New QB takes care of business

[nervoustrigger]

Well, it was a frustrating week at work and busy to the extent that I hadn't even stopped to think what I might do on the weekend.  Suddenly on Friday, there was a glimmer of hope that jumped right into my lap.  My buddy that I recently wrote about in this thread...

Squirrel hunt nets a new recruit

approached me and said he and his wife were going out of town early the next morning, and would I like to come over and try to get some squirrels.

Hmm, let me think.  Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back?

So having recently completed a QB78 HPA conversion for my friend Andrew (GTA member MEAT), I decided it was time to put it to the test.  In the suburban backyard setting, the longest shot would be maybe 35 yards so after dinner Friday night, I took the new QB out to the shop and adjusted the RVA to shoot the 13.4gr JSB Jumbo RS pellets at 700fps for right around 15fpe.  That makes for a really quiet report, less likely to disturb the neighbors or run off the squirrels.  After a little fiddling with the scope turrets, it was printing respectable groups centered on the bullseye at 25 yards.

The next morning, my son and I suited up and headed out bright and early.  When we arrived, it wasn't long at all before the first squirrel fell to a headshot from 22 yards.  The weak pop sound from the muzzle didn't disturb the others so my son and I traded back and forth and within 5 minutes there were 3 down.

All told, the new QB went 6 for 6 and the refrigerator now has a dishpan filled with squirrel meat soaking in brine!

[Tinknocker1]

holy smokes nice job ! 

can you fill that tank with a hand pump ?

[Bicycleman]

Jason, would you consider adopting me?  I am already addicted.  And I can cook too.  LOL

Very nice bag.

[BenjiHunter]

Sweet!
Great shooting, Jason!!

[MEAT]

I cannot wait to get my hands on that incredibly versatile gun...I'm pumped! You and Christopher have put some serious meat in the freezer this year. I am so glad you blooded it for me. Will make it all the sweeter when I get in the woods and harvest with a gun made and used by my friend! I'm so lucky!

[nervoustrigger]

Tinknocker, thanks!  Yes, I've always filled my PCPs with a hand pump.  Most are 3000psi.  I'm only 145lbs; locking my arms and dropping my weight on it is no big deal, plus it connects me with the hunt.  The energy I put into storing air in the reservoir becomes energy expended on small game.

Bicycleman, well I already have a pretty big family by today's standards but I'll take you in.  I like good cooking   Really, if you find yourself up in the Hattiesburg/Laurel, MS area one weekend, let me know and we can do some shooting and maybe go for some squirrels.

Thanks, Stefan.  Good luck with the rats when the sun goes down.

Andrew, man I'm looking forward to you shooting it almost as much as you are.  It seems to be settling in a bit but I need you to really break it in.  Even downtuned, it really did a number on the squirrels yesterday.  When I was cleaning them, most of the heads felt like a lightbulb in a Crown Royal bag that had been slammed in a book.

[dk1677]

Great haul Jason!

[Tinknocker1]

Tinknocker, thanks!  Yes, I've always filled my PCPs with a hand pump.  Most are 3000psi.  I'm only 145lbs; locking my arms and dropping my weight on it is no big deal, plus it connects me with the hunt.  The energy I put into storing air in the reservoir becomes energy expended on small game.

Bicycleman, well I already have a pretty big family by today's standards but I'll take you in.  I like good cooking   Really, if you find yourself up in the Hattiesburg/Laurel, MS area one weekend, let me know and we can do some shooting and maybe go for some squirrels.

Thanks, Stefan.  Good luck with the rats when the sun goes down.

Andrew, man I'm looking forward to you shooting it almost as much as you are.  It seems to be settling in a bit but I need you to really break it in.  Even downtuned, it really did a number on the squirrels yesterday.  When I was cleaning them, most of the heads felt like a lightbulb in a Crown Royal bag that had been slammed in a book.

thanks 

[Loki_762]

How many shots are you getting out of that setup?  I like  the idea of a mid-powered .22 for pesting, and this would do the trick.
Chris

[nervoustrigger]

How many shots are you getting out of that setup?

Oh man, I really have no idea.  On my QB78, I was getting about 50 shots at 32fpe when I checked it shortly after setting it up.  If it scales linearly, I would expect 100 shots on a fill at the 15fpe level.  I shot several 5-shot groups on Friday night with Andrew's gun and when I returned inside and glanced down at the gauge, I could hardly tell it had moved.  I chuckled in disbelief.

[454 Big Block Chevy]

Today there was a MONSTER fox squirrel sitting in the tree in my back yard... my Condor is so quiet i ALMOST tried to sneak a shot at it... not sure if 57 FPE is smart for suburbia....

[smythsg]

Wow, looks like you successfully fought off an invasion. Nice shooting, both you and your son!!!

[MEAT]

You paint some vivid pictures with your words! Thanks! Yea...if people wanted squirrel brains in their scrambled eggs...they would have to find someone else to provide them! You are pretty hard on the grey matter!  Great shooting! How's your new scope working out?

[nervoustrigger]

Thanks, guys!

Edward, yeah that would be a bit much.  You didn't have a more suitable lead cannon for that fox squirrel? 

Andrew, the Simmons 6-21x44...I was thinking about using it to replace the Hawke 3-9x50 on the B51 but I got to thinking about it.  It's a pretty heavy rifle already so decided I might as well install the behemoth Sun Optics 8-32x56.  After the rain subsided, I went out and sighted it in and it's ready for the ding-donger to go off tonight!

Here's a pic:

[nervoustrigger]

Another thing I did after the rain is stalk around and scan the trees.  The .22 QB78 took one out of the hickory tree behind the shop at a steep angle from 24 yards, and then the .177 QB79 took one out of a tree at the permission down the street from 26 yards.

[cbourbeau32]

Wow! Great job.