Hello, last week I went airgun hunting with my detuned (in order to take it to England I had to fit in a 12 fpe spring) HW97 .177. The killed crows at distances up to 35 yards (or so) with authority. (pellets were H&N FTT 4.52mm)

I also took my 25, 27 and 24 to England to plink in the large fields. This was actually MORE FUN than the actual "hunting".
It struck me that these low powered guns are quite easy to hit with with open sights.
I know their energy levels are not high but consider the following: (Chairgun)
if one uses the same H&N FTT pellets
A 15 fpe gun retains 8.0 fpe at 50 yards (with R10 heavy: 4.2 fpe)
A 12 fpe gun retains 6,2 fpe at 50 yards (with R10 heavy: 3.4 fpe)
A 7 fpe gun retains 5.8 fpe at 15 yards

So, correct me if I am wrong, if one uses a 24 at short distance, it will be as effective as a 46 at long distance, and the same game can be shot.

Has anyone used a 24 or 25 for hunting ? And what was the largest game that fell to these guns ? I am really curious, especially about the 25 model.

CU


Joris

I have a couple of 24's, .177 and .22. I use JSB Exacts in both calibers for best accuracy and energy. The .177 makes 6.45fpe and the .22 makes 7.67fpe, and the Exacts hold there energy well. At 25yds the .177 still has 4.72fpe, and the .22 still has 6.35fpe. I havn't taken anything bigger than sparrows with the .177, but I have taken crows and magpies with head shots with the .22 in the past. The shot that stands out in my mind the most was a crow that I shot from approx 15yds. I had a cheap scope on the .22 24 at that time and had it zeroed at 20yds, I was hunkered down in a spot where I knew a crow would eventually land near by, and when he did he took a JSB 5.51 to the mellon and never new what hit him.
I can't imagine going after anything any bigger than a crow from close range with a 24, but that's only from my experience. HTH,

Mulby

Hello Mulby,

Thanks for the reply.
Last week when I was shooting in England (pest control in rural Somerset) crows were the prime targets. (I used a Weihrauch 97K .177 mostly.) It's quite a large bird and if a 24 can put it down at short range, I consider it quite good.

Mulby, the best energy you got with JSB Exacts. Strange. My 24 .22 shoots harder with lighter pellets.
H&N baracuda 21.1gr: 3.95 fpe
RWS Superdome AND Superpoint 14.5gr: 6.26 fpe
Gamo match 13.7gr: 6.84 fpe
Hobbies 11.9gr: 7.22 fpe

Could it be that tighter fitting pellets build up more pressure and shoot faster ? (you use 5.51 instead of 5.50)
I get this impression as in all my .177 guns H&N FTT 8.64 gr 4.52mm actually shoots as fast or faster than RWS R10 4.50mm
I also wonder if tighter fitting pellets reduce spring life...

CU

BTW: my 24 must be my most "played with" gun. On the cuteness scale it really shines. Mine is a gallery version (new) which has fixed sights and no safety.
I really really like the fixed sights as they shoot to point of aim with most pellets and I never have to sight them in

Joris

My .22 24 has many thousands of rounds through it, and it just keeps getting better. No sign of spring or seal wear, not so much as a breech seal! Most of the rounds I have put through the .22 were Superpoints, but I must have close to 1000 JSB 5.51 and 5.52
I agree with you about springers usually making more energy with lighter pellets, but an exception to that rule is my .22 24. The lightest pellet I've tried in my .22 24 are Gamo Match 14.2gr? and the energy is not as great, nor is the BC or accuracy.
Some of my guns produce more energy with other lighter pellets, but the consistency and efficiency of the Exacts in both calibers is second to none in the majority of my barrels. Happy hunting,

Mulby