In your process of purchasing a rifle, sooner or later, the question of caliber will arise. Between a 4.5 or 5.5 mm pellet rifle, which caliber should you choose for your next pellet gun? To help you make the right choice, we share our expert advice with you Soft air gun.
4.5 MM AIR RIFLE: THE IDEAL CALIBER FOR RECREATIONAL SHOOTING
The 4.5 mm lead is among the most widespread calibers in the world of compressed air weapons in France. Very versatile, we recommend it to all shooters wishing to carry out recreational shooting sessions between 10 and 50 meters.
The power of a 4.5 mm rifle varies between 7 and 23 joules. This power is easily enough to shoot over such a distance range.
The light weight of the 4.5 mm lead (approximately 0.50 grams) gives this ammunition a perfectly straight trajectory. This gives the pellet rifle formidable precision up to 50 meters.
The relatively low mass of the lead allows it to achieve a high gun exit velocity. You can exploit this speed to pierce different types of targets: plastic, cardboard or aluminum.
Finally, the cost of 4.5 mm caliber ammunition remains economical. Count between €5 and €6 for a box of flat head lead at first price. There is a wide range of rifle ammunition. To choose a lead suitable for your airgun, do not hesitate to test different types of projectiles.
5.5 MM PELLET RIFLE: THE BENCHMARK FOR LONG DISTANCE SHOOTING
We recommend purchasing a 5.5 mm caliber air rifle if you wish to shoot over a distance greater than 50 meters.
With adequate power, shooting up to 100 yards is no problem. The higher weight of 5.5 mm lead is less affected by external weather conditions (wind, rain, etc.). Thus, even over a great distance, this ammunition remains as precise as ever.
Due to a higher mass, 5.5 mm lead stores and releases greater energy. On impact this results in a stopping power much greater than the 4.5 mm caliber. This is the reason why in the United States and the United Kingdom, sports shooters favor the 5.5 mm pellet rifle to hunt small pests.
To fully exploit the full potential of a 5.5 mm caliber rifle for precision shooting, choose a minimum power of 25 to 30 joules. Below this power, the trajectory of the lead risks quickly dropping.