This is an article I wrote back in April-07 Let me know what you think? I'd like a bit of feedback-get a bit of dialogue going if you know what I mean?

Which Is The Most Accurate .177 Calibre Or .22 Calibre?

Which is the most accurate .177 calibre or .22 calibre? As an Air-gunner this question is a very important one. There are many claims on both sides of the fence.

This question appears in all the Magazines is on all the Websites in all the Articles on air-gunning and it goes on and on and on! I honestly wish people would be a bit more sensible when they think about the question which is more accurate or which is the better calibre.

For a technical evaluation to the question you would have to apply scientific principles.

What principles? Well velocities from both barrels would have to be the same, (The velocities are restricted in the UK to produce 12 foot pounds of energy). Wind conditions would have to be exactly the same, (which they never are) so you would need to conduct this experiment in a wind tunnel or controlled atmosphere.

The guns would have to be fired from a fixed point, perhaps a rigid vice certainly not a bench rest. Rifling turns per inch would need to be exactly the same and the specific diameter of the barrels perfectly matching.

The weight of the pellets would need to be exactly the same (which isn't possible comparing .177 and .22 and its here that it starts to get silly. In other words every variable condition would have to be exactly the same which is impossible because they are different calibres. It doesn't make sense does it?

You see the reason is you cannot compare two things that are different and expect to come up with an identifiable, measurable, quantifiable difference according specific criteria.

You cannot compare Apples and Oranges and expect every point to be comparable, they are different. Yes they have similarities but they are not essentially the same.

So you see you cannot compare .177 and .22 and ask which is more accurate and asking that wrong question is the reason that this debate goes on and on forever.

Will you please stop asking the WRONG question?

So how do we make some sense of it all? Well I think we first have to revise the QUESTION. What we should be asking is; what is it that you want to achieve? Alongside a second question; how good are you, or how good can you become in learning and practicing and controlling all the variables that exist in placing that pellet where you want it to go?

Do you want the punch or the velocity because thats the choice in the UK.

Every pellet, (any calibre) and any bullet from any gun follows a trajectory. In the UK because of the energy restrictions the .177 air-gun has a higher velocity (therefore a flatter trajectory) than the .22 calibre. The .22 is heavier therefore has more residual energy (punch) at a given distance.

The hitting of your chosen target is dependent upon how well you know and can control your rifle and your bullet trajectory (bullet drop compensation chart), compensate for wind variation and hold steady when you release the pellet.

So you see there are no right and wrongs. I use .177 as it is my preference. I hunt rabbit. The .177 carries a residual 7 foot pounds at about 60 yards. It takes 3.5 foot pounds to kill a rabbit (in the kill zone at 60 yards).

So let us stop this constant arguing over which calibre is better.

Decide what you want to achieve, with what equipment and then deal with the particular restrictions and peculiarities of your chosen calbre.

I think you will find they are both great calibres and it is a privilege to be able to shoot either one.