What is best for pellet gun small game hunting, 22. or 177.? (at 495 fps)?

I was wondering what is better for small game hunting ( partridge,squirrel,.etc) 177.cal or 22.cal at 495 fps.What is best for pellet gun small game hunting, 22. or 177.? (at 495 fps)?
Partridge are Game birds it's illegal to hunt them with an air weapon.





You really need a 20 Guage shotgun. It will deal with the squirrels as well.





EDIT. I'm in the UK. Here partridges (and pheasant) are deliberatly bred by rich landowners for the amusement of their rich friends at shooting parties. Unless you have an invite you can't shoot them. Even with an invite it's shotguns only.





Ian MWhat is best for pellet gun small game hunting, 22. or 177.? (at 495 fps)?
The Canadian limit without a PAL is a muzzle velocity of 495fps AND OR a muzzle energy of 4.2ft-lbs...





IMO, an air rifle with a muzzle energy under 4.2ft-lbs is not suitable for small game hunting...





The rifle would be fine for paper targets and plinking.





Airgun - Hunting


http://www.americanairgunhunter.com


http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/pest.h鈥?/a>


http://www.network54.com/forum/278708


These are pretty good sites if you want to learn more about hunting with airguns.
I don't know where Ian is going but in my state small game can be taken with an air rifle. Rabbit, squirrel, gopher. I use a .22. I would say if you can punch through a cardboard shipping box, 2 layers of it, at 25 yds you have the power to kill a rabbit or squirrel.
Neither at 495 fps. Here is a good link of one of my best answers:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;鈥?/a>


Hope this gives you a good idea!
If both are at 495 fps... then a .22 cal pellet would be your best bet.





It's all about mass so if you have the same speed then mass (how big) will be the deciding factor.