Rabbits Running in circles when shot

[halamrose 24]

Hi Guys,

1st post here but I've been lurking for a while.

 

I use a S200 in 22 using superdomes and have had a number of cases where the head shot rabbits run in circles, left hand ones think. Sometimes the circles are small or the rabbit stops for a few seconds then goes again. Sometime the circles quite large with the rabbit disappearing into the crops but then coming out again running towards me. One I shot 2 or 3 more times, taking my time to get good shots and it then ran off. Another two I was able to catch by hand and Finnish them off manually.

 

So what's gong on? Am I not hitting them hard enough? Need to get gun checked? First signs of mixi?

 

I do get plenty which go down cleanly.

 

Cheers

 

Halam

[garfield 23]

not trying to sound patronising but it sounds like you need more target practise so you can be sure of a clean head shot every time, cos that sounds like your wounding them

[stealthy1 3,964]

Some rabbits are just like that, they have a bigger urge to make it to the safety of cover, its something they learn from adults, when in danger, they make for cover, and nothings more of a danger than being hit in the head with lead, so even when dead they still have an urge to get them selves safe, and thats what the kicking is about

[Buster321c 1,010]

You need to hit em in the right place . If you`ve shot a rabbit 2-3 MORE times and its still running , you should know that your not hitting the mark . Untill your 100% you can hit a your target , you should`nt even be looking for rabbits . You say this has happend a number of time , it should have only happend once before you STOPPED . There is no excuse for continually shooting live and leaving it to die , a kill should be clean and precise . PRACTISE , PRACTISE , PRACTISE , thats the only thing you should be doing .

[halamrose 24]

My Yph just read this and said she agrees, I have the first signs of myxi!

 

Thanks for getting back to me

 

No offence taken Garfield, I think I know what I can an can not do. Typically when I recover the rabbit they look like good shot placement and blood coming out of the opposite ear. I do aim between eye and ear and will be trying the base of ear.

 

Cheers,

 

H

[fry 209]

havin a bad reply day sorry cant delete this

Edited August 28, 2010 by fry

[Malt 379]

I'd like to know how your managing to get the second and third shot into the rabbit if it's running in circles.

 

From what you are saying it sounds like you're critically injuring the rabbit without killing it outright. Put your gun down, walk up to the rabbit and dispatch it humanely by pulling it's neck. If you don't know how to humanely dispatch a rabbit without shooting it, perhaps you shouldn't be shooting at it in the first place...

 

PS, brush up on your target practice, or reduce your range a little.

[fry 209]

my air arms did not like super domes one bit very erattic grouping not as hard hitting as aa fields. i have had one run a good 20-30 yards after i heard the pellet thwack then just roll over dead,when i got it it was a head shot. try aa feilds

Hi Guys,

1st post here but I've been lurking for a while.

 

I use a S200 in 22 using superdomes and have had a number of cases where the head shot rabbits run in circles, left hand ones think. Sometimes the circles are small or the rabbit stops for a few seconds then goes again. Sometime the circles quite large with the rabbit disappearing into the crops but then coming out again running towards me. One I shot 2 or 3 more times, taking my time to get good shots and it then ran off. Another two I was able to catch by hand and Finnish them off manually.

 

So what's gong on? Am I not hitting them hard enough? Need to get gun checked? First signs of mixi?

 

I do get plenty which go down cleanly.

my air arms did not like super domes one bit very erattic grouping not as hard hitting as aa fields. i have had one run a good 20-30 yards after i heard the pellet thwack then just roll over dead,when i got it it was a head shot. try aa feilds

 

Cheers

 

Halam

[philjw 0]

you would run in circles if you had a lump of lead in your butt. its only nerves, good hunting

[garfield 23]

sorry but you said you had to shoot it 2-3 times and it was "running round" not twitching so it reads to me and to others like you dont know what your doing

[halamrose 24]

Since there is no point in asking for advice then not taking it I spent some time shooting targets today.

 

My standard practice distance is 30yds which I repeated and the groups were OK considering the blustery wind. I changed range to 25Yds and was supprised by how high the group hit.

 

So in the falling light and less wind this evening I rezeroed at 25Yds (down 8 clicks and left 2clicks) shot good groups at 25 yds and about an inch of drop at 30 yds.

 

I went back to the set of targets I first worked out my drops on and the 25 and 30 yd groups were pretty much on the same zero, though I shoot better groups these days. My yardage today was measured with a JSR laser range finder so I guess more accurate than how I ranged the old set of targets = though I don't clearly remember if I measured or paced them.

 

So my problem may have been I was shooting low because I changed the way I measured distance = but of course I'm feeling foolish for not practising at different ranges regularly which would have reviled the error sooner.

 

Thanks for the input chaps.

 

Halam

Edited August 28, 2010 by halamrose

[hunter1989 91]

h pal

 

the rabbits run incircles cause there bored of running in squares lol

 

as above spot on pal

[stealthy1 3,964]

Since there is no point in asking for advice then not taking it I spent some time shooting targets today.

 

My standard practice distance is 30yds which I repeated and the groups were OK considering the blustery wind. I changed range to 25Yds and was supprised by how high the group hit.

 

So in the falling light and less wind this evening I rezeroed at 25Yds (down 8 clicks and left 2clicks) shot good groups at 25 yds and about an inch of drop at 30 yds.

 

I went back to the set of targets I first worked out my drops on and the 25 and 30 yd groups were pretty much on the same zero, though I shoot better groups these days. My yardage today was measured with a JSR laser range finder so I guess more accurate than how I ranged the old set of targets = though I don't clearly remember if I measured or paced them.

 

So my problem may have been I was shooting low because I changed the way I measured distance = but of course I'm feeling foolish for not practising at different ranges regularly which would have reviled the error sooner.

 

Thanks for the input chaps.

 

Halam

 

 

Dont take it to hard mate, there's always the odd stray shot, and anyone who says different is a liar, so dont lose heart, targets will make you 99% perfect

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Its happens to me plenty, and I know why, its a head shot gone slightly wrong! Damaged the edge of the brain but not through the brain.

 

The way you have made out, is that your shooting them in the head, right through the brain between the ears and its still on its legs doing circles, basically mate thats impossible, and putting it down to mixy is laughable!

[stealthy1 3,964]

Its a messy business