Subsonic .22 and jumping rabbits

[subwoofer 13]

I can't work out if it is something about my setup (Ruger 10/22, SAK moderator, Subsonic HP ammo) or about my choice of shot placement, or if it is simply what they always do, but when I hit a rabbit with a head shot, more often than not, as I hear the shot strike, the rabbit does a big jump so that it spins over and then lands flat on its back stone dead. The other times they either simply slump, or are knocked sideways off their feet, but more often than not it is 'Boing...flop'.

 

I am guessing that with shotgun, the multiple pellet strike results in a more massive trauma knocking the rabbit over before its nervous system reacts and it is not always a wound to the head being the lethal one, whereas with the precise shot placement of .22 quickly destroys the brain, possibly passing straight through without imparting much inertia, and then the highly tuned nervous system 'twitches' making the rabbits back legs kick violently. Or is it the trauma directly to the nervous system that causes the back-flip?

 

Does anyone else have a better explanation for this, or is it something I am doing?

[cyclonebri1 8]

I can't work out if it is something about my setup (Ruger 10/22, SAK moderator, Subsonic HP ammo) or about my choice of shot placement, or if it is simply what they always do, but when I hit a rabbit with a head shot, more often than not, as I hear the shot strike, the rabbit does a big jump so that it spins over and then lands flat on its back stone dead. The other times they either simply slump, or are knocked sideways off their feet, but more often than not it is 'Boing...flop'.

 

I am guessing that with shotgun, the multiple pellet strike results in a more massive trauma knocking the rabbit over before its nervous system reacts and it is not always a wound to the head being the lethal one, whereas with the precise shot placement of .22 quickly destroys the brain, possibly passing straight through without imparting much inertia, and then the highly tuned nervous system 'twitches' making the rabbits back legs kick violently. Or is it the trauma directly to the nervous system that causes the back-flip?

 

Does anyone else have a better explanation for this, or is it something I am doing?

 

 

I think you have it right.

 

IMHO head shot rabbits kick/flick and turn, heart shot ones are dead before you drop the scope. ???????????????

[Colster 1]

I find young rabbits particularly prone to this, they can flip and twitch for ages. So much so I have on occasion ran up to finish them off only to find half it's head missing or blood pouring out of the ear.

 

They're dead, it's just the nerves and muscles don't know it yet.

[inan 841]

I can't work out if it is something about my setup (Ruger 10/22, SAK moderator, Subsonic HP ammo) or about my choice of shot placement, or if it is simply what they always do, but when I hit a rabbit with a head shot, more often than not, as I hear the shot strike, the rabbit does a big jump so that it spins over and then lands flat on its back stone dead. The other times they either simply slump, or are knocked sideways off their feet, but more often than not it is 'Boing...flop'.

 

I am guessing that with shotgun, the multiple pellet strike results in a more massive trauma knocking the rabbit over before its nervous system reacts and it is not always a wound to the head being the lethal one, whereas with the precise shot placement of .22 quickly destroys the brain, possibly passing straight through without imparting much inertia, and then the highly tuned nervous system 'twitches' making the rabbits back legs kick violently. Or is it the trauma directly to the nervous system that causes the back-flip?

 

Does anyone else have a better explanation for this, or is it something I am doing?

Magwitch and I often have this ,we take head shots ,but even with both eyes hanging out like joke glasses ,shot right through the brain, they have done reverse somersaults,and often been twitching with nerves when either of us goes to pick up.

[The one 8,479]

I think its the rush of adrenalin when the bullet hits that sets them off brake dancing

[slyfox 0]

Its common brain dead but the hearts not

[nod 285]

Its common brain dead but the hearts not

 

on the button here, when a head shot is taken the heart is still pumping blood round the body cause the brain hasnt told it not too, so all the muscles kick out at once, but when a heart shot is taken it cant pump any blood round so down it goes without aa twitch

[salukiwhippet 6]

In my experience, alert animals react to shot more than relaxed ones - heartshot deer who are ready to bolt tend to run before dropping, whereas if you shoot them from a seat or similar and they don't know you're there they tend to go down on the spot.

 

Same with bunnies, if they're on alert they flip and flop but if they're relaxed they just flop over. I assume little ones are always on alert cos they're so vulnerable.

 

My theory anyway!

 

James

[Deker 3,478]

There will be a medical explanation but as you scramble the brain erroneous signals of "flight" seem to get sent out randomly!

[stillair1 16]

Just nerves, if you want them to just flop then a shot to the back of the head between the ears tends to stop any movement as it parts the brain between the spinal cord.

[Urban Fox Control London 8]

You may find that they are pumped up with adrenaline buzzing through their bodies.

 

Although they are clinically dead, there will still be muscle twitching going on, especially with the younger ones.

[gav2907 0]

i had a very strange one tonight. i spotted a rabbit sat next to its burrow about 50/60 yds away, lined its head up in my scopes on my .17hmr and shot.

it dropped straight away so i walked up to get it but couldn't find it. i thought at first i somehow missed it even though it dropped down, looking closer infront of the burrow i noticed what appeared to be brains and a large blood trail leading inside. i dont know how but somehow it managed to get into the burrow with what must have been most of its head missing. i dont like not knowing something might be injured but this im sure must have died pretty much instantly as im sure your all aware the .17 leaves a rather large hole in whatever it hits! really cudnt work this one out. if it was a body shot i could have understood how it might have crawled into the burrow.

[Colster 1]

i had a very strange one tonight. i spotted a rabbit sat next to its burrow about 50/60 yds away, lined its head up in my scopes on my .17hmr and shot.

it dropped straight away so i walked up to get it but couldn't find it. i thought at first i somehow missed it even though it dropped down, looking closer infront of the burrow i noticed what appeared to be brains and a large blood trail leading inside. i dont know how but somehow it managed to get into the burrow with what must have been most of its head missing. i dont like not knowing something might be injured but this im sure must have died pretty much instantly as im sure your all aware the .17 leaves a rather large hole in whatever it hits! really cudnt work this one out. if it was a body shot i could have understood how it might have crawled into the burrow.

 

Seen this a few times, hit them when they're on the burrow and the kicking will drive them down the hole. Stick your arm down next time, you'll probably find it didn't make it far and you can pull it out.

[gav2907 0]

good thinking, i had a look in the hole but couldnt see very far into it. i'l stick my arm in next time. cheers.

[inan 841]

You may find that they are pumped up with adrenaline buzzing through their bodies.

 

Although they are clinically dead, there will still be muscle twitching going on, especially with the younger ones.

Exactly, we have had them suddenly start to "break dance", in the back of my Terrano .Magwitch had one jump over the front once!