Some thought on air rifle hunting

[NorthernRaider]

Skill at arms is as important as the right rifle choice, sadly both sides of the pond there are far to many who have the kit but not the skill.

[Rush2112]

Nice shooting Steve!! That looks like a good, wholesome dinner.

do you recommend steel or lead pellets?

wondering which would be more effective for hunting. the steel is harder so may penetrate farther, but the lead may cause more internal injury resulting in quicker dispatch. interested in your opinion as i've only used lead to this point.

[Steve]

(11 July 2013, 23:29)Rush2112 Wrote: Nice shooting Steve!! That looks like a good, wholesome dinner.

do you recommend steel or lead pellets?

wondering which would be more effective for hunting. the steel is harder so may penetrate farther, but the lead may cause more internal injury resulting in quicker dispatch. interested in your opinion as i've only used lead to this point.

Lead every time. You don't need more penetration than a domed head lead pellet, it will often exit the head anyway. When thinking about hunting with something as low powered as an air rifle you must forget all you have read about "shock", "trauma" and "temporary wound channel", these are for powerful firearms. With low powered air rifles imagine the wound as being caused by pushing a skewer through the target, the skewer needs to destroy something vital to get a clean kill. Accuracy and shot placement are very important.