.177 and .22or .22 and .25 for small game?

Whats small game to you?
How accurate your set up is the biggest factor. Opossum, hare,turkey all viable targets for .22
My magnum at 26fpe dropped a young goat at 26m.
That was around 20fpe at target.
102m on rabbit. Both one shot kills. So in that regard it was all down to shot placement.
Wind is same as any gun. learn how your pellet drifts and compensate. Ive had some pretty good winds testing pellet flight, nothing has ever been to strong to need to take the whole windage up. Gusting, or swirling winds do create a problem if not read right. Thats more of an issue than a constent wind.
177 I don't like for hunting. Hole punchers. Require really accurate placement,not as lenient as .22. More wind effected but same as .22 with control. Fiddly size pellet to chamber in dark. .2w being slightly larger allows the pellet to be gripped easier but also gives a more distinct feeling in dark of of skirt end and face.
Wieght would be thing that would have me wondering about .25
Also the advantage. If .22 takes down most small game, whats the advantage of .25? A heavier gun and less distance? Limited pellet supply.
Two cals i would own, would .22 and then a 30cal in springer and that would only be used for large goats and id have a crack at small pig with it too.
If your upgrades turn out well and the gun is accurate, you can place shots where you want them , can't see any point in going another cal or gun till youve been out there a bit with the air rifle and get some idea of what you need in an air rifle for your situation, then upgrade.
What pellets are you using as a point of interest?

Yeah id hold off on buying another of same model till you see how it works for you. There are better quality guns than gamo for around the same price. Make sure its what you want before second perchase.
As for springs/ gas rams, seals they can all be brought separately. I have seals for noth my rifles brought online and spare.spring for the hw97. You know to keep away from the usual gun cleaners,greases as they cause dieseling?
Better add a slingshot to your collection.

Important to use the right grease in the spring chamber area particularly.
Outside and trigger what you like, anything that is involed with pressure being built up. Plenty on the web about it.
Spring rifles have pistons. Gas ram does too. Its just replacing the spring set up with a gas strut. If your hunting with a spring powered rifle you can't leave it cocked as the actual spring will lose its "springyness". Most recommended not leaving spring cocked more than hour. Id decock after 20 to 30min and recock. Gas piston no issues like that.
10 shot mag. You can buy a spare ten shot mag, and the ten shot mag set up.
I had a gamo whisper 10 shot. What is the advantage of the mag? Dont have to pull another pellet out and load it for quick follow up.
Disadvantage in my view. More parts to fail. Can damage pellets feeding.
A tendancy to cock to fast at first. Movement of breaking the barrel is a huge movement after you fired a shot and critters are on alert.
Fortunately it can be used as single shot as well.
As for the pellets, ive always ended up back with the standard rounded nose. Springers do not have the power to expand pellets in flesh. You'll find example through the site of pellets extracted. Think pete did one series of pellet testing he did. Do not be miss lead by how your powder burners expand a bullet to an air rifle. No similarities.
If your gun fires one of the fancy pellets most accurate, then so be it.
If not i believe you are better off with a round nose.
I currently have jsb jumbo heavy 18.13gr for my diana ar8. Furtherst shot 102m on rabbit.
H&N field target trophy 14.66gr. wiehrach hw97.furthest rabbit 75m i think.furthest shot 180m at tin can size metal. No power of course but dented the tin. Also likes exact 16gr and aa 16gr.
1322 either hades or ftt. Short distance bird gun. Loves hades( which is the only expanding pellet i use as the 1322 loves them till about 30m. Ftt pellets for distance. Furthest shot 60m on starling fft 14.66gr.
All of the furthest shots I've taken have been standard round nose pellets. Ive tested heaps of fancy pallets none have proved out over distance. Golden rule.... Gun decides pellet not you.
Welcome to the world of air guns. Everything effects your shot from over greasing,wrong grease,pellets type, seals, hold type, trigger pull ,scope torch, bi pods, even resting on hard etc affect poi. Spring/gas ram pistons slamming forward causing the piston to bounce before it reaches the full stroke. Before the pellet even leaves the barrel.
Mastery of an air rifle (which im still learning ) Has been way more intense than any powder burner ive used.
I actually prefer air rifle to 22lr for rabbit shooting these days. 22lr
Is boring in comparison in my view.








Edited by kruzaroad - 1 hour 29 minutes ago at 7:31am