Author Topic: Dove at 30 yards? (Read 5347 times))

Subway · « **on:** June 23, 2015, 04:02:42 PM »

I have a vantage 1200 .177 that I've been using on starlings.
I took s few shots at some collared doves I have dropped feathers on 2 but the both flew. Is a 7.8 too lite for doves with this rifle at 30 yards ? Or is it me?

Monkeydad1969 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2015, 04:32:56 PM »

I've taken Collared doves with .177. But I went for the head. If you can, try to hit them in the neck or spine. That will anchor them real quick. My advise is to look up their anatomy so you know exactly where to aim.

Joe

nervoustrigger · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2015, 07:52:32 PM »

Agreesd, head or neck is best if you can manage the accuracy required. Otherwise you want to hit high on the torso for the heart and lungs. If you superimpose a mammal's killzone onto a bird, you hit the flight muscles instead and you have an injured but flightworthy bird.

Motorhead · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2015, 07:57:59 PM »

Dove are pretty fragile ... if you hit there body mass generally they fall.
There feathers are SOOOOOOO easy to dislodge that a shot threw them without hitting flesh makes you think you connected when you actually missed

If guns accurate enough indeed "Try" to get on there head / neck.

Whatsquirrel · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2015, 08:05:26 PM »

Head or neck only with a .177. I've nailed plenty with my Umarex Fusion & It only shoots 9fpe. But shoots a ragged hole at 35yrds.

AlanB · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2015, 09:17:37 PM »

I have popped about about half dozen last month - Half got up and flew- went to .25 and have not had one get up since- if they got hit at all...they are tough bird- not to eat - but tough to kill head shot or neck base other wise <<<50/50 it will go down fast- .25 center of breast did so far every time. I can see the 177 hit, some times roll the the bird and bam he got up a took off- 22- 25 for those guys

OR head shot- hard to do, they don't still too long after they see me pull out the at44

Subway · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2015, 11:55:34 PM »

Thanks what's a good cheaper gun in the states?
I want to up to a .22 but don't know what to get.
also can birds dodge shot based on sound? I dropped 11 starlings in one day changed from the red fires to the destroyer ex and the destroyer is more accurate but I couldn't hit the birds. I can group fine on paper tho? I think they can hear it as it flys

AlanB · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2015, 01:13:09 AM »

at44 in .22- done set- and I have seen them down around $350 with Synthetic stock (plastic) on certain sites and at $409 with wood _NEW ---not re-furb get the LDC from a 2nd source - the QE is cool but I like my Baxter LDC very much.

I know this will start a war BUT- I had the 22 Disco , it's light , yes but No where near the knock down of the at44-

.22 makes it easy to get pellets but 25 drop birds, rabbits, cats, dogs, squirrels even small cars right where you shot them... Now for Sparrow it might be over kill-

wish I had started with the at44- Love those side cockers...smooth trigger too compare with the the Crosman stuff- OUT OF BOX no tuning or anything.

Tater · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2015, 01:59:54 AM »

Quote from: AlanB on June 24, 2015, 01:13:09 AM

even small cars right where you shot them...

AlanB · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2015, 02:14:00 AM »

meant as joke--
BUT these small cars ( smart cars- fiat 500 etc) I think the .25 could stop one- Just put it in the right spot

just a wink at how much power the .25 has, the .30 could do MORE--mid size car maybe---

Bullit · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2015, 05:18:33 PM »

Quote from: Subway on June 23, 2015, 04:02:42 PM

I have a vantage 1200 .177 that I've been using on starlings.
I took s few shots at some collared doves I have dropped feathers on 2 but the both flew. Is a 7.8 too lite for doves with this rifle at 30 yards ? Or is it me?

You have plenty of rifle and pellet to take a dove at 30 yards. You have plenty of power, to make either the head shot or the vitals shot. It is not the fault of the pellet or the power that the rifle puts out of the muzzle. Follow the bird after you hit it...and you may find that it only flys for 40-50 yards and then dies. Doves aren't strong birds.
EDIT: This is assuming you hit them in the head/neck, or the vital organs you aim at. "Feather are feathers".

LDP · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2015, 05:48:21 PM »

Quote from: Bullit on June 24, 2015, 05:18:33 PM

Quote from: Subway on June 23, 2015, 04:02:42 PM
I have a vantage 1200 .177 that I've been using on starlings.
I took s few shots at some collared doves I have dropped feathers on 2 but the both flew. Is a 7.8 too lite for doves with this rifle at 30 yards ? Or is it me?
You have plenty of rifle and pellet to take a dove at 30 yards. You have plenty of power, to make either the head shot or the vitals shot. It is not the fault of the pellet or the power that the rifle puts out of the muzzle. Follow the bird after you hit it...and you may find that it only flys for 40-50 yards and then dies. Doves aren't strong birds.
EDIT: This is assuming you hit them in the head/neck, or the vital organs you aim at. "Feather are feathers".

+1. You dont need a .25 for doves in fact a .177 putting out 18-20 fpe at the muzzle will cleanly kill doves out to 100 yds with correct shot placement. The fly offs are bad hits and not a solid vitals hit. If you doubt that go watch Matt Dubber from SA. He has multiple videos that show him cleanly taking dove and pigeon out to 100 yds and even further with his Air Arms .177. Correct shot placement is key and should be what we strive for and not substituting it with over power.

pllagunos · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2015, 07:09:31 PM »

I easily have shot more than 100 doves (white winged doves) with my crosman phantom .177 (similar to your vantage 1200) at the moment it lacks power and I am looking to tune it and add a new spring, but in the first year or so it was perfect for doves out to 25 yards but I liked to get as near as possible and aim for the upper body and neck, I don't like a headshot that much, they are efficient but more difficult to do and is not as pleasing to see a dove fall like a rock than to see it flap and move like crazy (obviously the headshot does kill the bird instantly).

All of this was 2 years ago, but then one year ago I entered the dark side with an AT44W-10 and having those 30 ft/lbs is amazing, if you don't afford/want one, look at other spring powered .22s the Hatsan 95 and RWS 34 are really good options out to 40 yards or so.

AlanB · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2015, 01:09:15 PM »

man I need glasses - newer ones- I read the post as "80" yards not 30.....
since I have been shooting game with air guns I have not had a shot as close as 30 yards ever on the Euro-Asian colored dove we have around here.
these birds 'see you' at 100 yards and start flying- the few I have jumped up close where still past the 30 yards- they are smart birds and don;t give much time to line up a head shot at any distance
the native Dove are not so skiddish, they will watch me, just sit there let me walk past them some time, maybe jump or not and back to feeding-'

Oscar M. · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2015, 10:56:33 AM »

Head shots are low percentage shots. I shoot for the breast and may break a wing with the hit. I had a higher percentage fly offs using the .177 cal.. When I went to the .22 cal. the fly off percent went down. Yes, agreed some hits are not well centered in the body. But the guns don't stay zeroed well either. Both will easily shoot thru a collard dove but the .22 delivers a larger hole with more damage. As mentioned, watch where the doves flies off to and using binoculars watch and wait. Then follow it up. For more satisfaction, I trained my dog to followup with me to smell them out and retrieve the birds. This cuts down further on the losses. Now I just walk to the area where I last sighted the bird and the dog does the rest.
It's great having a hunting partner. OM

Oscar M. · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2015, 11:03:19 AM »

I do all my shooting with open sights and keep the shots to around 35 yards. With an occasional shot at 40. 50 yard shots are too difficult to pull off. A spine hit puts them down on the spot. A wing shot my dog enjoys. Good shooting, OM

anuthabubba · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2015, 12:46:32 PM »

"an old British (12fpe limit) airgunner maxim says .22 for Fur and .177 for Feather." The idea is that .177 penetrates the armor/feathers better.

anuthabubba · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2015, 03:11:43 PM »

Quote from: Oscar M. on June 28, 2015, 11:03:19 AM

I do all my shooting with open sights and keep the shots to around 35 yards. With an occasional shot at 40. 50 yard shots are too difficult to pull off. A spine hit puts them down on the spot. A wing shot my dog enjoys. Good shooting, OM

Ditto, Oscar M! But have done and will do a 50 yarder, immediately after a few practice shots at the same laser-ranged distance.

Oscar M. · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2015, 09:33:20 PM »

You mean now I must get a laser range finder? My Kentucky wind-age has become outdated... I did do a 50 yard shot on a calm day, hitting a 12oz. Coke can with open sights. Just not on a collard dove.OM

anuthabubba · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2015, 12:59:31 AM »

Quote from: Oscar M. on June 28, 2015, 09:33:20 PM

You mean now I must get a laser range finder? My Kentucky wind-age has become outdated... I did do a 50 yard shot on a calm day, hitting a 12oz. Coke can with open sights. Just not on a collard dove.OM

The ranger helps. Have made single headshot kills on nutria at 50 yards with vintage Sheridans and open sights. More than once. Yes it requires a bit of holdover.

Thank you to our advertisers!

Dove at 30 yards?

Author Topic: Dove at 30 yards? (Read 5347 times))