alanlee Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 I've shot my first magpie today, after weeks of trying - I was beginning to think this bird was brighter than me, as it would never stay within range for longer than a couple of seconds.Despite putting decoys down, it was difficult to get it into a position for safe shooting. But this morning, I came down, and it was sat on top of a 25ft tree, around 30 metres from my back door.I wasnt sure about having a shot, as if I missed it, the pellet may have flew over to some houses around 100 metres away, but,I had had loads of practice at the range yesterday, and was reliably hitting pigeons heads at 45yds, so my confidence is up,but in hindsight it was rather daft, as it was perfect to shoot. Anyway, I load the rifle, and gently open the back door, expecting the bird to see me and fly off -but today the thing just sat there.I had a perfect, side on shot, and aimed for the middle of the head, I even had time to lean against the door frame to steady myself. Fired the first shot, and magpie keeled over, and fell onto a lower branch.It was twitching a lot, so I quickly fired off 3 more shots to make sure it was dead.Luckily I have a multi-shot, so these were fired off quickly. Subsequent inspection of the body showed a crater just where I'd aimed at the side of its head. Surely this would have killed it outright? Is that right? , or do they always twitch a lot once shot? I felt pretty sick that I'd made it suffer for 30 seconds or so until I'd put 3 more pellets into it, but I'm not so sure it would be suffering after seeing the large dent in its head. Whats your view on this? Would it be dead fairly instantly? Thanks Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 I'm not sure about this because I only shoot magpies with my shotgun but if the crater was as big as you say it was probably only its nerves that made it twitch. You did the right thing by making sure it was dead because we don't want to cause any undue suffering. Congratulations on your 1st kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 To be honest, I think that shot was a bl00dy disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself! If you had missed or the bird moved at the last moment the pellet would almost certainly would have reached the houses 100 yards behind. A 12 lb.ft gun in .22 can have up to 6 lb.ft left at 100 yards – the same as a point blank shot from a powerful air pistol. What do you think would have happened if you had hit a window, car or even worse a child? 6 lb.ft would can kill a kid if it hits in the wrong place. You ****! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 scotsman. well said you just beatme to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanlee Posted November 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 To be honest, I think that shot was a bl00dy disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself! If you had missed or the bird moved at the last moment the pellet would almost certainly would have reached the houses 100 yards behind. Yes, I know.I should have waited until it was lower down, to make sure any misses did not fly off. Fortunately it didnt miss, and the houses toward the back are rather spaced out,so it would be very unlikey to hit anything, but yes, I was wrong to shoot at it, and certainly wouldnt attempt another with no back stop for misses. Humbled. Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdfish Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 weve all done it mate. Cheeky magpies and the excitement. Got away with it once, dont do it again. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Yeh go easy on him, he realised his mistake and I don't think there is very many people on this site who can't say they got carried away with there first kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Although you should always be sure of what's down range he had been practicing at distances further than that the day before. Being it was his first magpie (wish those were here to shoot!) cut him some slack. Name calling is unnecessary. In answer to the questions...if he had hit a window? It would have probably broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 You can practice all you like; a miss is still a high probability. Look at the top FT and HFT shots, they still miss the odd target and they have all day to line it up. Consider the elevated target, which significantly changes the POI, and also the risk of the bird moving. All in all there was not a 100% assurance that the shot would fly true. Therefore, he endangered life and property – it’s as simple as that. This idiot needs a rude awakening and I offer no apology for any name calling. In answer to the questions...if he had hit a window? blink.gif It would have probably broke. laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif Do you think that is funny? You are as bad as he is! Ever had broken plate glass fall on you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deako Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Scotsman, Chill fella, the guy made a mistake. The chances of a 12 ft lbs pellet breaking a 'plate glass' window from 100 yards is remote to say the least...and I defy anybody to say they never made one single mistake in their whole shooting career. Lets all be friends eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Scotsman, Chill fella, the guy made a mistake. He has admitted it was a foolish shot to take and has had the guts to say so. Also he has learned from it and is not likely to repeat the incident. No harm has come from it so let's drop it. If any regular shooter can honestly hold his hand up and say that he has never taken a shot and thought afterwards that perhaps it wasn't the safest thing to do, then do so but I for one can not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 To be honest, I think that shot was a bl00dy disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself! If you had missed or the bird moved at the last moment the pellet would almost certainly would have reached the houses 100 yards behind. A 12 lb.ft gun in .22 can have up to 6 lb.ft left at 100 yards – the same as a point blank shot from a powerful air pistol. What do you think would have happened if you had hit a window, car or even worse a child? 6 lb.ft would can kill a kid if it hits in the wrong place. You ****! You are of course correct it was iresponsable and the pellet would still had enough energy to do damage but if he was shooting up a tree at any significant angle the pelet would be no whare near the ground at 100m I now would not partake in anything that deviated from good safety practices but as a kid I did some stupid things with guns that I can admit I am ashamed of not least geting hold of a live round and shooting it with an air rifle. Part of the exploded case stuck in my arm I still have the scar nearly 20 years later. I was also twice a victim of others iresponsibility with air guns as a kid Hopefully he has learnt his lesson and got away with it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezer Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 While shooting at any target without a solid backstop is deplorable he is obviously a young gun with many lessons to learn. Let us hope he has learned this one. Incedentaly apellet fired at the angle this seems to have been would be spent when it came down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanlee Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 While shooting at any target without a solid backstop is deplorable he is obviously a young gun with many lessons to learn. Let us hope he has learned this one. Incedentaly apellet fired at the angle this seems to have been would be spent when it came down. Well, yes, I knew striaght after that I shouldnt have fired, but the chance at the time seemed too good to miss,and events rather overtook me.I know I was daft, and certainly wont be doing it again. In my original message,just so there is no further misunderstanding, I wrote "but in hindsight it was rather daft, as it was perfect to shoot." This should have read 'as it WASNT perfect'. Anyway, from my original message, I queried about the bird twitching a lot, after being hit in the head (.177 roundhead pellet), and whether that shot would have killed it outright, or whether it would be suffering. Do they always flap/twitch after being shot? This one keeled over immediately, and landed on a lower branch on its side.I put 3 more pellets into it, 2 went in the belly, 1 in the wing.By the 3rd shot it was still, but I put another into it just to be certain.A chap I was talking to seemed to think they always twitch a lot when shot, and it does look as though they are alive, but in fact it is nerves making it twitch. Is that true, and what are your experiences of shooting them? Thanks Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotsman Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 If you hit it in the head, it was almost certainly just nerves – nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digga Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 everyone is supposed to learn from mistakes, when i was a kid, my mate shot me in the face inch below my left eye straight through my cheek bone came out back of my throat (messing about) to scared to tell my parents! then another mate!!! shot a lad while he was reading the paper! he lost an eye!!! i am almost paranoid about safety. I am not avin a go at anyone just trying to prevent stuff happening to other people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowblaster Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Oh yeah...about the twitching. In many smaller animals the brain is not only an initiator of function but also an inhibitor of random function(s). I'm sure you've heard of the expression "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off"? This is the reason why. It was definitely a killing shot. Kinda like Scotsman and his keyboard No...I've never had broken plate glass fall on me. But, a steel beam hit me in the head once whilst at work...explains a few things Calm down and have a drink or have a drink and then calm down Digga....I use a computer at my local public library...those bouncing boobs on your post always gets a few good looks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamebag Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 A little tip if you got patience bait your next magpie to some where safe. I have done this a few times with them & it does work. Leave raw bits of chicken where you want to safely shoot & you know where your prey is going to be do this 3-4 days on the run. Mr magpie gets a bit relaxed by day 5 on day five take some fishing line & a tent peg. Tie your fishing line on to a large piece of chicken meat secure the other end of the line to your tent peg. This stops maggie from flying off & makes him eat his piece of meat their while he is eating let him have the good news when you are sure you have a clean shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesspencer_2001 Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 We've all done it!!! Its good that you realised your mistake. I used to practise with my slingshot on conkers in the tree with small pebbles and didnt relise that these pebbles were landing on the neighbours roof. I learnt a lesson and these brief encounters make you safer when you may be in more hazardous positions. Spenner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ady Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 pleased you got ur 1st maggie i must say i know nobody who has not done anything daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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