Excalibur crossbows

[Mortblanc]

Most comparisons are sketchy at best. If you compare the two calibers when they create the same ft/lb energy the results are way less dramatic than when comparing a 7 lb .22 and a 12lb .177!

When you actually go to a trajectory chart and compare the .177 vs. the .22 at equal energy level you will find that the difference between the two trajectories out to 30 meters is so close to the same that your "wobble factor" covers more target area than the difference in trajectory.

We are talking less than the diameter of a .17 pellet difference. 3 mm @ 30 meters.

That is using the standard "hobby pellet" of 7 grains in .177 and 11 grains in .22 and comparing them both at 12 ft/lb.

I went with the .177 on my HW30 for one reason alone and that was cost of ammo. I knew I was going to be shooting the crap out of this thing and ammo cost was going to be a consideration. .22 pellets cost me 3X as much as .177.

I am shooting Beeman wadcutter .177 pellets indoors at less than one cent U.S. per shot. They are giving me adequate 10 meter accuracy but when I move outside I must change to RWS hobby pellets to maintain decent groups at 25M.

When I ordered my HW30 they sent me a .22 by mistake and I sent it back, but not before I shot a dozen 5 shot groups with various .22 pellets I had on hand. I found the .22 more accurate in general and less picky then the .177 I replaced it with.

I would have kept the .22 except for the ammo cost issue and the fact the the HW30 in .22 only produces a miserly 425 fps.

Even at that rate it smashes into an indoor target trap like a freight train.

The .177 at 650 fps makes a nice little "ping" and does not even bounce the trap.