Mori takes a Gray!

[timegoat]

It's about time! After putting the JM spring in Dorina and seeing how well she shoots I decided to do the same to Mori (Diana 34 Pro-Compact). Been going through pellet tests and have found that she loves Baracudas (yes I know I'm playing with spring death, but she shoots them better than anything else). So there I was shooting out the window at my 30yd target getting pert near 0.5" groups when I saw this guy start coming around the bird feeder at 25yds.

After nosing around the ground mostly obscured by the low plants he decided to cut to the chase, climb up the tree, and down onto the feeder. I had the 3-9x scope on Dorina for a while, but Mori doesn't have open sights so I put the big glass back on her. The squirrel was hanging upside down giving me a perfect shot at his head, so I lined up the crosshairs just behind his eye and squeezed the trigger. He must've shifted his weight cause the second the shot went off the feeder started swinging and I missed. It was close enough to scare him so he ran back up the pole that the feeder is hanging from and took up a position on one of the few branches I have a clear shot at and froze.

In this position I had an unobscured view of his vitals, loaded up another shot, and sent a Baracuda into his side. He dropped like a rock, no death dance, no running away. Just a nice clean kill.

Ran down with my camera, rifle, rubber gloves, hatchet, and pocket knife to get a pic and start my first cleaning. I did an awful job! The skin didn't come off all nice and clean like in the videos, but I didn't pierce his guts and managed to salvage some meat. Perhaps I did the skinning too soon after death? He was still warm. Put what I got in the vacuum sealer, sealed it up, and into the freezer. Put his remains in front of the trail camera to see what comes in for the free meal leftover from my terrible butchering.

Regardless, I think I learned a few things for the future including the fact that I really need to sharpen my hatchet. My pocket knife did it's part beautifully.

Looking forward to adding to the harvest in my freezer. Gonna need more before I can make squirrel chili, but off to a good start! Er... of to a start anyway.

- Mark

[pindog2000]

Good shooting bro I like the fact u have names for ur ladies I'm glad I'm not the only one lol I have 13 rifles that's 13 ladies all different all picky all killers lol

[timegoat]

Thanks Pindog! Glad to know I'm not the only one too! I think my wife gets a little jealous when I refer to them by name.

p.s. (Added in edit) I measured the groups... 5 shots at 30yds hitting 0.6" groups consistently.

[pindog2000]

I agree I have 13 names 13 ladys lol (my top 5 rws350p=lady,2250xt=ultraviolet,ruger blackhawk=remy,tf89=sweets,bam b40=jade princess lol

[timegoat]

Hahahaha! I think Jade Princess is my favorite.

I name mine after some of my favorite songs, Dorina by Dada, she's my "pretty little ghost", my quiet, open sighted, paper killer. Mori was named after Moribund the Burgermeister by Peter Gabriel... cause she's a Meistershutze. I figured Mori was a nice feminized version but just learned that it's also latin for "to die". Fitting since she's now my hunter.

Finally figured out what roles they each play best.

[Furseeker]

Good shooting, nice looking rifle to.

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Mark!

[shadow]

Good shooting and pic hunt brother. Ed

[Froghunter]

Mark,

Great read....I enjoyed your hunting story and picture. Is this your first gray squirrel and if it is welcome to the gray squirrel hunting clan. I remember my first rabbit but not my first squirrel. I do remember my first squirrel with a pellet rifle it was about 10-12 years ago. Hoping you good luck in your future Gray Squirrel Hunting.

Too Cool and Awesome!

Froghunter

PS: Long Live "Daina" The Goddess of the Hunt! I see you own two!

[timegoat]

Thanks guys! Mori's a sweet rifle, attached my favorite pic of her below. Took it the day she arrived. She doesn't like any of the pellets in the picture. 

Froghunter, I love the Diana 34. Only type of air rifle I've ever shot. The spring broke in my first (Dorina) earlier this year and I used that as an excuse to get the Pro-Compact (Mori). Now they're both kickin' butt. 

This is my first gray that hasn't gotten away. Hit 2 of them since the season started with Dorina but both of them got up and ran into trees before I could get a second shot off. Mori seems to be a better hunter, I think it's cause she likes the heavier pellets. They're both good pesters, Reds and munks don't stand a chance against either one.

One of these days I gotta get a picture of the two of them together.

- Mark

[Lochlainn]

What a beautiful gun! How is it in the accuracy department ?

[timegoat]

When I shot the gray I doing some target shooting. Was consistently hitting 5 shots in a 0.6" group at 30yds in a pretty strong wind. But I have put a JM spring in her which tightened up her accuracy dramatically. Before the new spring the same pellets (H&N Baracuda Match) were hitting about 1.0-1.5" groups or so under the same conditions.

She's brutal now.

[only1harry]

Nice shooting with the 34 Pro-C Mark!  I butchered my first squirrel too a little.  It's ok you 'll get the hang of it.  I actually don't wait too long before I clean them.  Usually within an hour, mostly within 30min I try to clean them.  A little warm is ok..  You don't want them too cold or the skin will be a little harder to get off.  The main thing is not to pierce the guts which you did not do, so you passed the test  

I shot my 48 .22more today.  It's breaking in nicely.  It's a tack driver with open sights at 19.5yds, and the bullseye is one small black blur for me with my bad eyes.  Now I know what they mean when they say "fixed barrel" accuracy.  I can't wait to put some glass on it.  I was getting 0.5" groups on open sights consistently with CP's, or one ragged hole covered by a penny, nickel sized was my worst group out of 5 groups!  Sometimes 2 or 3 of the 5 shots go into mostly the same hole.  I never got that type of accuracy with the 350's on open sights.  Not even close.  I think it will outshoot my 36 once I scope the 48, and the 36 has JM internals and turbo-tune.  I can imagine with a Maccari GRT kit it will be a one-holer if I do my part. 

[timegoat]

Thanks Harry! Glad to know I'm not the only one with first time butchering issues. Heh... I figured it wouldn't go very smooth first time round. I was hoping it would all work out nice, but experience really is the best teacher. Gonna try giving the next one a 30 minute soak before cleaning and see how that goes. From what I've seen online, some people do it some don't. We'll see if it works for me.

Gonna run Mori through the 30yd Bench Match this week and see how she does. Dorina is kicking butt with open sights. I've found I shoot her better with open sights than with her 4x scope. Shot some sweet targets with her for the matches coming up.

That 48 sounds real nice! I've always liked the idea of a fixed barrel. Thinking about picking up a couple GRT kits as well for my ladies. Some guides would be nice and I can hold onto the seals and springs for back-up parts.

I came up with the greatest Christmas / Birthday present idea I've ever had. Gift cards to PA. If I get enough I might have to pick up a fixed barrel myself. Or a lifetime supply of pellets... decisions decisions.

- Mark

[1377x]