ORIGINAL: missed_another
lets just say if you could pump up your bb gun so it would produce 2000fps would you use it on coyotes or woodchucks. i don't think so. of the so called dozens of woodchucks you shot dead on the spot with your .17 how many others ran down the hole or laid on the ground kicking for a short time
Check this site out before you knock air rifles...
http://www.air-rifle.net/history/history.html...
Seems Lewis and Clark had some fairly powerful ones for when they ran out of powder. I have a bud that has killed groundhogs at 100 yds with his high power .22 cal air rifle...I've seen postings of game up to the size of elk killed with air rifles...
And the answer to your assumption about losing some down the hole....Zero...although I know it can and eventually will happen, with any firearm not just the .17...
Should I go to a .50 cal...