Velocity for barn gun

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JimD said:
The only thing this shows is that much heavier 25 caliber pellets go through at a lower velocity than much lighter 177 caliber pellets.
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What do you suppose the energy difference at the target was, between the slow .177 and even slower .25? That, combined with the surface area of the pellet as it contacts the steel would be the determinants, I think. I wonder if even the pellet brand might make a difference, as in a softer (e.g. JSB) pellet might spread out its energy more across the target's face (therefore penetrating less), versus a harder (e.g. Crosman or H&N) holding its shape better (therefore penetrating more). Then again, that might be a minor variable.
 
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I am going to be tuning my 22 Ranger down and see what FPE I can get lead free pellets down to. Pretty much all wood or concrete backstops in the barn and tool shed I will be shooting in. I will just have to make sure I am not going to hit the round stanchion pipes in the barn, as that could cause some problematic deflection and ricochet. And, or course, can not hit the chicken coop walls, as that would startle the hens in the middle of the night.

I wonder if there is an FPS range that lends itself to accuracy with lead free pellets. JSB 18 grain .22 pellets seems to like to be around 860 fps, is there a lower speed window that 12-13 grain lead free pellets seem to like?
 
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JimD said:
Too windy and too much boat traffic to shoot targets so I took off the 5 lb weight I had on the 177 for targets and hung up another piece of 22 gauge steel at 15 yards. I tested 10 grain knockouts first. The lowest velocity that went through was 627 fps. The highest velocity that did not go through was 564 or about 7.4 fpe. This gun prefers 12.5 grain Nielsens so I shot a few of those. The lowest velocity that went through was 594 fps. The highest velocity that didn't go through was 551 or about 8.4 fpe. I also shot some 10.65 grain H&N Match pellets. The lowest velocity that went through was 570 and the highest velocity that did not was 538 or about 6.85 fpe.

I expected 177 to penetrate the steel better than 22 but they did not. They stopped at 538-564 versus 466 for the 22. 525 in the 22 tore the sheet metal pretty good but did not go all the way through. So you might be OK at 500fps with a 177, maybe even 550 if you hit the steel at no less than 15 yards. I don't think my tests differentiated slugs from pellets. I did not shoot enough different velocities. But if there is a difference it must be 20 fps or less.

View attachment 549521
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as kids we used to kill pidgin's with Red Riders BB @ 50 to 80 feet ! I would add i would be fairly upset with the dents you show if that was my barn roof .
 
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puddleglum said:
I am going to be tuning my 22 Ranger down and see what FPE I can get lead free pellets down to. Pretty much all wood or concrete backstops in the barn and tool shed I will be shooting in. I will just have to make sure I am not going to hit the round stanchion pipes in the barn, as that could cause some problematic deflection and ricochet. And, or course, can not hit the chicken coop walls, as that would startle the hens in the middle of the night.

I wonder if there is an FPS range that lends itself to accuracy with lead free pellets. JSB 18 grain .22 pellets seems to like to be around 860 fps, is there a lower speed window that 12-13 grain lead free pellets seem to like?
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lead free pellets are a harder material than lead of alloy .
 
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