At lower power about 7 ft-lb or less (like the Beeman R7) one is better off with .177cal otherwise the pellet velocity is too low -
once one goes above about 10 ft-lb - then .22cal is the better choice for fur hunting.
On the same body/powerplant -
a .22cal will have better energy than .177cal - that's just pure physics due to the heavier .22cal pellet. Along with that the .22cal has better momentum - which means in penetration the .22cal will give a better volume/size wound track. So from these facts alone the .22cal is the better choice for hunting.
Please see these articles -
Fact: .22 pellets are more efficient than .177
PyramydAir article on Calibers
Some suggestions of .22cal airguns worth looking at -
starting from cheap....
Crosman 2260 - .22 CO2 air-rifle (low price under $80) -
oft overlooked gun - CO2 costs money but gives effortless shooting (no cocking effort or pumping) - trigger is a bit on the crude side with creep (but I use the creep as a crude first-stage(!)).
But to compensate the gun is totally recoiless - I think trigger pull overweighs recoil - but at under $80 this is worth adding to one's collection or even as a starter gun - there are also plenty of mods out there (including a Crosman forum) to improve the gun.
Crosman 2200 - .22 Multi-pump (discontinued, used to be under $70) -
I don't like multi-pumps - seems like a lot of effort for a single shot - but they do have the advantage of variable levels by # of pumps - Crosman triggers are a let down - however, when it used to be available for under $70 new this was worth it.
(Umarex) RWS Model 34 - .22 break-barrel springer (low priced about $170) -
one of the cheapest quality springer air-rifles, so-so to OK trigger - but much better than the Crosmans above.
The we enter the more premium price territory in order of preference -
Weihrauch HW95 - .22 break-barrel springer (about $360) -
same as the Beeman R9 but in .22 - one of the best triggers on any spring airgun - all-in-all a quality gun
BSA SuperSport .22 - hard to find -
but I found it at Airguns of Arizona (it ain't cheap at $405)
Webley Stingray .22 (discontinued but still available)
still can be found for about $300.
Webley Xocet .22 (compact and lower priced)
about $230
Hope some of this helps.
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
once one goes above about 10 ft-lb - then .22cal is the better choice for fur hunting.
On the same body/powerplant -
a .22cal will have better energy than .177cal - that's just pure physics due to the heavier .22cal pellet. Along with that the .22cal has better momentum - which means in penetration the .22cal will give a better volume/size wound track. So from these facts alone the .22cal is the better choice for hunting.
Please see these articles -
Fact: .22 pellets are more efficient than .177
PyramydAir article on Calibers
Some suggestions of .22cal airguns worth looking at -
starting from cheap....
Crosman 2260 - .22 CO2 air-rifle (low price under $80) -
oft overlooked gun - CO2 costs money but gives effortless shooting (no cocking effort or pumping) - trigger is a bit on the crude side with creep (but I use the creep as a crude first-stage(!)).
But to compensate the gun is totally recoiless - I think trigger pull overweighs recoil - but at under $80 this is worth adding to one's collection or even as a starter gun - there are also plenty of mods out there (including a Crosman forum) to improve the gun.
Crosman 2200 - .22 Multi-pump (discontinued, used to be under $70) -
I don't like multi-pumps - seems like a lot of effort for a single shot - but they do have the advantage of variable levels by # of pumps - Crosman triggers are a let down - however, when it used to be available for under $70 new this was worth it.
(Umarex) RWS Model 34 - .22 break-barrel springer (low priced about $170) -
one of the cheapest quality springer air-rifles, so-so to OK trigger - but much better than the Crosmans above.
The we enter the more premium price territory in order of preference -
Weihrauch HW95 - .22 break-barrel springer (about $360) -
same as the Beeman R9 but in .22 - one of the best triggers on any spring airgun - all-in-all a quality gun
BSA SuperSport .22 - hard to find -
but I found it at Airguns of Arizona (it ain't cheap at $405)
Webley Stingray .22 (discontinued but still available)
still can be found for about $300.
Webley Xocet .22 (compact and lower priced)
about $230
Hope some of this helps.
--
Vincent
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2007
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent