GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: only1harry on September 02, 2010, 03:15:16 PM
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Well today I went from using a very powerful Condor .25 to my 13fpe 850 .22 :)
I didn't catch any squirrels at the feeders today so as soon as I got a break from work, and started scanning the trees. The trees are still heavily leaved and it's like looking at a sea of green in my backyard. I then heard a scratching sound. I listened carefully and it sounded more like squirrel chatter. A couple of seconds later and I knew what that sound was. It's the sound squirrels make when they are trying to open a nut with a very hard shell. It's their teetch scratching & sliding off the surface of the nut. It almost sounds like chalk does on a blackboard but to a lesser degree and in a much faster rythm (extremely fast).
It took me a couple of minutes and located him 25yds out. That was only because he moved from where he was. He sat on a branch facing me and continued making that noise with his teeth trying to crack open a huge black nut the size of a walnut.
His head was turn slightly to my left (his right), but was mostly facing me so no broadside shot. He figured he could still munch on this nut and keep an eye on me at the same time :) Since the Gray was not competely in front of me, I was able to put the crosshairs on its left eye with the intend to have the pellet travel towards the center of the skull/brain.
I waited until the squirrel was not moving its head much, and squeezed. I heard what sounded like a little "crack" and the squirrel fell stone dead about 25ft to the ground! I could see its tail where it landed and it wasn't moving at all. I thought maybe it was wounded because there was no death dance. I watched that tail for almost 5min., and then went out to get him after I spotted zero motion. He was on his side on a bunch of poison ivy plants, and still where he landed, and by the way I watched him fall (not moving his limbs or twitching) in mid-air, he was lifeless before he hit the ground. The 14.3gr CPHP had hit him right in the eye and there was blood pouring out of the ear when I picked him up (male). Now I have 2 squirrels and can make a decent meal out of them. I always wait until I have 2 before cooking them :) MV was only 645-650fps (w/heavier spring), maybe more because of the warm weather, but it was more than enough at 24-25yds.
Next up I 'll use the Springers but I have to slow down and space them out so they last me through the winter, which means shooting only about 1 or 2 max. per week.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2010-2011%20Season/2010%20Squirrels/Sept02_10/20100902_0766.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2010-2011%20Season/2010%20Squirrels/Sept02_10/20100902_0765.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2010-2011%20Season/2010%20Squirrels/Sept02_10/20100902_0768.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2010-2011%20Season/2010%20Squirrels/Sept02_10/20100902_0763.jpg)
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Nice shooting Harry! Great pictures!
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WTG Harry. The RWS 850 is such a nice shooter.
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Good shooting Harry and nice pics. Enjoy that nutter meal :)
Jeff
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Fine shooting with the 850 Harry and super pic's as always. I was hoping to get out today for some G-hog/ Nutter hunting but it's been raining steady. Ed
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Thanks guys. Yeah it's supposed to rain a little tonight here too, and maybe tomorrow.
Jeff: I hope you don't get hit by the Hurricane. They are saying it could go either way right now for Long Island. It's an enormous nasty storm - category 4! Stay safe! Hopefully it will go right by getting too close to LI.