Airguns are mechanical devices that turn the stored potential energy of a coiled
spring or compressed gas into kinetic (moving) energy, and transmit it to a
projectile. However, the kinetic energy (or "power") of a gun is not measured
directly. Rather, it is the energy imported to the projectile (a pellet) that is
measured. This pellet energy is the product of velocity and weight (actually
mass), both of which are measured separately.
Target Airguns:
Precision airguns that are used exclusively for target shooting require only
enough energy (3-5 ft. lbs.) to speed a .177 caliber pellet through 10 meters of
air. The speed component can be low, but the accuracy of a pellet must be
exceedingly high, on the order of 0.04" center-to-center (c-t-c).
With target airguns, repeatability of the power plant is a major aspect of high
quality. So are such accuracy related aspects of precision shooting as the
character of trigger let-off (and its repeatability), adjustability of trigger
pull and let-off and the adjustable fit of the airguns to the hand and body. The
ergonomics of reloading the airgun is also important to target shooters. This
function should be as smooth and unstressful as possible to keep concentration
at a world-class level. Pellet insertions should be easy. CO2 and pre-charge
airguns eliminate one physically distracting aspect of target shooting,
recocking, and contribute thereby to a smoother shooting process.
Hunting Air Rifles
In addition to reasonable accuracy, (two inches at 50 yards) hunting or field
air rifles must transfer three to five times as much energy to the pellet as
target airguns. The energy of a hunting rifle pellet should be at least as high
at the target distance (pest birds for example) as target airguns are at the
muzzle (4 ft.lbs.).
Pellet Caliber & Weight
By far the largest number of
airguns are sold in
.177 caliber, and this is the pellet size of choice for nearly all target
shooting, plinking, and some small pest hunting. The .177 caliber offers the
highest velocity for a given amount of airgun energy, and results in the
flattest trajectory. However, the speed of sound (1080 fps at sea level at 32
degrees) sets a practical upper limit on the energy with which a pellet can be
propelled. Breaking the sound barrier results in a loud crack (just like a
firearm) and generally send the pellet tumbling wildly. It would take 16.8 ft.
lbs. To propel a 6.5 grain pellet to 1080 fps, and 21 ft. lbs. for a 8.1 grain
pellet.
The
.20 caliber (5mm) pellet is a perfect example of obtaining large ballistic
gains in performance with small, optimal changes compared to .177 caliber. The
5mm trajectory remains nearly as flat, but its heavier weight lets it carry
about 40% more energy for the same velocity. This is the best general purpose
caliber.
The
.22 caliber has a large gain in pellet weight and size is only useable in
the highest powered hunting rifles. The range of the .22 caliber is less than
the .20 caliber, and the downrange energy less than the larger .25 caliber
pellet. The .22 might be the choice if you owned a single hunting rifle.
The
.25 caliber is unbeatable in carrying the most knock-down force to the
target because of its maximal pellet weight and resulting incredible shock
value. It is the perfect round for the tough tree squirrel and the right caliber
in high-powered air rifles for any of the larger furbearers such as woodchuck,
opossum, and even raccoon.
Pellet Type
The single most important factor in choosing a pellet is to obtain one that
is accurate in your airgun! Only personal experimentation will let you discover
the most effective pellet for your airgun/target combination. Each airgun varies
slightly in the way it handles different pellet types. Since the accuracy of
pellets themselves will vary slightly from batch to batch, it may be wiser to
buy a years supply of pellets at one time than to buy in smaller quantities.
using the same powerplant, a light pellet will accelerate rapidly and leave the
gun barrel at high speed. Its time in the barrel is the shortest, thus reducing
the effects of an unsteady hold. The light pellet's time to target is also
shortest so gravity can pull on it for only a split second. An accurate, very
flat trajectory is the result. Yet in some high powered rifles, light pellets
are ejected so rapidly they do not dwell long enough to get the full energy
transfer of the decompressing charge of air. While the same rifle can propel an
8.6 grain .20 pellet to 850 fps and a 14 grain to 700 fps, these figures show
the 8.6 grain pellet only acquired 14 ft.lbs. of energy while the other obtained
15.5 ft.lbs.
The speed of a heavier pellet is lower in the same airgun versus a lighter
pellet. And, because of its slower speed, a heavy pellet take a longer time to
get to the target; this gives gravity a longer time to pull it down. Note that
the drop of any pellet has nothing to do with its mass or weight, all pellets
are pulled down by gravity at the same rate. The only thing that counts is how
much time gravity has to don the pulling. It is only because heavy pellets take
longer to get to the target that their trajectory is more bowed. A light weight
pellet traveling as slowly as a heavy weight pellet would have a equally bowed
trajectory.
Pellet Air Resistance
Once clear of the barrel, another 'energy thief' begins its work: air
resistance. Air resistance increases with the cube of a pellet's speed: double
the speed, and air resistance increases eight times! this means fast pellets
lose energy more rapidly than slower pellets. Energy equals mass time velocity
squared. Since the energy imparted to a pellet is about the same and a pellet
doesn't lose mass, it can only make up for the different weight by changing
velocity.
In fact, fast, light pellets lose energy so rapidly, after 35 yards or so they
can be traveling slower than heavy pellets. This is inconsequential in 10 meter
target shooting, but it becomes a major disadvantage in hunting and field use.
What Pellet Should I Use
Flat-nosed wadcutters punch perfect holes in paper target to aid in scoring, and
are required in competition. The slight effects of higher air resistance on
accuracy due to the flat head are unmeasurable at 10 meters, but do become
noticeable at 35 meters and beyond.
Medium weight roundnose pellets offer the best combination of weight and flat
trajectory for medium powered hunting rifles (12-15 ft.lbs.). The closer you can
normally get to your prey, the heavier the pellet you should use because heavy
pellets will penetrate much deeper and be less susceptible to wind deflection.
With the most powerful air rifles consider only heavyweight pellets.
Pellet Accuracy
Assuming an airgun always exerts the same force on a pellet, the accuracy of
a pellet's path (it's trajectory) is effected by three major factors.
Crown
During its rush up the barrel, a pellet is constrained from going anywhere but
straight forward. At the instant the pellet leaves the barrel, it is desirable
that the barrel lip (or crown) always presents exactly the same surface to the
spinning tail of the pellet. Ideally, the barrel loses contact with the entire
circumference of the tail of the pellet at the same instant, so that the pellet
is not tipped one way or the other. Tipping the pellet imparts a wobble,
increasing the cross-sections area through the air. The wobbling pellet
effectively increases its caliber causing more air resistance! This increased
area will slow the pellet down more quickly than if it pierced the air perfectly
head on.
Many airguns are "button choked" at the crown of the barrel to assure a
perfectly uniform grip on the pellet circumference the instant it leaves the
barrel. Others are exquisitely detailed to assure a perfect pellet release. Be
sure not to damage the crown of any airgun barrel.
Pellet Uniformity
Spinning is what keeps a pellet from tumbling, and keeps it facing directly
forward as it bores through the air. If a pellet is the slightest bit unbalanced
as it spins the centrifugal wobble will lurch the pellet off course the instant
it leave the barrel. The direction of that lurch will vary with every shot
depending on which direction the excessive mass of the pellet is pointing at the
instant it is release from the hold of the barrel.
Wind and Pellets
Supersonic bullets are more deflected by wind the slower they go. Surprisingly,
sub-sonic airgun pellets are less deflected by wind the slower they go, but this
seeming anomaly is due to the higher weight of the slower pellet, assuming in
this comparison that both are shot out of the same airgun. For any airgun, a
pellet with a higher ballistic coefficient will be less deflected by wind.
Generally, heavy pellets have a higher ballistic coefficients than lighter ones.
Airgun Shot Repeatability
An airguns does not exert the same force from shot to shot. Without such high
repeatability, even excellent pellets will not be able to do their job. Average
pellets may safely exhibit a weight differential of up to a few percent in any
one tin. When both pellets and air rifle vary randomly, you will find yourself
hitting the target perfectly on some shots and missing completely on others.
Every airguns user should obtain a tin of ultra precise pellets to determine
just what the airgun is capable of (from a bench) and what the shooter is
capable of (hand held). You can use mid-grade pellets for practice. But always
use the most accurate pellets you can find for competition and actual hunting.
After tramping in the woods for an hour and stalking a rabbit for 20 minutes, no
one will believe it is cost-effective to have finally scared it off with a
single missed shot caused by the non-uniformity of a cheap pellet.
Air Rifle Hunting Pellets
To a varmint hunter, an air rifle is a tool for he job of bagging game. Just as
different jobs require different tools (you wouldn't use a tack hammer to drive
a 3-penny nail) so do different hunting situations require different air rifles.
The paramount aspect of hunting air rifles is acceptable downrange accuracy. If
you can't hit your target, no amount of super pellet energy or penetration is
going to do you any good. Nest most important is downrange energy.
Grackles and other pest birds require one-inch accuracy at 20-30 yards. Grey
tree squirrels require similar accuracy, but at least 8 ft.lbs. of energy at
that distance. Crows require two-inch accuracy at 40-60 yards, the same as wild
woodchuck, but the chucks require 10-15 ft.lbs. of energy at that range, the
crow only half that. Suburban woodchucks can be approached to within 30-40
yards, so a less powerful rifle may do.
Airguns shooters should use this guide to help select the three or four
different pellet types that seem closest to answering their own shooting needs.
Then shoot these pellets for accuracy to get an idea of how well each type
behaves in your own airgun. Shoot into bars of Ivory soap at field ranges to
learn how well different pellets penetrate and expand for hunting. There is not
substitute for this personal testing which will quickly lead to the selection of
the most effective pellet type for your own particular use, and boost your
accuracy and shooting satisfaction to new highs.
Please Read The Website Disclaimer!
Copyright 1986-2012, The Survival & Self-Reliance Studies Institute (SSRsi), All
Rights Reserved
Site conceptualized, designed, created & maintained by MEG Raven
Snail Mail: SSRsi, PO Box 2572 Dillon, CO. 80435-2572