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Does low velocity ammo have enough power?

Posted By: Shotty Bob

Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/23/22 05:18 AM

So I was thinking about how low velocity ammo would be better for putting down critters in traps then I remembered hearing about these 22 shells that don’t use any powder just primer and are suppose to be real quiet and slow. So I looked them up found them they are called aguila calibris and are rated at 420 FPS with a 20 grain projectile. I’m no expert but I thought that may be riding the line on killing a coyote humanly in a trap so I was wondering if anybody has ever used them before and what their thoughts were on them.

Ps. If there’s any thing wrong with this wrong place writing error my bad it’s my first time writings any thing on here so please excuse me.

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Posted By: BillNye

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/23/22 05:27 AM

No idea about coyote but I've shot a lot of grouse with these and always get passthroughs if that helps at all. Plus they're very quiet
Posted By: patrapperbuster

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/23/22 03:40 PM

I have never used them but a .22 short works every time
Posted By: waggler

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/24/22 02:37 AM

Years ago they used to make what was call "22 BB caps" just a round ball with no powder, just primer. I haven't seen them since I was a kid, but it sounds like what you are describing. I always use "22 CB caps" less powder than a 22 short but great for dispatching trapped critters. CCI makes them loaded into a LR case which makes for easier handling imo.
Posted By: bearcat2

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/24/22 04:42 PM

I've not known anyone to shoot anything with the Aguila Colibri, although I've seen their subsonic long rifle ammo kill a lot of small game. And CB caps work great, a friend of mines dad used to call those "City Bullets" because he lived in town and used them to shoot squirrels in his backyard. I do know of a guy who had an issue with the Colibri though. Don't use them in a semiauto, obviously they won't cycle the action, but he actually had bullets stick in the barrel because too much pressure went to trying to cycle the action and didn't leave enough to push the bullet down the barrel.
Posted By: Hanger

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/24/22 05:43 PM

They will not work on coon.
Posted By: Crowfoot

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/24/22 06:18 PM

I had some of those round ball type, very similar to these conical ones. There is an acorn stamped into the head, lost the can they came in, I think they were Flowbert or something like that.
We used them for starlings and English sparrows invading our purple martin houses. On a squirrel, ya had to hit him just right or you'd be tracking him.
I carry a Ruger SS semi and use the subsonic. Quieter than a regular short. Doesn't cycle the action but I like that. Fill the mag, one shot, the gun is empty till yopu cycle it manually. Very handy .... and safe.The CB Longs are good too, just a bit louder. Still have to place the shot well, they can glance off.
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Posted By: mikehunterman

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/24/22 06:26 PM

I use the Rem 22 long rifle hollow points subsonic all the time and they work on Coyotes with no problems but shot one with a long rifle CB and he just looked at me. When I skinned it out it was flat on the skull and did not seem to faze him. The 22 CB will kill a possum but not very well. Think they are more for Squirrel size or smaller.
Posted By: Willy Firewood

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/27/22 07:51 AM

I have had bad luck with low velocity and subsonic, especially thru a handgun, even 6.5” barrel. They do not generate enough velocity to expand. Thru a handgun the absolute best by far is the CCI segmented hollow points that are rated at 1640 fps. Thru a pistol probably half that speed. Quick dispatch! From a rifle the same bullet rated at 720 or so. They make a series of that load. Very impressive.
Posted By: bhugo

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 02/27/22 03:48 PM

Using shorts in a beretta bobcat semi one at a time is no good on coon. Won’t penetrate skull. Since shorts are more expensive than lr, that was my only attempt using anything else to be a little quieter.

The shorts were fine in a 6” revolver on coyote heart shot. I did not try using the revolver on my coon line.

I now use a death ray for the coon line. No noise at all.
Posted By: danvee

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 03/02/22 04:07 AM

I use them all the time on dispatches for coyote fox cat and coon. I use to use 22 shorts but cant find them any more. Dont like CB caps which you cant find and they did not have enough velocity to do well.
Posted By: Aix sponsa

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/01/22 07:35 PM

I would not trust those Colibri's for dispatch. I would literally trust every other type of Rimfire cartridge that I've ever heard of more than those. I've seen a road sign (legally owned, not a public sign) that was shot with one. It peeled the sticker but did not dent the sign at all. I have also seen those same Colibris not have enough Umpf! to make it out of the barrel of a 22 rifle, and getting it unstuck became a separate issue to deal with.


CCI's Quiet-22 and Subsonic lines works well if you want to stay in the light stuff. These days, getting specific loads can be iffy, but I like any of the segmented HPs as well. Shorts would work too, but I don't see them for sale very often.



Posted By: FL cracker in AK

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/01/22 08:51 PM

I shot a possom 9 times at 5 feet with a revolver, didn't kill it, was using colibris. Never used them again.
Posted By: crosspatch

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/02/22 02:26 AM

No idea about those Aquila shells but this whole conversation is based on assumption of correct shot placement. The lesser the damage a shell can do then of course then the finer the shot required to do the desired effect.

Shot a few caribou and snared black bears with .22LR and you can instant drop them if you do it right the first time. Almost pointless to shoot other than direct front on slightly above the eyes or back on centre line between the ears.
Posted By: FL cracker in AK

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/02/22 08:11 PM

Yes, normal .22 lr I have great respect for. Colibris, however, have failed to penetrate a possum's skull at 5 feet, and that is disappointing.
Posted By: backroadsarcher

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/03/22 02:39 AM

I used to use 22 shorts for many years with no problems. I haven't seen them in stores around here in years.
Posted By: Northof50

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/03/22 01:27 PM

sometimes there are bylaws with ammo speed
420 fps falls below the 500 fps to get in that criteria
Posted By: Mark McCary

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/04/22 10:39 PM

I have had good humane kills on coyotes with 40 gr. subsonic 22 long rifle ammo when fired from a RIFLE!!! When using a PISTOL I prefer standard velocity ammo for a humane dispatch.
Posted By: Wallace

Re: Does low velocity ammo have enough power? - 04/08/22 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by Hanger
They will not work on coon.

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