Browning 800 mag: Which version should i buy?

[Airman]

Hello everyone! This is my first post in this forum.
 I'm new to this and i like to get some feedback from you, regarding this pistol.
 First of all, why i have decided to buy this model:
- It's one of the most powerful spring pistols i have found.
- It is cheaper than other powerful pistols like the RWS magnum.
- I don't want to keep buying CO2 canisters.

 What i want to ask, is whether i should buy the 0.177 or the 0.22 caliber version. I have read the item's description and i know that it fires 0.177 pellets at 700 FPS and 0.22 pellets at 600 FPS. I believe this is because 0.22 ones are heavier? If this is true, then perhaps this means that their kinetic energy will be equal or even greater than 0.117 pellets?
 And what about penetration? My main criteria for my choise, is to be able to shoot down big rats in my small field.
   Thank you in advance.

[pindog2000]

Well welcome to the GTA here will you find plenty of advise i have one and im currently shooting in my garage i cant speak for the .22 cal but i have the .177 cal and its a beast its heavy the cocking is hard but breaks in so i can cock it by hand without the cocking aid mines luvs miesterkuglins wads and currently testing hobby and preds as we speak i would get some loctite and add some to the 3 screws where the muzzle is good groups willl be hard as this gun is big and its a pain to keep steady im still trying to master mines i think a guy here was selling his for $100 but dont quote me on that it is scopeable but get the mini scopes leapers has and a offset mount but just know thats more wieght to the gun and it will affect your shooting good luck.

[pindog2000]

look at shooting this at 10-15 yrds to be effective for hunting small pest once again i stress it is a big  gun and heavy for a pistol but it has power real world mines is somewear around 580-600 fps

[1377x]

crosman has a pistol like the browning comng out in.22

[bart the fart]

i have the browning 800 in .177...i love it for small game...but this thing is NOT a daily shooter...if i shot it every day my left arm would look like popeyes! for a "springer" pistol this is it. i've shot the rws version and save yourself a couple bucks and buy the browning.....i had a old 4x32 ruger scope and it took some work but i got it mounted and man oh man she looks scary!! use rws super domes or H-ponts hope this helps cheers bart

[larspawn]

That's all I could take.  Sold it for $90?  

They're huge!  You would be better off with a small rifle unless you are a very accomplished shot. As stated you can cock it without the cocking aid but it isn't fun. I think it's about 20" long  with aid. More balanced than you would think but don't expect a target gun here.

Not sure if this is your first airgun or not but you'll have more fun with a rifle and even a .17 midpowered springer will off a rat.

[Airman]

Well, thanks for the replies but it's a bit late now. (See posting date) I have bought the .177 version just because i read that most small game hunter choose to use guns of this caliber.
 Now, i'm focusing on what pellets i should use for this pistol. "bart the fart" already made 2 suggestions. Besides these pellets, i'd like to try something more heavy than the average. What is the maximum pellet weight that this pistol can handle? (700 fps, 7.5 joule)

 Also, i bought a Pellgunoil for lubrication, but later on, i read that it isn't proper for springer due to being combustible. So, i'm about to buy some silicon oil.

 I already have a rifle and wanted to get a pistol too. i would have gone for a rifle otherwise.
 To be honest, i'm not so thrilled with the browning. I was expecting it to be a little more powerful. I would like to do the seal modification in order to increase its performance, as seen here: http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/09/browning-800-mag-part-3.html if i only knew how it should be done exactly. Like, how to remove the seal.

larspawn: Is this pistol considered a middle-powered gun?