Saw an article in a Brit air rifle magazine a few years ago.
The most powerful thing you can purchase there without police approval on a Fire Arms Certificate is a rifle generating NO MORE THAN 12 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.
In a .177 air rifle, that's about 800fps with an 8gr pellet; in .22, about 600fps with a 12gr pellet.
The writer had no difficulty recovering rabbits hit IN THE CHEST out to 35yd or so.
I seem to recall his comment that AT THE TARGET, 3 or 4 ft/lbs were enough, and most of that was needed to get through the skin.
I've tagged squirrels out to 20yd, chest or head shots, with a .177 target rifle making less than 600fps, or 6-7 ft/lbs energy.
A target .22 load may serve the hunter better than some sexy Oh My God hot rod load. More accurate, less wind sensitive, too.
The most powerful thing you can purchase there without police approval on a Fire Arms Certificate is a rifle generating NO MORE THAN 12 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.
In a .177 air rifle, that's about 800fps with an 8gr pellet; in .22, about 600fps with a 12gr pellet.
The writer had no difficulty recovering rabbits hit IN THE CHEST out to 35yd or so.
I seem to recall his comment that AT THE TARGET, 3 or 4 ft/lbs were enough, and most of that was needed to get through the skin.
I've tagged squirrels out to 20yd, chest or head shots, with a .177 target rifle making less than 600fps, or 6-7 ft/lbs energy.
A target .22 load may serve the hunter better than some sexy Oh My God hot rod load. More accurate, less wind sensitive, too.
