I thought this was a perfect head shot on a pest tree rat...

[BackStop]

Got this male tree rat directly between the eyes and thought he was DRT when he dropped from 15 feet up in the tree.

Shot was @25 yards, ~730fps with Nova Vista Freedom on low power using 10.5 Crosman Ultra Mag.

Went to check the kill only to find him with a very visible hole right between his eyes and he was "looking" right at me.

As I approached closer, still thinking he was DRT, much to my surprise, he ran about 3 feet!

So, I finished him off with the 1377, basically in the exact same hole between his eyes, but at a better angle.

He was facing me with his head down when I took the original shot, but lifted his head slightly just as I took the shot.

So, instead of taking out his brain and brain stem, the initial shot came out of his throat.

All of the blood around his eye(s) came from the close range finishing shot.

[Xraycer]

These critters can be tough!

[BackStop]

These critters can be tough!

Yeah, but I simply should have aimed just a little bit higher with the first shot.

I was able to follow the pellet trajectory all the way to the target, so I was really pleased with the shot until...

Oh well, these things do happen.   

[nced]

Got this male tree rat directly between the eye and thought he was DRT when he dropped from 15 feet up in the tree.

Shot was @25 yards, ~730fps with Nova Vista Freedom on low power using 10.5 Crosman Ultra Mag.

Went to check the kill only to find him with a very visible hole right between his eyes and he was "looking" right at me.

As I approached closer, still thinking he was DRT, much to my surprise, he ran about 3 feet!

So, I finished him off with the 1377, basically in the exact same hole between his eyes, but at a better angle.

He was facing me with his head down when I took the original shot, but lifted his head slightly just as I took the shot.

So, instead of taking out his brain and brain stem, the initial shot came out of his throat.

All of the blood around his eye(s) came from the close range finishing shot.

Well....a "head shot" may not be a "solid brain shot" and tree squirrels are pretty durable. From the pic it looks like the pellet only penetrated the skull at an angle where the pellet only hit an edge of the brain without penetrating it which only knocked out the squirrel for a while, but it would have probably died anyway with a bit more time...........


Kinda reminds me of a head shot on a squirrel when living in West virginia using my .20 cal R9. The squirrel was on a high limb and the shot was very steep angle, however I forgot to hold "under" the base of the ear to compensate for the steep angle. With the shot the squirrel started running along the limb it was sitting on swaying like it was drunk, then it fell to the ground and tried to run away weaving and dodging like it was drunk. I did a "finish off shot" which anchored the squirrel. When the squirrel was retrieved I saw the hide on top of the squirrel it had long gash. Later when I was cleaning the squirrel I saw where the .20 cal pellet only penetrated the hide deep enough to cause a crack in the skull which was enough to cause the critter to "go goofy" needing a second shot.

LOL....that's the only time that I felt the .20 cal pellet dropped a squirrel better than a .177 pellet because the skinnier .177 wouldn't have cracked the skull, only gut a gutter through the hide!

Anywhoo, my favorite placement is from the side between the eye and ear and a hit too far forward only "busts the nose" and a hit too low only busts the jaw, neither which will anchor a tree squirrel!

[BackStop]

Ed, if he had not slightly raised his head, the shot would have taken out his brain and brain stem.

Still, I should have aimed a little bit higher in the first place.   I am proud of the shot anyway, simply because I put it exactly where I was aiming!   

That doesn't always happen for me, so today was a good day for my shooting. 

[Wayne52]

Good shooting to dispatch that pest squirrel Kerry !!!

[BackStop]

Good shooting to dispatch that pest squirrel Kerry !!!

Thanks Wayne!

I've been shooting pretty accurately lately.   Just don't know how long it will last.

[wolverine]

i've seen this before when i worked for a special black ops unit of the federal department of interior and animal investigations.  while investigating chupacabra attacks on a ranger's goats in the texas panhandle, he complained that squirrels were getting into his attic and asked what would take them down.  i suggested an air rifle and he laughed, stating he had taken many head shots on them and the darn things wouldn't die.  that was our first encounter with zombie squirrels.


i know what your'e thinking, why is this guy talking about classified operations?  i believe the public has the right to defend themselves against all threats.  we found the entire brain needed to be destroyed in order to kill them.  this is the why the trend of larger caliber airguns has taken off so fast.  the government is giving tax incentives to airgun manufactures to come up with larger and harder hitting airguns.  why do you think FX built a facility here in the states?


gotta go, 2 black SUVs just pulled up...i was never here..

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Kerry....Congratulations on the squirrel.     Good Save with the 1377 !


Best Wishes - Tom

[BackStop]

Kerry....Congratulations on the squirrel.     Good Save with the 1377 !


Best Wishes - Tom

Thanks Tom!   I have been practicing with the 1377 and have gotten pretty good with it if I am within about 15 feet of the target.

[ranchibi]

Kerry, nice shooting on that tough nutter!

[BackStop]

Kerry, nice shooting on that tough nutter!

Thank you Randall!