.22 pellet suggestions

[Dand]

Finally got out hunting with my .22 BSA Supersport today.  Got into a flock of spruce grouse and made a number of shots using Beeman FTS pellets of about 14.3 gr.   All my shooting was within 15 yards but I only knocked the feathers off of 3 - those got away though I'm not sure they survived. Tried for head and neck shots but my wobbling, breeze and their movements resulted in some body hits (took 4 home). But I'm realizing that I have to aim as carefully with this gun as my .177 R7 even though the .22 pellets are much heavier and the velocity is a bit higher (I think).

Any recommendations on pellet selection?  I know some folks prefer the .177 for birds but I have the .22.

Other suggestions - don't like wounding game.

[mjfa]

After properly break-in your gun (say after 1000 rounds), you should try several different pellets at the distance you use to hunt to find out wich one performs the best on your gun.  I have get good results from my .22 airguns with JSB Exact, Beeman Kodiak and Crossman Accupell but this not necessarily would work for your particular gun.  I also should mention I do not own a BSA Supersport.

[Dand]

Yep I have the Straight shooter's pellet sampler but haven't sorted out its favorite pellets yet.  Got the gun used and have no idea how many shots its made to date.  I've run a couple hundred through the gun.  I've been slow to work up this gun as I haven't settled on a scope for it.

But off a rest the other day I was getting about 2 inch groups at 30 yards outside with a little breeze - using the FTS. That's the best I've done with this gun so far.

Thanks for the info I'll try the pellets you suggest.

I'm open to others' comments on pellets for grouse or similar size birds.

[Lawdog]

Dand,

I have taken many hundreds crows and other birds(both large and small) with pellet guns and on birds(body shots is what we are talking about) stay away from pointed or domed pellets.  Doesn't matter what the caliber.  The pointed and domed pellets do not deliver very much shock to the system of the bird thus letting them fly away to die some place else.  Go with a good wad cutter or hollow point and you should see a better take home average.  Lawdog
 

[Dand]

Thanks for the suggestion Lawdog,  come to think of it I was probably using  medium wt. wad cutters with my .177 R7 last year.  I have some 16 gr .22 wadcutters I might try from the sampler.  Yesterday went out again - after about 50 rounds of practice in my garage. Found one spruce grouse at maybe 10 yards and made a nice neck shot with a 16 gr pointed pellet.  I think my accuracy had more to do with success than pellet selection.

I had been thinking the dome pellets were the way to go but they were obviously glancing off the hard feathers.  I suppose pointed could do the same - my single success notwithstanding.  

thanks folks - I'm open to additional experienced suggestions.

[Lawdog]

Dand,

I asked a state game biologist why on birds the wad cutter pellet seem to work better.  He said it has to do with a birds body mass having less water content in it than animals.  Domed or pointed pellets just pass thru the birds body without delivering any or very little shock.  I have hit birds like crows with domed .25 caliber pellet at 20 yards and had them fly off.  You would think they would just drop with a 1/4” hole through them.  Same distance, same caliber and the same hold using a Crow Magnum hollow point and the crow was knocked backwards off the limb and dropped.  Even more dramatic results using wad cutters.  My only problem using wad cutter pellets is accuracy starts to drop off after 25 yards.  Lawdog
 

[mjfa]

Lawdog,
I do have to wholy agree with you, although I am conviced that at 30+ yards a domed pellet is a better choice over a wadcutter, though you have just cleared it up, only rest to thank you for sharing your experienced knowledge.