What does .22 caliber do best?

.22 is the all-around hunting caliber and is generally considered the best balance for small game and pest control out to about 50 yards.

A given airgun in .22 will produce roughly 20 percent more energy than the same gun in .177, and the heavier pellet bucks wind better and dumps more energy on impact. The trade is a more curved trajectory than .177 and slightly higher pellet cost. For most hunters, .22 is the right first hunting caliber.