Airgun Technologies pest control 177 slugs or 22 pellets

[daxrush]

Hi I'm looking to get a Vixen long for some pest control but I'm not sure what to get.
I'm not looking for very high power as it is for backyard pest control.
So the focus is a lightweight setup and no crazy power to keep it safe.

I am reading that the vixen in 177 likes a variety off slugs so i'm not sure if i would go for that 177 or the 22.
A 22 15.89gr pellet at 900fps has 28.60 fpe but only a BC of about 0.025-0.030.
A 177 10gr slug at 900fps has 18 fpe but with a BC of about 0.047-0.048

If I would want low power from the 22 i would have to go very slow so I looks like the 177 slug would be the better option,
with better wind resistence due to the high BC and being a slug i'm assuming good expansion.
But nothing beats practical experience so i would love to hear if any body can share their experiences on this.

Regards JP

 

[rdtricks]

What kind of critters and at what distances are you talking about? You have mentioned a back yard, but is that a city back yard or a country back yard?

 

[daxrush]

Pest consist of rats near our chicken coop and estimating anywhere from 12-35yds should do.
There a few houses around but nothing in the direction of the chicken coop.
Wind is more a factor as wind is mostly almost 90 degrees cross winds

 

[DeanB]

pellets if just rats or birds, doesnt take much to kill a rat. plus wont penetrate clear thru. Just find heavy .177 pellet gun will shoot. Wind wont be much of a factor at 35yds unless a really blowing.

 

[RadioFlyer]

.22 wadcutter 400 fps at those distances would safe & extremely effective.

 

[MongooseV8]

Either will be great for rats. One thing I would say is with 22Cal if you want any kind of pellet deformation from a Hades you will need the speed. There is a big difference with a 22Cal Hades 800fps compared to 900+fps. But even at 700fps a 22Cal pellet will smash a rat.

For 177 the JSB KO MK3 Slugs are little monsters if pushed at least 900fps, maybe slower but I havent done any testing at lower speeds. I dont think there is a wrong choice for your application, but I would probably lean towards the 177. I think if you needed to slow it down even further to avoid property damage the KO MK3 slugs will still do pretty well at 700fps on rats.

The only thing to consider is the 177 slugs are freakin tiny and may not feed well in all magazines. I have used them in FX factory mags, and Gamo/BSA factory mags with no issue, but I can see other maybe having trouble.

 

[daxrush]

The prevailing wind direction is a real bummer as it' mostly from the side if i want zero risk with my shots.
So we have to wait for the few calm days. That's one of the reasons I was looking at the slugs with the higher BC.

 

[daxrush]

Either will be great for rats. One thing I would say is with 22Cal if you want any kind of pellet deformation from a Hades you will need the speed. There is a big difference with a 22Cal Hades 800fps compared to 900+fps. But even at 700fps a 22Cal pellet will smash a rat.

For 177 the JSB KO MK3 Slugs are little monsters if pushed at least 900fps, maybe slower but I havent done any testing at lower speeds. I dont think there is a wrong choice for your application, but I would probably lean towards the 177. I think if you needed to slow it down even further to avoid property damage the KO MK3 slugs will still do pretty well at 700fps on rats.

The only thing to consider is the 177 slugs are freakin tiny and may not feed well in all magazines. I have used them in FX factory mags, and Gamo/BSA factory mags with no issue, but I can see other maybe having trouble.

I was reading that the vixen long in 177 works quite well with slugs in the standard setup. There are also after market magazines i found for slugs from Carm magazines. I'll have a look at those KO MK3s from JSB.

 

[MongooseV8]

I was reading that the vixen long in 177 works quite well with slugs in the standard setup. There are also after market magazines i found for slugs from Carm magazines. I'll have a look at those KO MK3s from JSB.

They are very soft and have a large cavity, JSB designed them specifically for pesting it seems. @JaceSpace1369 has done a great job documenting their performance, and there are more and more of us that can back him up with personal experience.

WOW talk about expansion!

I've never had these 10gr JSB V3 slugs expand this much but just wow! This was at 25yds head shot and remained under the skim the smaller expanded one was similar but at 42yds retrieved under the skin in the neck.

www.airgunnation.com

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Hi I'm looking to get a Vixen long for some pest control but I'm not sure what to get.
I'm not looking for very high power as it is for backyard pest control.
So the focus is a lightweight setup and no crazy power to keep it safe.

I am reading that the vixen in 177 likes a variety off slugs so i'm not sure if i would go for that 177 or the 22.
A 22 15.89gr pellet at 900fps has 28.60 fpe but only a BC of about 0.025-0.030.
A 177 10gr slug at 900fps has 18 fpe but with a BC of about 0.047-0.048

If I would want low power from the 22 i would have to go very slow so I looks like the 177 slug would be the better option,
with better wind resistence due to the high BC and being a slug i'm assuming good expansion.
But nothing beats practical experience so i would love to hear if any body can share their experiences on this.

Regards JP

Thanks for the kind words @MongooseV8

I would suggest the .177 Vixen shooting the 10.03gr V3 JSB Ko slugs. They've shot amazing in every air rifles brand I have tried and other members with CZ rifles have also had great experience shooting these like @Vetmx Out of his U2 Compact.

As for the comment about the magazines and slug fitment, due to how the AGT mags are made you WON'T have a problem with slugs not fitting. All of the AGT mags are the same, Vixen, uragan 2, vulcan 3.

 

[Peashooter]

I really like the 10 grain JSB KO MK 3 slugs, they almost cut a mouse in half, rats also drop fast, and a few weeks ago i dropped a pheasant like a stone.
Its 2 friends that was a few M from it when it dropped, well they just alked around for another few minutes before they calmly left into the tall grass.

I shoot them with 60 BAR on the regulator in my Two at 980 fps, but it is the long version ( 700 mm )

PS; the 10 grain Mk3 slugs was a mess in my Maverick with the standard superior barrel, but 13 grain worked just fine on my 700 mm barrel ( now 600 mm )

 

[MongooseV8]

Good news about the other manufactures magazines

 

[L.Leon]

For the scenario you are describing slugs are simply not necessary. Rats at 35 yards will easily be dispatched with a decent .177 or .22 pellet shooter. These winds you are describing are they in the over 20mph range constantly? If not, you should do fine with any decent airgun generating over 12 FPE. Talk of BC, slugs, etc., for shooting vermin at those distances? Simply over complication of a simple thing. Buy good airgun, mount good scope, good pellets and have at it…

 

[Gerry52]

Imho for the distances & prey you're talking about it's not worth diving down the slug rabbit hole. Even though people recommend certain guns & slugs it's no guarantee YOUR gun will shoot them equally well. Such are the idiosyncrasies of airguns & projectiles. KISS should be your priority.

 

[BlackICE]

I have a .177 Vixen short and with pellets it is all I need for rats up to 35 yards. But now that I also have a .22 Zelos can use that too. Also have a R5M on .25 I've used it for rats before but passthrough can do damage beyond the target.