sort me out chaps

[stroller 341]

went out yesterday and shot two young rabbits, both in the head one behind the head and one through the eye.

 

Both bunnies were sat at the entrance of different sets, both did the dance of death in fact one continued to break dance out of sight and arm reach i couldnt get to it fast enough as im a bit crippled at the moment with a knee that wont bend

 

is this normal for head shot rabbits, the eye shot rabbit appeared to be still alive and its brains were hanging out

 

has anyone had this experience i was using a prosport and its well powerful and very accurate even if it weighs more than a small elephant but thats neither here or there.

 

any advice welcomed

 

regards

Keith

[Buster321c 1,010]

Shoot em in the brain and not the eye . That`ll be between the eye and the ear . A brain shot will , 90% of the time , just drop it where it is , no problem.

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hi Stroller.

 

I have had a couple of eye shot's too.......but I was lucky, they died instantly was with a .22 15.9 gr though, what were you using mate?

 

 

 

Bill.

[Phantom 631]

I've had a couple of bunnies that have been dropped with wind drifted pellets that have gone through the eye

 

The 1st one I thought was dead, until it began kicking after being down for a good few seconds, it then got up and ran, I made it over and as I chucked my scrim at it and it dropped dead. Last one a week or so back went through the eye and damaged the brain so it couldn't run. But I had to run and finish it manually

 

I try not to shoot them at the entrance to warrens, leave them until they are a few meters/yards out. that way if they jump, there isnt much chance of them falling down out of arms reach.

 

Like Buster said, aim to put the pellet about half way between the back of the eye and the front of th ear

 

Phantom

[stroller 341]

using fx 16 grain, i think buster is correct i dont think im hitting the kill zone more down to my own ignorance but i wont have that performance again its either a kill shot or nowt.

 

ive shot hundreds of rabbits with shotguns and never had this performance. its just a very accurate skill air gunning and this has been the learning curve

[jackinbox99 41]

Phantom has it spot on, dont try and shoot them near sets.

 

Ive had a couple of "runners" in the past. Nice accurate shot, and they have somersaulted like they were in the circus, but then after laying "dead" for a few seconds the nerves have kicked in and they have run for a couple of metres before keeling over. If your near the set, their flee reaction will be to go towards it. Best of waiting for them to get a bit further away.

 

Thats the problem with an air rifle, sometimes the wind will drift the pellet off just a little bit and it wont be an instant kill through the brain.

[stroller 341]

Thanks gentlemen problem will be rectified

[Phantom 631]

using fx 16 grain, i think buster is correct i dont think im hitting the kill zone more down to my own ignorance but i wont have that performance again its either a kill shot or nowt.

 

ive shot hundreds of rabbits with shotguns and never had this performance. its just a very accurate skill air gunning and this has been the learning curve

 

 

 

Well Said my good and wise Sir

 

Phantom

[ferretville 69]

Stick to brain shots bud and you wont have runners

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

i always use to shoot rabbits behind th eye but then i realiesd after a few shots that the rabbits tended to jsut drop dead when i shot them at the bottom of the ear instead of just behind the eye where they tended to kick and strech. just a thought. also, i dotn shoot rabbits until they are at least 4yrds away from there holes so if the shot dose go off i can run over then and dispatch it.

[pest hunter 151 15]

Shoot em in the brain and not the eye . That`ll be between the eye and the ear . A brain shot will , 90% of the time , just drop it where it is , no problem.

Hi mate just wanted to say that i was reading an airgun mag and they sugest we shoot rabbits at the base of the ear were the core of the brain is it will not kick one bit , or thats what the mag says any way ive not had chance to test it

Edited April 29, 2010 by pest hunter 151

[pest hunter 151 15]

i always use to shoot rabbits behind th eye but then i realiesd after a few shots that the rabbits tended to jsut drop dead when i shot them at the bottom of the ear instead of just behind the eye where they tended to kick and strech. just a thought. also, i dotn shoot rabbits until they are at least 4yrds away from there holes so if the shot dose go off i can run over then and dispatch it.

Sorry did not read all posts befor adding mine , so yes thats what ive herd to

[JackReid 35]

I actually find that more or less 100% of the time baby rabbits will do the dance of the dead even with a spot on brain shot. Its just what they do.

 

Jack

[Marksman 934]

A post that deserves well commended!!

 

There aren't many people who would post what you have posted. You have realised something wasn't right and have acted by asking for advice and it has been given that's what makes this forum one of the best out there.

 

Nothing more to add except practice makes you better not perfect!!

 

Darryl

[venomviper 129]

hi ya darryl

i agree buddy very much keith is the lad that brought my prosport a true gent and he is just starting back into airgun hunting and fare play to keith for asking

 

shay

Edited April 30, 2010 by venomviper