dan-250 Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Hi there guys been out with my air rifle today. I always generally aim an shoot at the head of the pigeon but is that really the best place ? Here goes I've had 4 today, and all flapped and thrashed about, tested my gun (aas410 classic) it's running 11.6 with Aa fields. Inspected the birds all good head shots from only about 20yrds so in plenty of range, 1 even went in 1 side of the head and out through just behind it's eye yet still a flapper. They just never seem to drop on the spot ! What am I doing wrong ? Or is there a better spot to shoot them ? Or are they dead and just nerves ? I don't like to have to give them a second shot or have to run over to them. Just want a nice clean kill no flapping no hassle. Cheers for any info dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.I.A Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 They will be dead alrite, i have had a few do some pretty impressive moves once they have had half there head removed. Usually do a backwards cartwheel lol at the longer ranges i go for chest shots, drops them stop dead everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Hi Dan, you're obviously a good shot, hitting the head of a pigeon consistantly like that I'd suggest just aim slightly lower, at the neck. This drops them without all the flapping you get from a headshot, which is quite usual. I've had them fly some distance with headshots, .177 and .22 sub 12fpe. Anywhere between the head and crop is a good aim point atb Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ550Kevlar Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 It`s a nerve reflex thing, there will still be residual nerve impulses flying about the bird and these just make the bird lose control so to speak. Even if you used a FAC rifle you get the same thing whether it be with birds or rabbits. I get the same thing when out shooting rabbits with a .17hmr, you know you hit them in the head but they still thrash about, un-nerving i know but not alot can be done about it, it`s good that you were willing to ask the question on here just to be sure and get the blanks filled in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I always aim at the chest of a pigeon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexterboyz Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 sounds like ur a good shot and i would not change ur stratergy! head shot r always the best!! wot ur experiencing is called the annimation, although the animal has been killed the prob is that the pellet has severed the nerves causing the brain to send out all different instructions to the body ie flap ur wings and kick ur legs! this is a sign of a good shot m8! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyshooter Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 On woodies a head shot is best,if side on under the wing folds , or if the woodie has its back to you between its shoulder blades all these shots i find flattens them, mind you i use a fac .177 at 22fpe amd bis pest control pellets these really stops them. atb brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 if you can get a head shot go for a head shot , better to have one flapping about with nerves than walking about wounded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I try to head shoot with 11-lb but miss a few though With my ranger running at 40lb chest shot stops them dead and it makes a bigger target for my old eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan-250 Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I'll stick with what I am doing then, it's just when others see them flapping they don't think I do it quick as possible. I have tried telling my brother it's dead and nerves before but he never believed me. If I can't get it's head an it's face away in between shoulder blades drop them but if I can't do that I generally leave them. Oh and it's .22 so it makes a big enough hit I'd of thought to drop them or is it over penetrating , anyone no why they seem to drop better at say 30-35 yrds ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonstew Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 (edited) I'll stick with what I am doing then, it's just when others see them flapping they don't think I do it quick as possible. I have tried telling my brother it's dead and nerves before but he never believed me. If I can't get it's head an it's face away in between shoulder blades drop them but if I can't do that I generally leave them. Oh and it's .22 so it makes a big enough hit I'd of thought to drop them or is it over penetrating , anyone no why they seem to drop better at say 30-35 yrds ? your hitting them and killing them dont worry about the flapping its just nerves if you do wound them dispatch them as soon as you can and set them up in your decoy pattern ..ive had a similar day today as you you three dead soon as i hit them two flapping and one runner had to find him in a hedge a second shot ..they can be tough to despatch sometimes i prefer neck or back on shots dont shoot them in the crop its like a flak jacket they will fly away and prob die later ..do you eat them ? its good that you want to kill cleanly have you treid diffrent pellet types ..flat head maybe ?? if you can get really close to them Edited July 23, 2011 by pigeonstew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 I don't head shoot anymore for that very reason, all that flapping and back flipping sends feather everywhere and can leave them on their backs which puts off other pigeons from landing. Chest shots (aim at or just below the wing joint) will drop them where they stood with no fuss and without damaging the breat meat. Try it next time and you'll be convinced. Good shooting by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian.S Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Sorry for the thread revival but i'm using .177 (BSA Ultra Multi-Shot) would a chest shot still be a viable kill point or should I stick with head shots for .177? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest topshot_2k Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Head or neck with my .177 (12Ftlbs) or sometimes side on under wing depending on angle etc but would never attempt a front chest shot due to the crop/breast meat increasing the chances of just wounding them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srspower Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Personally I never go for a headshot on a pigeon unless there is a backstop (rarely). If you are around barns a heart/lung shot is better because if you pull the shot you will still hit the bird stopping the pellet and more than likely will still be able to go get the bird and finish it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter 001 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Hi there guys been out with my air rifle today. I always generally aim an shoot at the head of the pigeon but is that really the best place ? Here goes I've had 4 today, and all flapped and thrashed about, tested my gun (aas410 classic) it's running 11.6 with Aa fields. Inspected the birds all good head shots from only about 20yrds so in plenty of range, 1 even went in 1 side of the head and out through just behind it's eye yet still a flapper. They just never seem to drop on the spot ! What am I doing wrong ? Or is there a better spot to shoot them ? Or are they dead and just nerves ? I don't like to have to give them a second shot or have to run over to them. Just want a nice clean kill no flapping no hassle. Cheers for any info dan Watch my video. Head or upper neck. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ATKIFYfGFE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) Personally I never go for a headshot on a pigeon unless there is a backstop (rarely). If you are around barns a heart/lung shot is better because if you pull the shot you will still hit the bird stopping the pellet and more than likely will still be able to go get the bird and finish it off. Why would you not go for the most humane shot rather than worrying about being able to "finish it off" ? Miss a head shot and its humane , hit a head shot and its humane = win win Edited January 21, 2014 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash72 Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Nice videos Hunter 001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Why would you not go for the most humane shot rather than worrying about being able to "finish it off" ? Miss a head shot and its humane , hit a head shot and its humane = win win +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srspower Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Why would you not go for the most humane shot rather than worrying about being able to "finish it off" ? Miss a head shot and its humane , hit a head shot and its humane = win win Your right, but if you miss a headshot then the pellet has gone flying over the top of a barn on a big trajectory potentially hitting something you don't want it to. Frankly I am more concerned with that than with the pigeon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Your right, but if you miss a headshot then the pellet has gone flying over the top of a barn on a big trajectory potentially hitting something you don't want it to. Frankly I am more concerned with that than with the pigeon. If it's not a safe shot, don't pull the trigger, even a body shot can be missed.Only you can decide if its safe of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srspower Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) If you are shooting around a farmyard, you may have checked etc and the farmer may know you are there. But if you shoot a pigeon off the edge of a barn roof and the pellet flies past it is always possible someone/thing has moved in to the area the pellet might land since you checked. Hence why I prefer a heart/lung shot. Edited January 21, 2014 by srspower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Don't shoot it off the edge of the roof then, it's clearly not a safe shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Mclay Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 I like a head shot myself but I'm starting to go for what I call the kill switch just above the crop area hit them there and it's lights out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted July 16, 2019 Report Share Posted July 16, 2019 Ancient history, the OP's post was eight years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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