How did this rabbit survive two shots to the head?

[Taso1000]

Yeah Micobalistics are brutal and call for.. Bigger Cal. with domes or predator polymags.

Probably just his zombie last kicking from his lizard brain stem seriously.

P. O. I.,

I'm ok with Micobalistics.  For a second I thought Microballistics was rearing it's ugly head again from that last ridiculous thread.  Thank goodness it's only Micobalistics!   

Taso

[Horatio]

If you aren’t working with extra FPE, I wouldn’t use any kind of expanding pellet.

[SagaciousKJB]

Okay, well, taking everyone's comments into consideration I decided to go watch some rabbit hunting videos on YouTube, specifically from the UK so I could gleam what I could about using this specific power level limit.

One thing I found interesting was one particular video where they skinned the rabbit's head of its fur and ears, and it really went to show how small the area is.  It's really only one eye's width of brain-case to the side of the eye, and then about 1/4" - 3/8" (maybe more) of fur and tissue.

I think what happened is the first headshot only clipped its cerebellum by going a little high and to the right.  If it had hit center or low, it would have disrupted the medulla oblongata and rendered it unconscious, and if it had a little left, would have hit the cerebrum and done the same.  But only nicking the cerebellum left it spinning and shaking its head, as that portion of the brain is responsible for muscle coordination.

The second head shot must have entered more forward in the brain, either by POI being more on point, or because the rabbit's head was at an angle to me on that shot.  It would have entered the back of hindbrain, and ended up in the cerebrum

I wanna add some links pertaining to this if that's all right?

This is the one where they show the rabbit's head skinned for comparison.


This one is just a really great view of a brain/skull cast Ohio State University did.




I think I at least have a better understanding of what was happening now.

I'm wondering if after the first headshot when it was stunned and spinning around in circles if I could have just ran up and grabbed it to break its neck, or if anchoring it with the heart/lung shot actually was the best course of action.  It did get me the final headshot, which was cleaner than I thought.  I agree I overreacted, and then by the time I got the last headshot, I was only seeing the CNS spasming as signs of life, when in reality I was beating a dead rabbit.

Well I feel a tiny bit better now, but I'm still going to look into getting some better pellets.  Interestingly enough, the YouTube host up there who does testing on the rabbit heads felt like the domes didn't do enough damage, but it seems like the overwhelming consensus is that domes are what you want for this.

[Ben in Va]

I raise rabbits for the dinner table and their brain is really really small.  I shoot them from the back at the base of the head.  This is an instant kill(like forever with rabbits....)  I found that about mid skull(going forward from the back) it becomes a wounding shot.  Blood through nose and all that horrible stuffs.  I would recommend an, ear canal, or a medulla oblongata shot. 

[Relentless Holiday]

Okay, well, taking everyone's comments into consideration I decided to go watch some rabbit hunting videos on YouTube, specifically from the UK so I could gleam what I could about using this specific power level limit.

One thing I found interesting was one particular video where they skinned the rabbit's head of its fur and ears, and it really went to show how small the area is.  It's really only one eye's width of brain-case to the side of the eye, and then about 1/4" - 3/8" (maybe more) of fur and tissue.

I think what happened is the first headshot only clipped its cerebellum by going a little high and to the right.  If it had hit center or low, it would have disrupted the medulla oblongata and rendered it unconscious, and if it had a little left, would have hit the cerebrum and done the same.  But only nicking the cerebellum left it spinning and shaking its head, as that portion of the brain is responsible for muscle coordination.

The second head shot must have entered more forward in the brain, either by POI being more on point, or because the rabbit's head was at an angle to me on that shot.  It would have entered the back of hindbrain, and ended up in the cerebrum

I wanna add some links pertaining to this if that's all right?

This is the one where they show the rabbit's head skinned for comparison.


This one is just a really great view of a brain/skull cast Ohio State University did.




I think I at least have a better understanding of what was happening now.

I'm wondering if after the first headshot when it was stunned and spinning around in circles if I could have just ran up and grabbed it to break its neck, or if anchoring it with the heart/lung shot actually was the best course of action.  It did get me the final headshot, which was cleaner than I thought.  I agree I overreacted, and then by the time I got the last headshot, I was only seeing the CNS spasming as signs of life, when in reality I was beating a dead rabbit.

Well I feel a tiny bit better now, but I'm still going to look into getting some better pellets.  Interestingly enough, the YouTube host up there who does testing on the rabbit heads felt like the domes didn't do enough damage, but it seems like the overwhelming consensus is that domes are what you want for this.

All joking aside. I commend your dedication to taking your responsibly for clean kills seriously enough to research your prey ant it's anatomy to increase your skills as a true hunter. Way to be bud. Good links for others too.

[only1harry]

I shot many cottontail's at 10 yards 35 or 40 years ago with the 760 .177 using Crosman pointed pellets and a couple with flat/wadcutter pellets.  FPE was around 5.5 FPE at the muzzle, and 4.5 fpe on impact.  I killed every one of them with a head/brain shot at 10-12yds.  Some spun around before they died, and a few I had to follow up with a 2nd shot, but just to end it quicker.  All were kill shots even if some did not have that immediate effect. 

What you experienced is very normal since their brain is so small, and they are hard wired to jump & kick even when the brain is taken out.  Especially with a .177 which does not inflict enough trauma or damage like a .22/25 or a .177 PCP or magnum springer with almost twice the energy you have.  Try true hollow point pellets next time, or a soft domed pellet which also expands like JSB pellets.

Harry

[Motorhead]

On that note:  just a few day ago shot a jack with the .177 m-rod ( crosman 10.5 dome @ 900 fps ) right threw the head @ 3/8" under the ear canal with a side to side shot.
In one side and out the other .... WHAT a SHOW !!!
leaps and flops 4 foot+ into the air with virtually no real control being all spastic that lasted at least 10 seconds.
When it finally expired blood out BOTH ears, none from nose or mouth telling that cranial damage was all contained within the brain.

That really is disturbing to watch and you can't help but feel badly the rabbit is suffering and in some way aware it is among the walking dead 

[Ben in Va]

It deff takes a while for all of a rabbit's energy to dissipate.  One time I skinned and gutted one so fast that I pulled out the heart and lungs together and it was still beating!!!