pellets

[UKPoacher]

I have fourteen crowns in the freezer and six breast fillets. None of them are 2". And 2" isn't several inches in my book in any case.

 

A pigeon is a three dimesional object. The kill zone needs to be accessed by the most efficient means dependent on the angle experienced at the time of the shot. For birds on the ground I aim just under the arm pit when the bird is at 45 degrees. For birds in trees or when they are on the ground facing me I aim for the chest slightly either side of the centre line, i.e. to miss the sternum or breastbone. If they are high up directly above me I'll aim for the belly so the pellet travels up through the chest.

 

I've shot hundreds and a chest shot kills. Same with rabbits. They can't breathe with a hole in the chest cavity. Remember your First Aid:- ABC? Airways, breathing circulation. A hole in the chest knackers that right up, and that's before you consider a trauma of 7 - 11 ft/lb when the pellet comes to a full stop inside the quarry.

[8shot]

a rabbits head is a fair size..so cant see the point in chest shot

 

pigeons a bit differant if cant get a head shot i aim at the top of the wing

mite not kill it instanly...but gives time for the dog to get there

 

like been said already we all have differant opinions

 

regards

[FalconFN]

I had always taken head shots, or not taken a shot at all, until reading some other peoples posts. I tried aiming at the heart and I can say that chest shots do work with both rabbits and pigeons. But I think there is something to say for each - a good shot at a pigeons wing joint will drop it instantly without all the flapping and backward rolls that head shots can produce but may not kill as quickly. With rabbits I have found that a heart shot stops them, again with no backward somersault, but you end up with a large unsightly blood clot around the front legs and if you miss you can risk hitting the stomach area, especially if it's at a slight angle or the pellet ricochets off the front leg bone.

 

Both head and heart work so I think it's sensible to use both shots as and when they are needed.

[The Duncan]

For me the bottom line was made by 8shot "might not kill it instantly".

[The Duncan]

They must breed em small out your way Ukpoacher! I'll give your angle of shot on woodies a go, now there's a good description to go by. If it works for me, I'll have picked up a good tip here - I'll let you know how I get on:)

[The Duncan]

Crows? I thought we were on about woodies?

[UKPoacher]

They must breed em small out your way Ukpoacher! I'll give your angle of shot on woodies a go, now there's a good description to go by. If it works for me, I'll have picked up a good tip here - I'll let you know how I get on:)

 

No. Average size. I just don't exagerate to make a point. If you look at this skeleton you will see how a side on shot just under the 'armpit' allows the pellet to enter the chest cavity without touching the breast bone. It can, as others have noted, smash the shoulder joint and render the bird unable to fly even if it is not killed outright. Similarly, a 'vent shot' on a bird straight above you allows the pellet to travel into the chest through the diaphragm.

 

[UKPoacher]

Falcon, that unsightly blood clot you mention will wash out if you lance the skin and rub the area under cold water.

[The Duncan]

If you look at this skeleton you will see how a side on shot just under the 'armpit' allows the pellet to enter the chest cavity without touching the breast bone. It can, as others have noted, smash the shoulder joint and render the bird unable to fly even if it is not killed outright. Similarly, a 'vent shot' on a bird straight above you allows the pellet to travel into the chest through the diaphragm.

 

That is very helpful Ukpoacher, I appreciate the pic and it certainly is true that a picture paints a thousand words - I will, as mentioned, definitely give 'your' angle on Woodies a try - it may well improve my bag.

Thanks again

Duncan

[garden gun]

Overrun with corvids on Sunday. Magpies and jackdaws - splashed a magpie with a chest shot (only available point of aim against a dark tree background) RWS Superpoint does the biz again.

[hoTshoT-16]

i use napier ultima power hunters or airarms diablo field these are heavy at around 14 grain and sort out a rabbit or woodies and also the ocassional pheasant