Footu Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Came back from a days shoot then took the dog out for a mooch, she won't sit still so can't come with me on a stand and drive. Was just on the return when she dived into a bush and came out with a squeaker. Nice touch, called her back and traded rabbit for a dog biscuit- fair exchange is no robbery a they say. Necked it and took it back, was taking skin off and found a pellet in its back, shot from side or behind it was a .22 and only went skin deep, not even into the muscle was just caught in the fascia under the skin. Probably kids with no idea but it got me wondering, do any of you go for a heart/lung shot or is it pretty pointless given the accuracy of air guns now. I always aim for the head. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid rich Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Heads only for me, air rifles are so accurate now theres no real need for heart/lung shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Never anything but a headshot with sub 12 in .177. I take the view that a headshot results in more clean kills, or complete misses than heart and lung shots. A rabbits heart and lungs is not a big target and is also difficult to pinpoint under field conditions. The best target is the 5p sized one behind the eye and just below the ear that drops the rabbit with no fuss. If you're sure of hitting that spot then take it. If you're not, leave it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Head shots for me. Much easier to be accurate with it and more confidence of a good hit. I might take a chest shot with birds, but not bunnies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Head shots for me. Much easier to be accurate with it and more confidence of a good hit. I might take a chest shot with birds, but not bunnies Absolutely spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 The first rabbit I ever shot was a chest shot, that was some time ago with an open sighted HW35 the heart lung area kills BUT the rabbit don't always know its dead till its brain runs out of oxygen. It isn't the best placement choice with such a low power tool but it get the job done at times better than the head (which should be termed brain shot) reason being "head shots" can easily wound as the brain isn't in all of it. Never look at a rabbits head as the target the brain box is far smaller than the head. I have found rabbits up to half grown are killed cleaner via chest than brain shots, I suspect the skin and the still flexible scull acting together have something to do with that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Hi Kent, in my post you'll see I mention the 5p sized area of skull. (Yes Evo, 5p size!) 40 years of bunny bashing has taught me that bodyshots result in more wounded rabbits than dead ones. My only aiming point is that little brain box. If I'm not 99% certain I don't take the shot. As for chest shots taking younger rabbits, ok, well how do you tell between a large younger rabbit and a small adult? How many chest shot rabbits crawl away to die because they've run off, not knowing they're dead? Please don't take bodyshots with sub 12. Regards Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 The first rabbit I ever shot was a chest shot, that was some time ago with an open sighted HW35 the heart lung area kills BUT the rabbit don't always know its dead till its brain runs out of oxygen. It isn't the best placement choice with such a low power tool but it get the job done at times better than the head (which should be termed brain shot) reason being "head shots" can easily wound as the brain isn't in all of it. Never look at a rabbits head as the target the brain box is far smaller than the head. I have found rabbits up to half grown are killed cleaner via chest than brain shots, I suspect the skin and the still flexible scull acting together have something to do with that one spot on :good: heart and lung will do the job fine if you know where they are you would be surprised how many folk don't though colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Whatever works for you! I take the appropriate shot as to how the quarry presents, doesn't bother me if that is head or heart/lung, which I find very terminal in a lot of wildlife! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Ok, I am quite prepared to accept that a correctly placed heart lung shot will do the business, but is it as instant? That's a question not a challenge. I head shoot because I know that when I pull the trigger it's almost certainly immediately fatal and I don't think I lose anything by waiting for the correct shot to present it self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I take bunnies in the chest with rimfire .22/.17HMR but wouldn't dream of doing so when I used an air rifle. Then it was head shoot or nothing. I did a couple of experiments on the penetration at 40 yards and many times the pellet may not make it through into the chest if it hit the foreleg or a rib. Ethically either head shoot or get a FAC and a rimfire. I have no experience of FAC air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 got to agree with timmy for once ha ha,,head shots for me only,i also think heart and lung shots will kill no problem,i think the main thing here is the distance they are being shot,although i could take rabbits out upto 50yrds i do not attempt too, i will only shoot rabbits upto and including 35 yrds ,i will not even attempt to pull the trigger unless i am 100% certain of an instant head shot kill, for a pellet to be sitting under the skin i think it is obvious the shot has been taken from too far a distance and or the gun used was very under powered 35yrds head shot all day 40yrds max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) I recently skinned a squirrel my mate had shot in his garden (15yards ) and I found both pellets wedged in-between its spine . I wound never even think about a body shot on bunnys but I also believe 55 yards in the head is fine as I used to set up 60 yards from the corner of the field with my ft rifle and wait for hrs killing everything that stepped out (50x zoom was brilliant for that :)) Edited January 13, 2013 by team tractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pest popper Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I have seen it done, but doesnt mean its right. Head shot only from the side or back of the head. If you cant hit this killzone you need to stalk closer, or not be shooting rabbits at all. I dont heart and lung anything mainly because im not confident of knowing exactly where i need to put the pellet. Head shots only on everything for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 The heat lung shot is not much bigger than the brain, depends how the shot presents itself. Is it humane ? According to all leading authorities yes - bit gruesome but this is how firing squads were instructed to shoot in the past! It not a common shot but a full 12ft lb .22 cal will go through one side of the ribcage and out the other easy broadside at 30-35 yds 9 times out of ten. Half destroying a brain will not kill instantly, shooting in the Body ie guts will not kill instantly, destruction of either the heart which pumps oxegenated blood to the brain will kill and destruction of the lungs that oxegenate the said blood will kill. I have seen a rabbits brain inside a rabbits very damaged scull and the rabbit in question squeeking and running in circles - it happens ! it easy to say " I have x years of experience" but consider I started my shooting with an open sighted HW35 and started FT shooting when paper targets and a 4x40 FWB sport was the kit and finished with a GC2 sportsmatch and 8-32x 44 Burris R/A. I have yet to meet the guy that can take a single aimed shot under field conditions and hit a 5pence "as quoted" 10-10 times 8-35 yds However the heart lung is not an easier shot its just another shot that at certain times is the best one to take. I rate the airgun comic gurus about as high as as the average 16yr old farm boy with his dads old gun- correction I rate the lad more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 for those that they say they would not take a head shot unless they can 100% guarantee a kill are talking out of their well you know where, at 40 yards from when you squeeze your trigger to when the pellet hits is more that enough time for the rabbit to move enough to make it a injured rabbit, nothing is guaranteed we all want to kill out right but you cannot say you can guarantee..,, now this may sound gruesome but a long time ago i took a few whole frozen rabbits we had at work (a butchers shop) and ran them through the bandsaw down the middle it is very interesting to see how big and where the kill zone is and like Kent said the heart and lung is a bigger target if you get the chance to do it then do it is quite and eye opener, colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 for those that they say they would not take a head shot unless they can 100% guarantee a kill are talking out of their well you know where, at 40 yards from when you squeeze your trigger to when the pellet hits is more that enough time for the rabbit to move enough to make it a injured rabbit, nothing is guaranteed we all want to kill out right but you cannot say you can guarantee..,, now this may sound gruesome but a long time ago i took a few whole frozen rabbits we had at work (a butchers shop) and ran them through the bandsaw down the middle it is very interesting to see how big and where the kill zone is and like Kent said the heart and lung is a bigger target if you get the chance to do it then do it is quite and eye opener, colin No I didn't say it was a bigger target! Its less mobile and from many angles its actually cleaner shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) No I didn't say it was a bigger target! Its less mobile and from many angles its actually cleaner shot sorry miss read but it is a bigger target not a lot but bigger none the less colin you said heart and lung is not much bigger?? my bad Edited January 13, 2013 by colin lad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pabs Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Headshot if A- It's a 'definite' hit (no such thing) or B- You are planning to eat it. Heart/lung shot if A- The head is obscured or B- you got a job to do and don't mind the rabbit maybe making it back to the warren to die 60 odd seconds later. All this bull about only taking the shot if it's a 'guaranteed' instant kill is just that. Bull. No such thing.We all do our best to make it quick and clean, but the situation often doesn't present itself like that. If you are out for the sport and can afford to let 7 out of 10 rabbits go because you want your quarry to drop on the spot with a little flurry of angels and some soft music, then good on you. If Mr Farmer needs a problem cleared then upper body shots are a much better and efficient way of getting the job done. Armed tree huggers may chime in now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 sorry miss read but it is a bigger target not a lot but bigger none the less colin you said heart and lung is not much bigger?? my bad I consent that but its marginal, it is not a shot I should take on that basis- this is were heat lung shots become gut shots IMO, with a RF being a bit off the mark matters less but with an air gun...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 yeah i have sold the air rifle now so only have rimmies so its a lot less of a worry now though i still try to make sure its upper chest now lower gut shot colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Gotta agree wi pabs I'll always try and kill clean but it doesn't always happen we all pull a shot or get windage wrong now an again sometimes a rabbit moves as u squeeze a shot off it's a shame but sometimes it happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 well i read some threads but why is it as soon as someone gets a FAC licence they all of a sudden start to knock people who hunt with air rifles . no your not above them as you are in the same sport,i mean to me IMO it takes a lot of skill to hunt with an air rifle as shot placement is more important on a rabbit than it is when using a 22rf or .17hmr cos when they are used lets be honest small entry hole and the exit wound is normally huge so no matter where its hit half of it is blown away, i personally think its wrong to slag the air gun chaps off because there are some very dedicated lads (idiots aswell) just like some FAC owners but dont think just because you have a FAC gives you the right to slate them YOU ALL started somewhere prob air rifles if i had my choice i,d use a air rifle over a 22rf anytime but thats just me ok tin hat is on,,,,,,,all the best EVO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 We use sub 12ft/lb Air rifles as well as .17hmr and .22lr or various shotguns for hunting vermin and time after time its the Airgun that provides the most memorable days-but not the most productive.There is something comforting about using Airguns to hunt,maybe because you need to get so much closer to your quarry and then be that little bit more accurate to kill it cleanly that its the difficulty that we enjoy?-I guess that,if everytime we went out shooting ,we killed vast numbers of creatures then we would soon become bored.I never look down on people who choose to use Airguns only,for whatever reason,because to be succesful they need to be that bit better than people who burn powder in most scenarios.I have never been without an Air Rifle in my 37 years of shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 We use sub 12ft/lb Air rifles as well as .17hmr and .22lr or various shotguns for hunting vermin and time after time its the Airgun that provides the most memorable days-but not the most productive.There is something comforting about using Airguns to hunt,maybe because you need to get so much closer to your quarry and then be that little bit more accurate to kill it cleanly that its the difficulty that we enjoy?-I guess that,if everytime we went out shooting ,we killed vast numbers of creatures then we would soon become bored.I never look down on people who choose to use Airguns only,for whatever reason,because to be succesful they need to be that bit better than people who burn powder in most scenarios.I have never been without an Air Rifle in my 37 years of shooting. + 1 bruno i do think its got to be very challenging with the air rifles bud ,and as you say you even use FAC rifles also,but i,ve not heard you slagging air rifle users off mate,good on ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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