In-depth sub 16FPE comparison video.

[RangerPete]

Very interesting video comparing pellet penetration and performance in 3 calibers, all at the same energy level.
Real world testing while culling rabbits, not ballistic gel or watermelons.
Some graphic images of rabbit dissection to determine penetration, but nothing a hunter hasn’t seen.
Interesting summary of findings at the end.

 

[BlackICE]

Great videos if you're interested in hunting rabbits. In my opinion rabbits are pretty fragile creatures in almost anything kills them if you hit in the head. My interests are more in raccoons and coyotes would be very interesting to see the same thing done for pellets with a little more energy on these types of critters. For headshots and Boiler Room shots.

 

[A.G.R]

Very interesting video comparing pellet penetration and performance in 3 calibers, all at the same energy level.
Real world testing while culling rabbits, not ballistic gel or watermelons.
Some graphic images of rabbit dissection to determine penetration, but nothing a hunter hasn’t seen.
Interesting summary of findings at the end.

Outstanding informative video.. Well done.

 

[JimD]

I jumped to the conclusions which I agree with. Particularly the advice to use a pellet that is most accurate in your rifle. The rabbits reacting before the pellet got there was also interesting. Not so much of an issue with higher velocity pellet guns but clearly possible with guns around 500 fps at 40-60 yards.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

I would like to see this test done on squirrels. Much tougher critter. Skin is thicker, bones are denser, they're also just a hearty creature. I've seen head shot squirrels run off even with a 30 fpe 22 cal.

 

[A.G.R]

I would like to see this test done on squirrels. Much tougher critter. Skin is thicker, bones are denser, they're also just a hearty creature. I've seen head shot squirrels run off even with a 30 fpe 22 cal.

If they were 100 lbs I would never go into the woods because a 460 Weatherby would not be enough.

 

[BlackICE]

I would like to see this test done on squirrels. Much tougher critter. Skin is thicker, bones are denser, they're also just a hearty creature. I've seen head shot squirrels run off even with a 30 fpe 22 cal.

You must have missed the brain.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

You must have missed the brain.
View attachment 518281

Yeah, but they run off with half a head like it's nothing. Most smaller animals and birds are DRT solely from the energy dump. Squirrels will run, and even recover, from shots like that. I've seen squirrels I've hit in the head, or a body shot I'd think would kill them, show back up a few weeks later at the feeders... missing whatever chunk I blew off them.

 

[BlackICE]

Yeah, but they run off with half a head like it's nothing. Most smaller animals and birds are DRT solely from the energy dump. Squirrels will run, and even recover, from shots like that. I've seen squirrels I've hit in the head, or a body shot I'd think would kill them, show back up a few weeks later at the feeders... missing whatever chunk I blew off them.

Zombie squirrels! Unless you put a hole in the brain they never die! Just another reason not to eat any squirrels, you may get infected by the zombie virus.

 

[A.G.R]

Yeah, but they run off with half a head like it's nothing. Most smaller animals and birds are DRT solely from the energy dump. Squirrels will run, and even recover, from shots like that. I've seen squirrels I've hit in the head, or a body shot I'd think would kill them, show back up a few weeks later at the feeders... missing whatever chunk I blew off them.

the struggle is real . I’ve recovered my own pellets. … TOUGH THEY ARE. …

 

[L.Leon]

My 17 FPE, at the muzzle Atomic XR .22 has netted me mucho pest critters out to 50+ yards. It is self evident what the poor Brits do with their sub 12 FPE platforms on similar pests. My kill count actually went up as I “downsized” in power, shots that were previously verboten became boten… The critters? They were simply overwhelmed by the supposed low power

 

[RangerPete]

They were simply overwhelmed by the supposed low power

Love it!

 

[JimD]

I have two pcps at about 18 or 19 fpe. A Marauder pistol and a P35 in 177. Each has taken 17 squirrels. I lost one with the 177 because I shot it in the rear end. My fault obviously. The squirrel dropped but crawled off and I couldn't find it. I lost 2 with the Prod when it was at the original tune and thus 13 or 14 fpe. After I tuned it up the only one I lost was a brain shot that flipped itself into a rotted out area at the base of the tree I shot it from. The squirrels do not die quite as quickly with my "little guns" as with my 30-50 fpe 22s and 25s but when I do my part they die quick enough. If I did not have to worry about where a missed shot up in a tree would land I'd probably use a 25 tuned to 30-40 fpe or more. I took one with my P35-25 when it was tuned to only 32 fpe by shooting it in the jaw. Crushed it's skull. I've taken 30 with my more powerful PCPs and lost none. They all work great when I place the pellet properly but I think a little more power helps when my shot isn't ideal.