What is the minimum fps for hunting small game with an air rifle?

%26gt;%26gt;What is the minimum fps for hunting small game with an air rifle%26lt;%26lt;





That would depend on the weight of the pellets.





IMO - from 46 years of hunting with and shooting air guns, the minimum fpe necessary to take small game such as rabbit/squirrel is ';around'; 6fpe(at impact), if you use proper shot placement and hunting pellets.





.177


575fps - 8.2gr=6.02fpe





.22


435fps - 14.5gr=6.09fpe





These would be ';around'; the minimum at impact for each caliber.





I have heard as low as 3-4fpe, but IMO that's really pushing it.


http://www.network54.com/forum/79537


This is the best airgun forum I know of.





Jim Chapman - With his favorite small game hunting air rifle a ';Beeman C1 .177';


http://www.americanairgunhunter.com/webc鈥?/a>


Notice the photo of him taking a rabbit at 44yds with his .177


I'm not a Dr. nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but, that rabbit does not look ';wounded'; to me.


His Beeman C1 .177 has a MV of 840-850fps.





For those that don't know how to calculate FPE on target.


850fps MV with RWS Superdome pellets equals 574fps at 44yds or 6.07fpe





One Shot - One Kill - Gamo Hunter Extreme .177 - 180lb hog


http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=55鈥?/a>


Watch the video.





%26gt;%26gt;Seems a lot of sickos are into wounding small mammals, which is pretty pathetic%26lt;%26lt; By making a blanket statement such as this you include the vast majority of small game airgun hunters on the European continent and their less than 12fpe air rifles.





I will patiently await a credible source that it requires over 20fpe at impact from a .22 caliber air rifle for a clean, humane, ethical, legal kill


.22 - 800fps - 14.5gr=20.61fpe





Later: ';Joe S'; %26gt;%26gt;I think it was ';maybe'; at the muzzle%26lt;%26lt; I didn't see that in his answer did you? This is a long running thing, he has said 20fpe before. And again states 800fps from a .22 caliber air rifle which IS 20.61fpe. with (14.5gr) pellets. I'm not confused. The Q is %26gt;what is the minimum%26lt; his ONLY statement is 800fps from a .22 which only backs up what he has said before, and of course NEVER backs up what he says with sources/numbers/etc. while I do.


%26gt;%26gt;Hurling insults%26lt;%26lt; He called those of us who hunt with the .177 %26gt;%26gt;sickos%26lt;%26lt; Who the heck is hurling insults. I just ask him for once to actually back up his statements with facts %26amp; sources.What is the minimum fps for hunting small game with an air rifle?
It all depends on what caliber you're using and how far you're shooting at. It also means that shot placement is very critical. Meaning, no body shots, all head. This question comes up all the time. And two of the people who answered this question have no clue to this question you asked. They may think they do, but they don't.


For a .177, a minimun distance of 20 yards out to 30 yards, 600-700 fps. For a .22, minimum of 20, max of 40, 750-800.


These numbers is what I would be using for these calibers, just for the fact that I want one shot, one kill. You also have to remember, when you're shooting at a squirrel for example, it may not sit still for very long. To get a one shot, one kill hit, you're aiming for a very small target. (head) Now I don't know about you, but most people that go out to hunt don't use a shooting bench. They all shoot ';off hand.'; (standing and holding the rifle) Most aren't very accurate, and can't hit a 3-4 inch target 20-30 yards away while holding and trying to aim. Althoght they think they can. I can't hit the side of a barn while shooting off hand myself, so I brace myself again't a tree, or stump. Something so I can steady my shot. 3 out of 5 shots will hit. That's what people need to learn, learning how to make accurate shots. Power isn't really everything, it helps, but if you can't make that shot, you'll need all the power you can get.What is the minimum fps for hunting small game with an air rifle?
700
About 800 fps is minimum.
Most air rifles are unsuitable for hunting. A high powered air rifle will cost more than a good bolt action .22 and require a lot more maintenance. Figure that a .17 pellet rifle needs upwards of 700 fps... closer to 1,000 would be better, but that's in the competition range. There are no CO2 rifles that will work, you'll have to get a breakdown single shot rifle. In most locales, these are considered a firearm - as you approach the velocity of a .22 long rifle, they become as dangerous, so you'll have to observe all relavent hunting, carrying and registration laws for your locale.
There is no minimum here in New York. It is illegal, no matter what the power of the gun.
I would say 700 minimum but i would lean on going at about 800+ so they dont suffer if your getting a gun for small game i would get a .22 short. Thats just me they cost as much as a good air rifle.
20 fpe at impact? Who said that. I think it was maybe at muzzle. CF_45, you seem to be a bit confused.


20 fpe at the muzzle is probably 10 fpe or less at impact if the distance is 50-75'. I'm not going to debate ballistics with you. You should be careful about hurling insults when it is YOU who seems a bit confused!





As for the question, the answer is the rifle capable of delivering at least 10 fpe at point of impact. FPS is not the only factor, the weight of the projectile is probably more critical.


I don't want to get hit by a piano falling 50 ft per second, but I've been hit by airsoft bb's traveling 300 fps. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the piano is more deadly even if the bb was traveling 10x faster.
750 feet per second.
Wouldnt go any less than 1000fps
If you are using .22 caliber pellets - 800 fps.


If you are using .177 caliber pellets - not applicable.


I love to see how many thumbs down I get when I suggest something with enough power for a clean, humane, ethical and legal kill. Seems a lot of sickos are just into wounding small mammals, which is pretty pathetic.