choice.

A 21 gr Baracuda @860 or so is the choice I have on hand. Over 900 with an 18, but the 21 would be my preference.

Inside 25 yards, with a perfect statue of a target, I would not hesitate to use a 14 fpe 177 springer.
But that would be an unlikely occurrence.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jayjay.22cal
I have not owned a 25 springer.
I do think that the 22pcp will be a much better choice.

A 21 gr Baracuda @860 or so is the choice I have on hand. Over 900 with an 18, but the 21 would be my preference.

Inside 25 yards, with a perfect statue of a target, I would not hesitate to use a 14 fpe 177 springer.
But that would be an unlikely occurrence.
A 14fpe .177 with pointed pellets would penetrate the same as a 20fpe 22 pointed pellet so it’d say that could work.
 
I have not owned a 25 springer.
I do think that the 22pcp will be a much better choice.

A 21 gr Baracuda @860 or so is the choice I have on hand. Over 900 with an 18, but the 21 would be my preference.

Inside 25 yards, with a perfect statue of a target, I would not hesitate to use a 14 fpe 177 springer.
But that would be an unlikely occurrence.
I usually just hunt squirrels with my airguns and have been getting a raccoon problem the past two years and now there getting under my trailer and tearing up my installation but I got a .22 pcp sig virtus I tuned up and got a aftermarket 2k output reg on it a aftermarket air valve chamber and I ported the port valve and as well it will sling 23grain hp slugs at 1000 fps so I guess I’m going to dispatch them with the sig over my Hatsan .25 springer so thanks everyone for the feedback in determining what should be used.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Struckat
youll need a precise headshot to drop them in place with just about anything, so pcp .. if planning on going after racoons specifically, which i was awhile back, i graduated to a 9mm/.35 from a 60ft lb+ .25 feeling even the .25 was pretty marginal .. so .22 or springer? its just playing around and not very serious imo ... i would predict my reliable stoppage success rate would be less than 50% with either of those ..
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jayjay.22cal
Yeah it would but was just trying to keep it simple as almost .22 pcp airguns have similiar ballistics to a .25 springer usually the 22 does better tho

That is false. There is no comparison between 22 PCP ballistic capabilities and 25 springer ballistic capabilities. A modern 22 PCP capable of pushing 30-40gn projectiles at just below trans-sonic speeds will run circles around that 25 springer.