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PCP pellet weight and FPE

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2017 6:06 am
by gard72977
Im researching for a new PCP. Field target seems to be the dominate sport in air rifles. Im finding 12fpe and 15fpe guns. Im assuming this is because of field target rules.

15FPE is 10.3g @ 810fps. I had a RAW that shot well at 870FPS. Am I giving up anything buying a gun that list at 15FPE.

Is that 60FPS going to help wind.

Im looking at FWB and Daystate. Im not sure about adjusting the FWB.

Re: PCP pellet weight and FPE

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2017 11:29 am
by richard
Well yes, field target seems to be more popular than silo. I say that because we run both and get over twice as many shooters for FT. If it were the other way around that would be nice because FT is about 10 times as hard to set up and run.

Anyway the power limit in FT is 20 fpe. The power in silo must be low enough to not damage the targets. Knockdown power in AR silo is not a big factor like it is in high power rifle so the only consideration regarding power is the wind. This is basic stuff but the more powerful the air rifle is the flatter it will shoot and the shorter time the pellet will be in the wind. So given that generalization then a more powerful airgun should shoot better in the wind. How much better is hard to say. Going from a target rifle(6fpe) to a sporter or open class rifle(12-20+fpe) the difference is noticeable. Going from 15 to 20+fpe in silhouette shooting certainly less noticeable. How the rifle fits and shoots is probably more important than power.

Re: PCP pellet weight and FPE

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2017 12:23 pm
by gard72977
I may not have worded my question correctly. There is a speed limit for accuracy. Lets just say 875fps for sake of discussion. I know it will very from gun to gun along with pellet to pellet. Is the 10.5 going to perform better than 8.5

Im not concerend about knock down power

Re: PCP pellet weight and FPE

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 1:11 pm
by richard
To tell you the truth I was trying to figure out what you were asking. I am not a big experimenter so my comments are generalizations from years of playing with airguns. Yes there generally is an upper speed limit to maintain accuracy. Again, generally guys don't like to shoot above say around 950 fps or so because accuracy seems to deteriorate. I suspect the reasons for this are that pellets are fragile and you are approaching the speed of sound. Different guns shoot differently of course.
Actual pellet weight is a different subject. Heavier pellets have a more "loopy" trajectory but should do better in the wind. The more important consideration is that some guns like either light or heavier pellets. Whatever is most accurate in a particular rifle is more important than the pellet weight. GENERALLY spring guns shoot better with lighter pellets and PCP guns shoot better with heavier pellets. I say generally because my Anschutz 8002 target rifle(6 fpe) and my AirArms ProTarget (12 fpe) both shoot better with lighter pellets. All the spring guns I ever had like lighter pellets.
There are some really technical dudes on the airgun forums that could make your head hurt talking about this stuff. My comment is just the Readers Digest version.