Hmmm. Maybe airgun claimed vels are not exaggerated after all.

[Futo Inu]

At least not RWS. It's widely proffered that, for whatever reason, airgun makers claim greatly exaggerate velocities in their air guns, whereas firearm ammo makers do not exaggerate (much). However, here are my findings to the contrary today. Both tested rifles are RWS and both are .177/4.5mm. Results from 5-shot strings over a Shooting Chrony Beta Master.

Rifle 1: RWS Model 34 (ads claim "1,000 fps")
Rifle 1 results:
-Crosman 10.5 grain round nose pellets (very heavy). High 868.5 fps, Low 820.8 fps, Avg 849.92 fps.
-Daisy "Max Speed" pellets - no stated weight, but undoubtedly very light. High 1066 fps, Low 1041 fps, Avg 1058 fps.

Rifle 2: RWS Model 52 (ads claim "1,100 fps")
Rifle 2 results:
-Crosman 10.5 grain round nose. High 1079 fps, Low 1035 fps, Avg 1055.4 fps
-Daisy "Max Speed". High 1370 fps, Low 1287 fps, Avg 1325.8

YMMV on other makes but this is what I'm getting with RWS. Interesting that the model 48/52 advertising UNDERstates the actual vels from light pellets by some 200+ fps.

 

[Iain]

What is the power output on those things? In the UK we are restricted to 12lb ft (unit means nothing to me), claimed that a .177 will boot a pellet out at over 850 fps with that power output.

With proper hunting pellets those speeds put you well into rabbit hunting power (if that is legal with air rifles over there)

 

[Futo Inu]

St. Johns, this website is GREAT for airgun info:

http://www.straightshooters.com/ssmenu.html

click on the brand you're interested in, then on the model, then click on the "Our Take" or "Test Results" link to get to the gun's test results and overall impressions/ratings by the testers. Then, click on the "Velocity Results" link for each gun if it's not already under the general test results. Well, it's not complicated - just click around - lol. It shows extensive testing results for many different pellet types, and the ft. lbs of energy as well. For example, here is the model 48/52 RWS test results:

http://www.straightshooters.com/ourtake/r48grid.html

As you can see, a 6.5 gr .177 pellet going 1004 fps generates 16 ft.-lbs of energy. 6.5 gr doing 832 fps is only 10 ft.-lbs, so 12 is somewhere between, about 875-900 fps, which is surely plenty o' medicine for waskawy wabbits. For a slightly lowered powered airgun which is way quiet, I like this one:

http://www.straightshooters.com/ourtake/otr46.html

Actually, when you look at it, my results are quite a bit off from theirs - makes me think my chrony is possibly an uber POS in calculating the vels - wouldn't be surprised, as it otherwise tries hard to be an uber POS. Hmmm, it was opened up all the way... Stay tuned.