Here ya go Harry! Red Menace #4

[timegoat]

Was testing my recently repaired, lubed, and lightly tuned Diana 34 (Dorina) with a 30yd bench rest match and her 4x32 scope. (Hit every target and all but three shots were 9s and 10s). Loaded up the 18th shot and saw this Menace running around the trees. Figured Dorina was shooting well enough so I started following it in the scope. These little guys almost never stop moving, but I got lucky. He went down to the ground and started in on the bounty of acorns in one of the clear lines of fire I have through the ferns and stopped.

Lined up on his flank, squeezed the trigger, and heard that tell tale 'thunk'. He twitched for about 10-15 seconds, tail straight up in the air. Then he lowered his flag and gave up the ghost.

Took the last three shots of the match (a 9 and two 10s), went out back to take some pics, and collect my target. Look like I got him through the shoulder. Bright red blood on the little guy means it's oxygenated so I'm guessing I got a lung shot.

Diana 34 w/ RWS 4x32 scope
25yds (ish), 0.177 CPHP.
Light wind.

Dorina's first kill post repair and lube. She's my first AR and has only gotten better with age... and a little work.

- Mark

[only1harry]

Excellent shooting Mark and great pics of the Red Menace!  

You know your 34 well and it becomes deadly in your hands.  The 34 can be a really shooter with even a light tune and lube.  I knew you 'd get some more Reds pretty soon   Keep up the pesting! 

[timegoat]

Thanks Harry. I tell ya, it's real nice to have her back in my hands again. The pro compact is a beautiful rifle, but Dorina just feels right to me.

#5 might be pretty soon. Saw another one running around out there shortly after taking #4.

- Mark

[only1harry]

Well sure, it's looking for its partner   I am sure it will join it soon

[shadow]

Fine shooting and pic's and that's a nice size Red nutter there too. Ed

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Mark!

[JimH]

Dorina did fine as did you.  Great shots.  That don't look like the reds we got in the Adirondacks...ours are much smaller... and stupid.  Not too many people shoot at them so they like to stare down the barrel of your rifle.

[timegoat]

Thanks guys! I had no idea our Reds were bigger than normal over here. Must be all the oak trees... or something. They're not scared of me over here either. When I go out back they often bark at me like I'm the trespasser. The Gray's know better.

Gotta say, after working on Dorina I'm a much better shot than I ever thought I was... turns out a lot of my problems were the rifle after all.

Gonna work on Mori real soon.

- Mark

[only1harry]

When shooting a Springer, the problem is rarely the shooter . Springers in my opinion need to be tuned well, so they don't drive you crazy trying to figure out why the POI is different every time.  Even then, a tuned Springer will still be a little hold sensitive, so you still have to be mindful of that.  Your Mrod should not need as much work as the 34.  Are you having issues with it?

I was going to say something about the Red squirrels looking kind of big, but I can tell this one is still smaller than a Gray.   

[timegoat]

Er... not Mrod, Mori. I named the 34 pro compact too.   Not having any real problems, she's just a little jumpy still. I want to give her a tar and molying too.

I guess we grow Reds big here in the hills. Must be the long winters? I shoulda put the gray that died the other day in front of something for perspective. She looked rather large to me. I know more about them than Reds. I grew up in NYC where there were plenty of grays, but no reds.

- Mark

[1377x]

nice shootings
nothing like a tune up and lube

[timegoat]

1377x, there sure ain't! Before I did it, I had no idea what a difference it could make. There's no turning back now.

Red Menace #5 is on the property. Just saw it chasing a Gray around the garden while making my coffee. Those little Reds are very aggressive.

- Mark