Please Help with rapid bunny dispatch

[analyticalman 4]

Hi everyone,

I use my rifle (AirArms S410) in my garden only to keep rabbits (and other pests) at bay. Usually kill about 50 or so a year so I know where to aim for but I'm not any kind of a hunter (rifles never been outside ). Anyway - got a lot of rabbits around right now so I've started trying to trap them (the wire type that shuts the door behind when they step on the trigger). Caught my first one this morning and thought I'd dispatch it quick with my pistol (HW45) It didn't go well! I would have thought a single head shot would be fine but it took 3 I'm guessing the pistol being so close means the pellet doesn't deform and just goes straight through. Is there a way of doing this with easily (please no kung-fu ninja neck snapping stuff )? At the moment I'd be better off zapping it from 30 yds with the rifle! Thanks for any help

[patterdalejoel 669]

not if you wont pull its neck, that is by far the quickest and most humane method if done right.

[lost scouse 46]

just grab the bunny round the neck put the palm of your other hand under its chin and push quickly and firmly when you think its dead touch its eyeball if it does,nt blinks its dead Degsy

[Phantom 631]

Is your HW45 dual power?

I've found that for close (ie point blank) a lower power pistol will do the job, not because it deforms better (pellet deformation at sub 12 is pretty much a myth!).

I've used my HW45 (.22) to great effect at PBR I've also used a HW40 (about 2.3 ft/lbs) and I've used the odd umarex co2 pistol equally well.

One thing to remember is a shot to the brain will kill it My guess is you were unprepared (as we all were at our first) by the amount of kicking the nervous system produces even with a fatal shot?

I did the same, "feck its still kicking, feck I've wounded it, feck this aint good it's hurting best get another shot in!, then another!

Even when you pick a live rabbit up and pull its neck, and youve felt it snap, it will still kick a bit even though its dead.

 

Tony

[analyticalman 4]

Oh - OK - I was afraid of that. Sorry to sound stupid - but are you standing behind it doing that holding its neck and then pulling its head firmly back?

[The Duncan 802]

Hi everyone,

I use my rifle (AirArms S410) in my garden only to keep rabbits (and other pests) at bay. Usually kill about 50 or so a year so I know where to aim for but I'm not any kind of a hunter (rifles never been outside ). Anyway - got a lot of rabbits around right now so I've started trying to trap them (the wire type that shuts the door behind when they step on the trigger). Caught my first one this morning and thought I'd dispatch it quick with my pistol (HW45) It didn't go well! I would have thought a single head shot would be fine but it took 3 I'm guessing the pistol being so close means the pellet doesn't deform and just goes straight through. Is there a way of doing this with easily (please no kung-fu ninja neck snapping stuff )? At the moment I'd be better off zapping it from 30 yds with the rifle! Thanks for any help

Put the pellet in the breach backwards, fires like an extreme hollow point, kills quick. Obviously, if its a dual power level HW45, cock it all the way.

Cheers

 

Duncan

[analyticalman 4]

Its a dual power HW45 - .177. I don't mind em kicking - I know when they are gone (as I said - I kill about 50 a year). I just didn't seem to hit it in the right spot. The one that seemed to work was a top of the head shot.

[Baghdadnights 150]

I was just thinking the same thing phantom the nervous system does still kick for a few minutes after the brain is dead. If your still not comfortable using the pistol hands on is the best way to despatch them if your not sure how to do it put your area up I'm sure someone will show you how

Atb

Kev

[analyticalman 4]

Hi Duncan - thats a thought - I have .22 hollow points - good for squirrels - never heard of the put the pellet in backwards though - I guess it works because there is no aerodynamics to bother about

[Baghdadnights 150]

Bloody good idea that one Duncan worth giving it a try

Atb

Kev

[analyticalman 4]

THanks kev - good camo gear by the way!

[The Duncan 802]

I used em to despatch chickens (ok ok, I was a pussy and for all they were table birds we raised, they all had names, couldn't bring myself to ring their necks!).

Normal way round pellet point blank, ages to stop moving. Backwards, instant despatch. A lot of whack, putting it technically

[Phantom 631]

 

Put the pellet in the breach backwards, fires like an extreme hollow point, kills quick. Obviously, if its a dual power level HW45, cock it all the way.

Cheers

 

Duncan

 

Hi Duncan,

Sorry totally dissagree with that it will go through the brain and out the other side

At PBR, its imprtant to transfere as much shock to the brain as possible to shut it down, therefore cocking only to the lower power is less likely to over penetrate (although its still possible) but because it's travelling slower, more kinetic enegy is transfered into the surrounding brain tissue and its that that shuts down the brain.

 

The shot from the top of the head will have had further to go and so impart more shock energy to the system. The only shot that will both kill a bunny and prevent it from kicking is one that decimates the Cerabellum (to the back and lower part of the brain). Hit that and the bunny just drops, no jump, no kicking, but its a very tiny area to hit.

 

Tony

[ghillies 209]

if your too worried about knucking the head (in the hand) theres the old hang up by the back legs one hand and a sharp clunck/chop to the back of the head kneck area, failing that a desent cosh will do it..mind your hand though.

[analyticalman 4]

Just to say thanks for the very rapid help on this forum. Next time I trap one I'll give these things a try.