Pointed vs. HP .177 pellets for hunting

[EagleScout777]

I honastly don't think that the HP pellets do any more damage than the pointed one's. Anyone know something I don't.

[Sooner Shooter]

Even when we talk about airguns it's similar to firearms and even archery With the pointed you will get more penetration. When you think about it that point is similar to an arrow. It basically slices through. The hollow point, although it probably doesn't expand it can't slice through the tissue so it pushes and tears. When it comes to killing rabbits and squirrels I would think that the pointed would certainly be as effective as the hollowpoint because of the penetration. Back to your question about damage. As far as tissue damage I'd have to say the hollow point would cause more damage but did it penetrate far enough to get the job done? If your gun has the ability to penetrate with a hollow point in my opinion that would be the better choice.

[mossbergman]

Pointed pellets aren't as accurate as a rule . speces to get the point perfectly centered are a dream in most production .a good dome as the Beman Crow mag etc or field pellet works best. any pass thru pellet didn't expend all it's usable energy in the target. A good heavy accurate pellet that shoots in your gun will be what you want. A pellet passing thru don't mean it's better ,you want all the energy exened into you target. I've shot blackbirds with poited pellet that leave festher flying pass right through and the bird flys away. Hit 'em with a good doomed heavy pellet from the same gun and all ya hear is the whoop! and he down.. Got It? --JMJ--

[andrew cochran]

Last season I was skinning a squirrel and a wadcutter pellet just fell out. Barely in the skin on the entrance side. I shot the thing with a shotgun but that was wierd to me. The point is penatration! If your airgun has a lot of power use hollow points other wise stick to roundnose and pointed. (the predator pellets work great)

[tippmann7]

pointed pellets will shoot faster and penetrate beter than the HPs but if your gun has enough power to get a HP to penetrate it will do more damage.

[binfordw]

All of this is greatly over-hyped.


Shoot the pellet that is most accurate at the ranges you intend to use it.


Wadcutters and HP's will usually not give desirable accuracy at longer ranges.

[jerry]

They typically don't walk away from a well placed head shot. For hunting I spring for the PBA's
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff238/C130H2/PBA.jpg
For yard varmits, whatever is accurate.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/f...0H2/RWSAUG.jpg

[GlockMeister]

Jerry, what brand pellet gun is that?

[binfordw]

Looks like an RWS 34 to me-



But, er.. Why not use "whatever's accurate" all the time...?



There is more than velocity.. Energy is what you should really be considering when picking a pellet for hunting applications. The PBA's wouldn't carry anymore energy than other pellets, and would lose that energy alot quicker downrange.


If all your after is impressive velocity, stuff an earplug in your barrel and fire it over the chrony!

[rural divorcee]

I thought that the pba ammo was a crock. I suppose that being lead free is a plus but their performance left much to be desired. Beeman makes a heavy pellet called the Kodiak, assuming that you have a powerful rifle they'd be fine.

[pulicords]

I've been using an RWS .177 (Model 34) to "address" a ground squirrel problem in my backyard since last spring. Concerned about overpenetration, I use Beeman Crow magnum pellets. They're accurate to with 1/2" at 20 yards (max distance in my yard) and pass through on head shots about 50% of the time. My count is now 27 squirrels total KIA. So far this year's action looks much less "busy" than last was.

[pearlandfred]

I use the JSB predators crosman destroyers. both are accurate but the predators penetrate better with that polymer tip.