Colster Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Been out tonight inbetween the rain, 1st kill was a mixi rabbit at about 10 yards then creeping round the edge of a tar pit came across a pigeon sitting on the ground in a big mess of it's own feathers. So did the decent thing and capped it off and started to wonder if this was going to be the theme of the evening - me just going round putting sick animals out of their misery. So feeling a bit frustrated, I drove back towards the farm house to have a poke around the grain store and a nice young bunny came hopping out of the stubble field towards me. Took her in the head at about 20yards and down she went like a good un. She's now in the fridge awaiting skinning. :blink: Realised for definite tonight my Gamo doesn't like AA Fields, hit 2 bunnies tonight and heard that satisfying slap of pellet meets bunny and off they ran. They seem accurate enough but lack the killer punch. The one that went down was shot with my last RWS Superdome, it seems to like Accupels too so pleased to see when I got home that a shiny new tin of them had arrived in the post along with some H&N FTT's which I've yet to try. Will save the remaining AA Fields for plinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 You're not the only one to suffer form this, I had several unsatisfactory runners with the AA's and the advice was the usual 'practice more, concentrate on shot placement'. Well the shot was in the right place and I DO practice regularly, I check my scopes zero at least once a week and don't attempt any ranges over 35 yards. I found they're just too soft, they can deform easily just with handling and the only killer shot I could get was directly at the back of the bunnies head. I don't think they have sufficient penetration or they deform so greatly on impact as to limit it (by the way I use .177's, 4.52). I've found for paper punching that they are superbly accurate out to 40 yards and that is all they are used for now. Instead I tried several other heavier pellets, Bisley Magnums, Crosman hollow points and Crosman Premier Magnums. By far the most accurate for me over ranges up to 35 yards were the Crosman Premier Magnums, by the feel of the load they fit very tightly in my barrel and certainly pack a punch. I'm now dropping rabbits, squirells and pigeons reliably out to 30 yards. The only down side is after 40 yards the magnums do tend to drop off quite rapidly, so you can't go for any long range shots if that's what you're into without having to do a lot of practice to find your POI's, even then I would say that the accuracy is not reliable enough to be humane, but stick to sub 35 yards and they're bob on. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttalbot09 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 You're not the only one to suffer form this, I had several unsatisfactory runners with the AA's and the advice was the usual 'practice more, concentrate on shot placement'. Well the shot was in the right place and I DO practice regularly, I check my scopes zero at least once a week and don't attempt any ranges over 35 yards. I found they're just too soft, they can deform easily just with handling and the only killer shot I could get was directly at the back of the bunnies head. I don't think they have sufficient penetration or they deform so greatly on impact as to limit it (by the way I use .177's, 4.52). I've found for paper punching that they are superbly accurate out to 40 yards and that is all they are used for now. Instead I tried several other heavier pellets, Bisley Magnums, Crosman hollow points and Crosman Premier Magnums. By far the most accurate for me over ranges up to 35 yards were the Crosman Premier Magnums, by the feel of the load they fit very tightly in my barrel and certainly pack a punch. I'm now dropping rabbits, squirells and pigeons reliably out to 30 yards. The only down side is after 40 yards the magnums do tend to drop off quite rapidly, so you can't go for any long range shots if that's what you're into without having to do a lot of practice to find your POI's, even then I would say that the accuracy is not reliable enough to be humane, but stick to sub 35 yards and they're bob on. Good luck. you said the shot was in the right place if any pellet in the worlds hits a rabbit in the brain then its dead. but what sometimes happens is when it drops low and hits the jaw. and this gives the rabbit time to get into warrens. (and the jaw sounds like a good headshot when the pellet strikes but its not) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 (edited) Not if it doesn't penetrate the skull it doesn't. The back of the skull is thinner, so the AA's can penetrate, side or front on they're hopeless. I reckon they just leave it with a headache. My rifle can place pellet on pellet within 35 yards with a small margin of error of less than 7mm, there is no difference in my placement with either pellet, just the Crosman's do the necessary whereas I believe the AA's just leave the bunny with a very bad headache or worse. As I'm not about to d*ck about leaving rabbits with wounds and/or a lingering death due to injury I'll believe the evidence of my own eyes and use the Crosman's as they work for me every single time. Thank you. Edited September 4, 2009 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireJohn Posted September 5, 2009 Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 JSB Exacts , RWS Superfield. Both of these were suffient to get good headshot kills my my HW100 a few months back, shot placement between eye and ear. Hell.. one of the rabbits I shot had the pellet go through the one side and straight back out the other via its eye Not even a twitch when I shot that one, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 Yeh I think Mick has hit the nail on the skull so to speak. I'd hit a bunny with Superdomes, Accupels or H-points and they'd fall over and twitch a bit. With the AA they'd do backflips then run off (probably with a headache). Now off to zero my scope with some H&N FTT's, did some plinking with them yesterday and they seem good. Nice bit of distress to my backboard and lovely snug fit in the barrel so think they should do the job. The AA's always felt a little loose in the breech, when compared to RWS's and these FTT's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobyb525 Posted September 5, 2009 Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 I have found them ok to be honest. The other day I shot one with aa pellets at 20 yards. In under the ear and out behind the eye. Jobs a good'n. Have also taken them about 40 yards and never had a runner with them. Are you using .22 as I use .177 so I guess I would have better penitation than a .22. The only problem is that the skirts of the pellets always seem to have dents in these days so half the pellets are only good for plinking. May give superdomes a try for my next tin as they always seemed to be qood quality back when I had a .22 springer Toby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 5, 2009 Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 I'm using .177's, I haven't tried the JWS but its maybe worth a look to see how they perform, I'm sure for some the AA's work and if you're happy with them then fine. I and many others I have since spoken to lack faith in them, and I do have to say they appear extremely soft. I certainly have not experienced any over penetration with them, in fact quite the opposite. The crosman magnums slight extra weight seems to drop them on the spot with the usual slight twitch and then no further movement. I'd rather be happy in the knowledge that my shot with cleanly dispatch a rabbit rather than taking any chances and having another runner, I really do hate the thought of a slow and lingering death due to infection or wound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2009 I have found them ok to be honest.The other day I shot one with aa pellets at 20 yards. In under the ear and out behind the eye. Jobs a good'n. Have also taken them about 40 yards and never had a runner with them. Are you using .22 as I use .177 so I guess I would have better penitation than a .22. The only problem is that the skirts of the pellets always seem to have dents in these days so half the pellets are only good for plinking. May give superdomes a try for my next tin as they always seemed to be qood quality back when I had a .22 springer Toby I use .22 tbh I was surprised that they didn't seem to work for me as ppl do rave about them, which is why I gave them a try but at the end of the day... the gun will decide. I've been happy with the Superdomes, nice fit in the barrel and seem to do the job. The H&N's seem great, didn't need to touch the scope at all and out of ten or so I did to check elevation (I zero elevation first on a horizontal line then windage on a vertical) about 6 of them went through my 1/2" chipboard backstop from 35 yards away. I've been invited to dinner at my permission tonight, gonna smuggle my gun out with me and maybe sneak out during the coffee and see what Mr Bunny thinks of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2009 Well it's going well for the H&N's - managed to get about 20mins of light last night where I bagged a nice big bunny from about 20 yards, straight down, few twitches and good night vienna, too old for the pot so left it for the locals. Then today I wandered up to check on my chickens and happened to glance across the garden and spied the cat staring up into a tree, looked up and saw three squirrels all arguing. Nipped back to the house and grabbed my gun and got 2 of them, second one fell into the tree and never came out but the first dropped to the ground only to be stolen by the sodding cat! I guess he felt it was a finder's fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 It continues to go well for the H&N's - well, not if you're a rabbit I suppose. Been out tonight and bagged 4 (1 mixy shot and left in the hedge), with the trusty H&N's dropping them just the way we all like to see. Flop over and quick twitch and that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Nice work I've been using .177 Bis Mags for years, they either punch a hole through the rabbits skull and come out the other side or just put it down with a good old smack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Nice to see you've found a pellet that does the job (unlike those AA's), I'm sticking with my Crosman Magnums, in fact I'm off in an hour to do just that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) Nice to see you've found a pellet that does the job (unlike those AA's), I'm sticking with my Crosman Magnums, in fact I'm off in an hour to do just that! That's a .177 flavour isn't it... so not necessarily going to work the same from one to the other, in fact almost designed not to lol It's so nice when you find a pellet that works though, isn't it? Just found out I'm out again on Thursday so more bunny bashing H&N stylee then. Hope you all noticed the well(ish) placed headshots I was dead chuffed...as opposed to just dead like the rabbits lol Edited September 9, 2009 by Colster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Yup, its .177 so every little extra helps. I managed 7 tonight, 1 managed to back flip spasm into a load of brambles, 5 I recovered, 1 other I couldn't find in the dark in the long grass. It's funny that, I walked back and forth along what I thought was the right line and couldn't see it anywhere, it definitely dropped dead with one shot like the other 5 as I sat and watched it give a one leg quiver after it toppled over. I need a bigger torch Glad to see you're dropping 'em regular like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntercarbine Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 i had the same trouble with .177 aa diablos in my tx200, too many runners after a well placed headshot. i use the same pellet in .22 with my fn12 and get no runners, drops them stone dead. i too think the pellet is too soft in .177. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 i had the same trouble with .177 aa diablos in my tx200, too many runners after a well placed headshot. i use the same pellet in .22 with my fn12 and get no runners, drops them stone dead. i too think the pellet is too soft in .177. Am I being pedantic if I say it's "Diabolo" not "Diablo"? Diabolo refers to the shape (domed) whereas Diablo means the devil... Hehe, so just me (or more accurately my gun) that can't get on with them in .22 Ah well, had significantly more kills since going to H&N FTT's (and yes as earlier photo proves I can hit em in the head). Last night's one was from 40 yards (with a little holdover) and still straight down - think I've found my pellet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I used AA fields for a while in .177, and used to get runners. I thought I was low on air or something. I switched to Logun Penetrators, and not much gets away now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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