hill billy Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 hello every body, me and my friend have recently found a small spinney on one of our shoots that is atracting a rather nice amount of pigeons, however because of the season we were in we could only use airguns ( because shotguns are to loud and game keepers get a bit enoyed ) so we sat in the spinney and there was about 20 or so pigeons coming in at a time and landing in the trees all around us, i was using my airarms shamal .177 and i could not bring any of them down i fired at about 15 before i gave up and went home, i though the problem was my scope so i shot a few targets when i got home and it was fine, the question i want to ask is were do you aim for on a pigeon because i go either for the head if posible or the white patch on the wing thanks very much jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Go for the head everytime jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 i fired at about 15 before i gave up and went home, god help us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Nino Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Aim slightly low as the gun tends to rise slightly as you fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill billy Posted February 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 if i can i always go for the head the only problem was that they were landing at the top of the tree i was under and most of the time the head was not visible so i tried to aim as close to it as posible to get a shot into it's organs ! the thing that enoyed me was i didn't drop a single one so i though i must have knocked my scope out of line but then when i tested it it was perfect on the mark ! i went home so early because i thought if my scope is out then i might as well just go and re line it and come back the next day so as i didn't scare the birs away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Aim slightly low as the gun tends to rise slightly as you fire Due to recoil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 the problem you were having is probably due to the way that the pellet is effected in its travel, by shooting up hill you dont get so much drop in some casses, and when aiming down hill everything just goes pair shapped, its like throwing a ball straight up or very slightly less than verticle, the ball will go much flatter, so your gun may well be shooting high, but how much is the question, the way i find out is by shooting a knock down target that i have put very high up in a tree around a mates house, then you can at least get an idea of where its going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniper316 Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Hi,with pigeons,head or neck is the only way to go to be sure of killing the bird clean.The chest is out of the question as you will know if you've ever breasted a pigeon,as under the meat there is the breastbone which will stop the pellets from most airguns penetrating the chest.Also when pigeons fly to roost,their crops are usually jam packed with food,which(depending on the foodstuff)while maybe not stopping the pellet completely,often slows the pellet down enough to prevent a clean kill.As for where to aim(assuming the range is right),you should aim a smidge low for steep shots,the steeper the shot,the lower the aim.This is because we all zero our sights on horizontal targets therefore the rifle is pointing above the target to allow for drop as the effect of gravity takes effect even though the crosshairs are spot on.The steeper the shot the less the pellet will be affected by drop.Unfortunately,no-one can tell you EXACTLY where to aim,only give you guidelines.Practise and experience will get you there.Hope i haven't confused you too much. p.s.When shooting downhill,aim a smidge high.Gravity eh?What a ******!! :< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fert Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 where you hitting the birds at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 (edited) If you now anything about wood pigeons you should know that if you cant consistantly hit a pigeons head at 25/30 yards then you shouldnt even attepmt to shoot them with an airgun. As sniper rightly says a full crop will deflect a well placed pellet, and the feathers on the breast are so tighly packed and dense that you would struggle penetrate it cleanly. Lets hope that your scope was completely ****ked and you didnt send 15 birds scurrying off injured and carrying lead. Paul in North Lincs. Edited February 4, 2005 by Paul in North Lincs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of 5 Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 (edited) As dunganick says if firing vertically you'll need to aim low as the pellet isn't going to react to gravity in the same way (as far as you sightline in concerned). "Chairgun" will highlight this. It's a trajectory program. Unless the tree is exceptionally tall though we're only talking 0.5 to 1 inch holdunder from your mormal aimpoint for that distance. 15 shots without a hit at moderate ranges is about 12 too many IMO. Once can happen to anyone. Twice is unfortunate and three times tells me something is wrong and action is needed. Edited February 4, 2005 by 1 of 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy76 Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Aim for the kneck, thats where a pigeons nerve centre is, you should know your own gun so you will be able to compensate for distance and wind and all the rest of it. If you hit the kneck nine times out of ten you will drop the little plonker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill billy Posted February 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I never did find out what was wrong but i have a theory that it may have had something to do with the coat i was wearing because it was very thick and padded and i can never shoot my shotguns very well while wearing it, although i am very please to tell you that 23 pigeons fell saturday with 24 shots so now every body is happy :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedee71 Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 When shooting either up into tree's or down a hill side always hold under or hold over when you aim. That is poss the only reason you missed. If you have a tree you can use place a target in the tree (with a good back stop) and take a few shots. You will soon see what i mean. Zeb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snotty Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 I zap pigeons off the chicken house roof shooting out of the bedroom window when they become too numerous. I need them to catch the pellet because there isn't much of my land left behind them. I wait until one is facing me and then aim dead centre on the chest, usually crumple on the spot, they never make it more than 3 feet. Works with 12 ft.lbs in .22, but they really have to be head on facing you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 As mentioned before........... I personally wouldnt recomend seriously aiming for the chest of a 'Wood' pigeon unless at very short range.. Their feathers are just too compact and tight,... and will generally result in an injured bird carrying lead. Paul in North Lincs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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