This is a Vital Thread!

[Hoppalong Doc]

DANMAN: I'm curious as to why you're reticent to blow the squirrel brains out? No big deal, just curious. Orv.

 

[FL22]

Yeah @Danman what Orv said…

 

[jps2486]

Too many of us poo-poo the sub 12 fpe gun's capabilities. Shot placement is key. How did the plains indians kill buffalo on horseback using a bow and arrow?

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Many arrows in quiver. Many Indians on ponies. Orv.

 

[Billm]

Got an absolute textbook kill on a squirrel this morning. Every Saturday morning I make breakfast, and with the bacon sizzling I had a quick peek out my windows for enemy activity. On my neighbors property, making its way here was a squirrel with a walnut in his mouth. I ran to the bedroom and grabbed the S510, slipped in the Hades 15.89gr pre-filled mag and slipped outside with just my socks on. The squirrel crossed the road, ran across the ditch and decided to 'plant' it in my front lawn as they often do. I sent a Hades 925ish fps, 30Y or so away. DRT while digging, not even a tail flick, Talk about caught in the act! Then I went back to tending breakfast my kids alerted me that a bird (Grackle) was attacking the dead squirrel...what a scene!
After breakfast I spent over a minute trying to find the entrance hole, and somehow it hit him in his back??
I cannot bring myself to aim for the head on squirrels, I always go for vital shots.

It probably died of a heart attack when it saw you in just your socks holding an airgun- that just doesn’t sound right!

 

[Danman]

DANMAN: I'm curious as to why you're reticent to blow the squirrel brains out? No big deal, just curious. Orv.

Well I looked up what the word 'reticent' means...now I can answer your question, lol.
My thoughts I guess go like this: If I shoot a squirrel I want it dead, preferably, of course, one (shot) and done. If I don't quite hit the vitals it will be very close and usually still anchors the squirrel or slows it down giving me time for a quick follow up if needed. If I shoot for the head and miss, its a much smaller target and I'd rather not maime them, shoot off their jaw, etc....ouch. They are always moving there heads and dont sit still for more than 2 seconds it seems and im not on a nice bench setup when im after them so this gives a greater gaurantee of a good hit.

My vitals 'theory' only applies to squirrels though, on rabbits....I always go for a brain shot. Slower moving, bigger heads, and wont spoil the meat if its a good eating rabbit. (Just cant bring myself to eat squirrel).

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

Well I looked up what the word 'reticent' means...now I can answer your question, lol.
My thoughts I guess go like this: If I shoot a squirrel I want it dead, preferably, of course, one (shot) and done. If I don't quite hit the vitals it will be very close and usually still anchors the squirrel or slows it down giving me time for a quick follow up if needed. If I shoot for the head and miss, its a much smaller target and I'd rather not maime them, shoot off their jaw, etc....ouch. They are always moving there heads and dont sit still for more than 2 seconds it seems and im not on a nice bench setup when im after them so this gives a greater gaurantee of a good hit.

My vitals 'theory' only applies to squirrels though, on rabbits....I always go for a brain shot. Slower moving, bigger heads, and wont spoil the meat if its a good eating rabbit. (Just cant bring myself to eat squirrel).

DANMAN: Please know that I was just having fun with you. I apologize for big words . . . my motther was an English teacher. My dad was a history professor. I was a Navy guy. Orv.

 

[Danman]

It probably died of a heart attack when it saw you in just your socks holding an airgun- that just doesn’t sound right!

I still dont get my shot placement on this squirrel! My front deck is about 2 feet off the ground, squirrel was in lawn 30Y ish away digging a hole to plant the walnut and I shot at him from the side, it seemed like the (Hades) pellet caught his back and curved down into the vitals!? He just collapsed into the lawn....quickest heart attack ever, never did find an exit wound.

 

[Danman]

DANMAN: Please know that I was just having fun with you. I apologize for big words . . . my motther was an English teacher. My dad was a history professor. I was a Navy guy. Orv.

I love to learn new things...words included! Then I can use them out in conversations and confuse others as well
Loved History in school ....English, not so much.

 

[Hoppalong Doc]

I love to learn new things...words included! Then I can use them out in conversations and confuse others as well
Loved History in school ....English, not so much.

Me neither, after my time in the Navy, was a bus driver for Trailways. I did put my wife through 7 years of college. My oldest son has a PHD, my youngest, a masters. I paid for a lot of educations, just never finished myself. Orv.

 

[Billm]

Me neither, after my time in the Navy, was a bus driver for Trailways. I did put my wife through 7 years of college. My oldest son has a PHD, my youngest, a masters. I paid for a lot of educations, just never finished myself. Orv.

Time spent in the Navy, is an education in and of itself. It always surprises me how many airgunners have Navy time.
Fly Navy!