I have recieved permission from Mike Pearson to post some of our correspondence. Ill have to use 2 posts less in be too cumbersome for one.
I hope others find it as interesting as myself. Please take it for what it is and use it as you see fit. Don't bother asking questions as Mike would be doing this himself if he wanted an internet presence and I'm unwilling to act as an information conduit. I'm not trying to be 'difficult', just too busy to use up my time when I already have more to do that I have time. Tom
***************************************************************
2/25/08
A couple quick things to note about posts in the thread. First, I understand what Harv is saying about 30-35 yard pellets. It is OFTEN the case BUT not always (especially with the .20 Crow Mag pellet) and also Tom, terminally speaking, the hollowpoints are used for chest shots as well as head so there is more (potential) versatility with them. In thick brush, you want a stopper pellet (as much as possible) lest a squirrel or rabbit get under a brush pile or into a hole, etc.. Thirty yards is plenty far enough for woods' hunting with the key word being 'hunting'. Further than that, you probably shouldn't be taking tree squirrels with chest shots using a springer. There ARE exceptions I realize (I've experienced them) but as a good, solid rule that will put the percentages on your side, 30 yards is a good maximum range for chest shooting tree squirrels in the woods, especially in the early season.
Second point is that measuring the penetration can be helpful but do realize that measuring/miking the expansion of a pellet tells you only how the pellet ENDED up at the end of it's travel. I have had .177 Crow Mag pellets hitting fox squirrels at very close range impacting at 16ft.lbs. and expanding to .24" (never got .25";0). The kills were acceptable but I was using an extremely HOT RWS-54 at 10-15 yards to do this. Placement was right behind the shoulder. That's a MIGHTY HEAVY gun to get "adequate" kills (not dramatic mind you, just adequate) and still be hampered by such range restrictions. To be fair though, fox squirrels ARE heavier and tougher than grays so what I'm saying here DOES not strictly apply to grays or cottontails. I found that a .22 flat head that did NOT expand (Meister) hitting the same aimpoint at 12ft.lbs. gave me virtually the same identical results as the .177 Crow Mag hitting 4ft.lbs. harder AND expanding.
I have said as far back as the old AGLF that the .177 Crow Mag got PLENTY of expansion in as far as it goes. If it had about 25% FASTER rate of expansion (something determined by it's penetration level), it would have been a dramatically better pill for fox squirrels! Maybe, just maybe, the 177 Predator can get this job done??? My initial .20 Predator tests sure look promising. The .20 Crow Mag not only expands to a larger mushroom but it also expands sooner and faster. The .20 Crow Mag out of an RX or RWS-48 kills on par with NON-expanding .25 pellets out of a springer (under 30 yards). It is a virtual buzz-saw. I've made one lung shot kills at 30 yards on fox squirrels under 5 seconds and 5 ft. after impact. So far, the .20 Predator actually seems to be more destructive than the .20 Crow Mag, something I never thought I'd see! Haven't tried the .22 Predator yet I've never been enamored with the Crow Mag or Silver Bear in .22 for game They both are clean killers because of
their cutting shape but I have never had any expansion with either of them in game from the guns I've used (RWS-52, Marksman 70, Smith & Wesson 77-A & Benjamin 342 MacMurray 14-pump.
One thing I noticed Tom about the thread you're posting in is that the guys are NOT adverse to actually experimenting with pellets and noting/measuring the results they're getting. If this is typical, this is a big improvement over what we'd see on the old AGLF!
Oh yeah, tell Harv I said Hi and wish him and his well! Good to know that he is doing well! I always liked him---he's a good person! --- Take Care, Mike
I have to say this because I think it needs to be reiterated. With a springer, even a higher powered model, I really think its best to stay under forty yards as often as possible. Part of the hunt is the stalk. Maybe the best part.
But back to the point.
I have a Prosport I really love for woods walks. Its a better rifle for warmer days the way I have that trigger set though. Light. Its not the type of trigger you want to be wearing gloves when using. The rifle will fire.
I tried Kodiaks in her and they're a little too tight. Seems I recall using the CM's too. They also seem to have been a little too tight per the sound difference of the rifle in firing them. At least that's what I remember.
Now here's something I want to try. I've been using RWS Supermags in my Diana 46. Do you know the feeling when you shoot a certain rifle/pellet combo and while your groups are good you know that the rifle could do much better? That's how I feel about the Supermags in the 46 at ten meters offhand. I've shot off nearly the whole tin so its time for another. I'm thinking of picking them up in .22 if I can find them. I'd like to see how the Prosport likes them. These pellets, if barrel-preferred, might be accurate to the thirty or so yards of prime springer air rifle hunting and give the results some here might be interested in. Namely me lol.