Toombsy Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hello all, Only recently acquired my FAC and a couple of weeks ago I bought a Browning T-Bolt .22LR, together with a Hawke 3-10x50 IR scope, SAK mod and Tracer Max lamping kit. Although I have shot air rifles for over two decades, I never thought I have so much enjoyment from a rimfire. It's just an amazing bit of kit and so quiet too. I have already put 300 rounds through it - opted for Eley Subs Hollow as they seem to be a firm favourite among other .22 users - to zero the scope and generally get a really good feel for it. Found myself a good backdrop and started off at 35 yards. Once I could confidently put 10 bullets in an inch I moved out to 50 yards and did the same, using a rolled up blanket as a rest. Then moved back to 75 yards, then 100, then 125 - just to find out it's capabilities. After a lot of deliberation, and taking into account the lack of decent cover on my permission, I opted to zero the scope at 75 yards, got plenty of air rifle targets, put the blanket back in the car and really went for it - practising shooting prone, seated and standing (with a stick for a rest). The Browning seems to like the Eley Subs, I got on okay with the trigger pull and slight muzzle flip and everything went really well - and after last night's practice session I knew I would be accurate and confident enough to take the .22 in the field, proper. But, after a short drive around the permission yesterday, one of the rape fields is getting hammered so I thought I would be sat in the hide today, and the Browning would have to wait. So last night I set the alarm for 5.30, got a couple of birds out the freezer for the rotary, ready for a bit of decoying. It didn't happen... There's not a breath of wind here and not a pigeon in sight... so I swapped the decoy gear for the rifle and headed out to check the hedgerows. There's quite a few mixy rabbits on my permission - I really wanted to deal with those first and foremost - and anything else for the pot would be a bonus. Pulled up at the first field, took out the binoculars and sure enough, there they were hopping in and out of the rape field. A long stalk through the tractor tracks and across the knee high rape and I finally made it to around 90 yards. Had a look through the scope at 10x mag and saw one with weeping eyes, aimed for the ears and put him down with the first shot. Nice clean headshot. Checked out another 10 or so headgerows and had eight shots in total - 7 headshots and one in the chest. Of those 10 rabbits, 8 were showing signs of mixy in either one or both eyes. And I got 2 more for the pot.... Shall try again later this evening if the rain holds off, and might try out the lamping kit too. Really hope so Here's a photo of the two I kept... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col1888 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Nice one Toombsy ! Col Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharpShooter14 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Good going! I got my FAC through recently and love my new rimfire. By the way, you can eat rabbits with mixi, it has no effect on humans. Just avoid organs which would normally be edible, like the liver and kidneys, all the meat is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 nice shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Well Done Toombsy-nice rifle too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babushka Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 nice rifle and shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 well done :( ....the 22lr is still the best for wabbits over 17HMR Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash.gun Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 very nice rifle. Ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Nice write up and good shooting. Welll done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liamlumsden Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 nice one m8 nice gun there to m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumpersniper Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 nice one mate, great write up. Good that you had a practice first and got used to your ranges befor going out on the rabbits. I am expecting my FAC and regret putting 500 rounds down on my cert now, because i can just tell i will be using it a lot! lucky theres a rfd 3 miles from my house! SP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samyw Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 well done and good write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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