Minimum expansion speed hunting pellets.

[rens0144]

Hello guys,

I bought a new springer last week for general pest control, think of rats pigeons and crows. And small game hunting, rabbits for the most of it. I bought the Gamo g magnum 1250 jungle .22 cal. With 38 joules/28 fpe at the muzzle. I also bought some H&N baracuda hunter extreme pellets. But found out that they did not expand as i hoped. Maybe the velocity of the pellets at 20/30 yards with 38 joules is not enough. So my question is: What are the minimum velocities for those hollow points to expand. Mostly intrested in H&N hornets, baracuda hunter extremes, baracuda hunters, crow magnums and JSB hades. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[JimNM]

Your question has a few answers. The different pellets have different hardness, different targets have different resistances. Different impact places on those targets have different hardness.

IMHO,

Airgun shooting is more directed to precision impact (Brain, Heart/Lung) than it is to blunt force temporary wound channel. A non expanded diabolo pellet will kill pests faster and more effectively when placed into the brain than an expanded pellet will when shot through the abdomen. The early reports we have seen of the HADES pellets show massive damage to soft tissue, even at 15 +/- fpe. Accuracy still beats expansion. 



Shoot several types and weights of pellets through your gun to determine which will be most accurate.

 

[elh0102]

Choose the pellets that give you the best accuracy, because that's what kills with a pellet. Most pellets will expand some, depending in exactly what they hit. But, it's not the type of expansion that results in meaningful hydrostatic damage, and for the reason you mention, it takes a lot more velocity.

 

[AirgunBill]

I agree with a lot of the statements here about pellet performance and shot placement. I have found most pellets on actual small game don't expand that much the exception being the Polymag. Dome pellets on body shots will pencil on through. They will kill but not necessarily right away. Not a problem to me for pesting, more of a problem on some game you want to retrieve. If I see a pellet on paper that cuts a clean hole on paper it should do the same thing on pests causing more damage than a dome pellet. I like the H&H Terminators for this purpose. The thing is will your high power springer shoot them accurately. The JSB Hades might prove to be a good pesting and hunting pellet but more testing needs to be done. Bill

 

[rens0144]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I know that accuracy is far more important but I am also worried about pass through. But if the pellets dont expand I am better of just shooting domed pellets for their superior accuracy. Maybe the hades will show some good results. I tested the H&N Crow Magnums yesterday. They opened up quite a bit, but they lose accuracy fast beyond 30 yards.

 

[RobR]

On my quest for minimal pass through I ended up using RWS Supermag wadcutters at sub 12ft lbs. Zero pass through on lung shot pigeons at an average distance of 25 yds. Still sailing through starlings enough to take doubles though. Shooting .177

Took a few rats with the hades at 735 FPS at the muzzle and they passed clean through with quite the exit wound.

 

[rens0144]

Hey guys,

Did some testing with both the Crow magnum and the Baracuda Hunter Extreme. Shot them at the bottom of a bottle of water at 25 yards and found the pellets in the bottles. Baracudas hunter Exteme shot the most accurate. What ya guys think?