Pigeon Popper Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 (edited) OK, I know that all species that are hunted with air rifles have varying sizes of 'kill-zones'. But as a general rule what diameter of circle does one have to be able to consistently hit in order to be proficient enough for hunting? :unsure: EDIT: The answers are varying quite a bit already, so I thought I'd add a poll to make it easier for me to get your opinions. Edited February 12, 2011 by Pigeon Popper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Roughly the size of a 10 pence piece, assuming you are aiming at the brain. Smaller for a pigeon's brain but heart lung shots for them as they are easier to hit than a moving head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoTshoT-16 Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 1/2" groups at your maximum hunting range like 40yds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratsmasher Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 theres no point in spending ages getting good enough to hit a pigeon head size target at forty yards if you expect to be shooting at fifteen The main thing is being able to restrain yourself and be able to think "thats too far" even if you cant get any closer. Another thing to bear in mind is that if you have a tree handy you can shoot very steadily at longer ranges. If I were you I would personally get an idea of your capabilities and then get out there as much as you can, you will learn more about your quarry and get good at stalking. Obviously the more practice the better but as long as you are prepared to miss a chance at a kill over taking an irresponsible shot then you will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Pound coin sized group at whichever range you want to hunt at IMO. Obviously a group is no good if the first shot doesn't hit the mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Whilst actually being able to handle your rifle of choice on a range, and get decent groups at known distances is good, it is a long way removed from field work. Quarry seldom presents at your zero distance, and you have to make snap judgments, and the grey mist is always nagging in the background. Generally you get one shot and one chance, and at night range estimation goes out the window! It's commonly cold and damp or windy, you are uncomfortable, it's NEVER just right, it's always too hot or cold or wet or humid or windy or frosty or or or or....and you can never find the right support for the shot when you need it, and that dip in the field is just too much, or the crop too high for the bipod. And there is the issue few discuss, I have a pal, who I hate to admit is better than me on the range (only just mind you), but put a bunny 20 yards in front of him and he will miss 9 out of 10 times! Because it is alive,it gets easier, but some just can't do it, nothing to be ashamed of! If you can handle the gun there is no substitute for field experience! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Whilst actually being able to handle your rifle of choice on a range, and get decent groups at known distances is good, it is a long way removed from field work. Quarry seldom presents at your zero distance, and you have to make snap judgments, and the grey mist is always nagging in the background. Generally you get one shot and one chance, and at night range estimation goes out the window! It's commonly cold and damp or windy, you are uncomfortable, it's NEVER just right, it's always too hot or cold or wet or humid or windy or frosty or or or or....and you can never find the right support for the shot when you need it, and that dip in the field is just too much, or the crop too high for the bipod. And there is the issue few discuss, I have a pal, who I hate to admit is better than me on the range (only just mind you), but put a bunny 20 yards in front of him and he will miss 9 out of 10 times! Because it is alive,it gets easier, but some just can't do it, nothing to be ashamed of! If you can handle the gun there is no substitute for field experience! ATB! Can't argue with that Dekers. I find that the thing I really like about hunting over Field Target, is that in hunting you can just choose not to take the shot and it costs you nothing. I only squeeze the trigger when my head and gut agree that the pellet will strike true and the quarry will have a humane 'switch-off'. Put the safety back on and you've lost no points ATB Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 hunting is not about groups - you will only get 1 shot . make it count !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 What size group? near total irrelivence as you only fire one shot hunting, if that one shot isn't in the right spot in makes no matter if you can do 1/4" groups. The skill in making just that one shot is as follows Judge the range and its correlation to your trajectory on elivation Judge the wind if any and adjust your aim to suit Be honest about your abilities from the stance you must take Know were to achieve the best cleanest kill with the quarry A far better test of if your up to the actual shot is to get a friend to place some extra strong mints in various locations then show you each one (unranged unwinded) from various stances fire only one shot at each and learn to recognise which you only have some chance of hitting and ignoor them. when you can do this 100% your ready as regards the trigger work- But as Dakers said its different when you get on live quarry. More practice should be one shot, the guy who can call that one single shot from various stances and knows were to put it is the hunter the one who fires a couple to get on then puts in bug hole little groups is a target shooter So what size groups? single hole only from the one shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratsmasher Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) We all have brain dead moments but this takes it to a whole new level of course your not going to fire three shots at your rabbit, but the point about groupings is that it is a measure of how good a shot you are. who is a better shot someone who hits their first shot of five on the bull, but then ends up with a 2" group or someone who misses their first shot but then gets a really tight group on the next four? !!! its irresponsible to think that just because you can hit your first shot within the kill zone you are able to hunt humainly regardless of where you hit your next shots, the tighter the group the better because then you know where you are capable of consistently taking accurate safe humain shots Edited February 13, 2011 by Ratsmasher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deputy dog Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) Whilst actually being able to handle your rifle of choice on a range, and get decent groups at known distances is good, it is a long way removed from field work. Quarry seldom presents at your zero distance, and you have to make snap judgments, and the grey mist is always nagging in the background. Generally you get one shot and one chance, and at night range estimation goes out the window! It's commonly cold and damp or windy, you are uncomfortable, it's NEVER just right, it's always too hot or cold or wet or humid or windy or frosty or or or or....and you can never find the right support for the shot when you need it, and that dip in the field is just too much, or the crop too high for the bipod. And there is the issue few discuss, I have a pal, who I hate to admit is better than me on the range (only just mind you), but put a bunny 20 yards in front of him and he will miss 9 out of 10 times! Because it is alive,it gets easier, but some just can't do it, nothing to be ashamed of! If you can handle the gun there is no substitute for field experience! ATB! I couldn't have put it better myself mate. After 20years shooting i'm still learning myself. Never any better substitute for shooting then field experience. Pretty much bang one with your post mate. Edited February 13, 2011 by deputy dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Popper Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 We all have brain dead moments but this takes it to a whole new level of course your not going to fire three shots at your rabbit, but the point about groupings is that it is a measure of how good a shot you are. who is a better shot someone who hits their first shot of five on the bull, but then ends up with a 2" group or someone who misses their first shot but then gets a really tight group on the next four? !!! its irresponsible to think that just because you can hit your first shot within the kill zone you are able to hunt humainly regardless of where you hit your next shots, the tighter the group the better because then you know where you are capable of consistently taking accurate safe humain shots Ratsmasher mate, I think you've got me all wrong. The whole purpose of this thread was to give me a good idea of the degree of accuracy I would have to obtain before I could even think about hunting! Once my groupings are tight enough, I intend to convince someone with a lot of experience to show me the ropes on the field. The practice before hand will hopefully make the whole process less frustrating for them! The last thing I want to do is cause any animal unnecessary pain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit.slayer.no.1 Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) well set up a target at the distence you feel you will be shooting in the feild i.e 25yrd 35yrds . set up your rifle to be scoped at that distence and just go for it , practice. try standing shots then try prown ones also try moving to the left abit and right . and where you can hit that target every time from what ever place you are you are ready to take it to the feild for some real hunting with rats the target is a 5p size target as with rats bunnys a little bigger say a ten pence . but always go for the clean head shot just behind the eye. and dont just think that since you have hit the target every time in the barn that you will in the feild as you need to work out wind and distence also your feild craft will need to work or your prey will see you coming and be off before you get close anuff to get a shot off. like people above have said years to practice and they are still learning dont expect to just pick it up and be the best hunter going in 3 weeks . Edited February 13, 2011 by rabbit.slayer.no.1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pabs Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) Actually PP, I think you'll find Smasher was backing you up! Yes, getting good consistant tight groupings will start to tell you if you have mastered you rifle. Don't even think about taking it to the field until you can group tightly. Then start on differently placed targets at different ranges. If you have a laser rangefinder, use it! Its what its for. Knowing the EXACT distance of your quarry will greatly lessen the chances of a miss/maiming. If you don't have one, set up a bunny sized target at 10-20-30 etc yrds and then map your scope at your preferred magnification. Ie- rabbit covering 3 mil dots at x10 mag = 40yrds distance, covering 3.5 mils = 30yrds etc. Then start to learn your holdover/under at the different distances. Lots to learn apart from shooting a good group at a static, fixed range target before you go try and kill stuff. Edited February 13, 2011 by pabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deputy dog Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Pigeon popper i think your taking the right attitude towards hunting with a rifle. Get your practice in at targets about 20 yards away then move up tp about 40yrds as an when you feel youy can hit the same spot or there abouts with every shot. I can see you point about getting out in the field with an experienced hunter to show you the ropes as you said. And in a way thats all very good, though iv always believed you learn from your own mistakes when out stalking rabbits or pigeons. Iv had 20years experience under my belt and i'm still learning now. But be prepared for the adrenalin rush through your body when it comes the time for you to shoot your first bit of live quarry. I certainly had it an many of my fellow shooters have an still have after many years. Oh an it may sound a little daft, but practice your breathing to steady your shooting. As a beginner your heart will beat like mad on times when your about to take a shot. Practicing breathing controls your heart rate so you can shoot more consistantly out in the field. Hope you enjoy your shooting as much as we do mate an welcome aboard. Let us know how you get on inn the future. ATB DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Popper Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks everyone for your kind words and prudent advice. I had a talk with some of my friends I shot with as a cadet, they said that the best gun club near me they knew was Croydon Rifle & Pistol Club. I'm going to send them an application for membership when I'm 18 (April 17th.) In the mean time I am eager to find someone in my area (South West of London,) who's willing to take me under their wing and introduce me to your sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratsmasher Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) Ratsmasher mate, I think you've got me all wrong. The whole purpose of this thread was to give me a good idea of the degree of accuracy I would have to obtain before I could even think about hunting! Once my groupings are tight enough, I intend to convince someone with a lot of experience to show me the ropes on the field. The practice before hand will hopefully make the whole process less frustrating for them! The last thing I want to do is cause any animal unnecessary pain... No no i was refering to kents post ( sorry should hav quoted) It just seemed that what Kent was saying (not having a go) was misleading and could picture a begginer having a misunderstanding. What I was trying to get across is that groupings are important and a single shot isnt a grouping as you dont know that that wasnt a one off lucky hit but having said that there is no hard and fast rule as to how accurate you need to be because hunting always presents different shots in all honesty what you need to do is have a go at range shooting to get an idea of your trajectory and so that your confident. Once you are confident then get out hunting as much as you can because you will learn a lot more whilst hunting then on the range as long as you know the basic trajectories and ranges Edited February 15, 2011 by Ratsmasher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.