I was thinking it is time to debut the Hammerli 850 AirMagnum (hpa) for my pesting ventures. During my lunch break, I went downstairs, shot a few different pellets through it, and found out it only really seems to like JSB 14.3s. I was rather hoping it would take to the Super H-Points, which my NP2 shoots so well, when it is in the proper mood. I got it in position in the breezeway, and went to warm up lunch. (squirrel stew, from my recipe in the Game Recipes child forum here)
No sooner had I finished that, than I saw a nutter creep up cautiously. When I made my way out to the breezeway, loaded the 850 and turned on the camera, this cautious nutter started to make his escape. He stopped to look back at me partway up the tree, which is when I dropped the hammer and sent the JSB 14.3 his way. SMACK, right through the middle of the ribcage, and through both lungs. He tried to continue on, but lost hydraulic pressure and conked out on the lawn. No video of that, he was getting away too fast. But do you remember the one I thought I spined the other day with the NP2? It was him. THAT is why he was making a getaway when he saw me coming with The Pain-giver.
The post-mortem revealed I didn't sever the spine the first time. Probably just bruised it. It is odd, because the pellet entered right next to the spine, and exited just above and on the other side of it.
The JSB this time did its job though.
The next one was not even 30 minutes later. Same deal, cautiously approached, and started to move away when I showed myself. For some of these nutters, 10 yards is too close, and others just keep an eye on me.
Same deal on this one, but I couldn't bear to miss two video opps. in a row. This one went higher and stopped in a fork to keep an eye on me. Same fate, an Exact through both lungs. He made it down the side of the tree 15', then across about 20' of lawn and just passed out while going under the fence. Pulled him out by his tail as he was taking his last breath. They sure do bleed a lot more when hit by a .22 than a .177.
This gun is bigger, longer, heavier, and louder than the Compatto. It seems to do the same damage with domes as my Compatto doees with hollow points. But more penetration. Seems a bit less accurate? Maybe it's tuned too hot or maybe it just seems that way because the overall group size is bigger, on account of it being a .22. I'll probably switch back to the Compatto for squirrels and pest birds, and reserve this one for the possums and raccoons that are harder to take down. .177 @ 17 FPE is just a bit safer for backyard use than a .22 @ 28 FPE, in case of the odd ricochet or pass-through that changes directions.
Maybe I'll try a head shot though on the next nutter, before I decide.
I've got the Cheapers 4-16x40 zeroed for 13 yards @ 10x and one mil dot hold over for 10 yards @ 10X. Two more for the freezer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPviP4dVcUQ
I'll bump the thread after I revise the video to add those post-mortem pix.
No sooner had I finished that, than I saw a nutter creep up cautiously. When I made my way out to the breezeway, loaded the 850 and turned on the camera, this cautious nutter started to make his escape. He stopped to look back at me partway up the tree, which is when I dropped the hammer and sent the JSB 14.3 his way. SMACK, right through the middle of the ribcage, and through both lungs. He tried to continue on, but lost hydraulic pressure and conked out on the lawn. No video of that, he was getting away too fast. But do you remember the one I thought I spined the other day with the NP2? It was him. THAT is why he was making a getaway when he saw me coming with The Pain-giver.
The post-mortem revealed I didn't sever the spine the first time. Probably just bruised it. It is odd, because the pellet entered right next to the spine, and exited just above and on the other side of it.
The JSB this time did its job though.The next one was not even 30 minutes later. Same deal, cautiously approached, and started to move away when I showed myself. For some of these nutters, 10 yards is too close, and others just keep an eye on me.
Same deal on this one, but I couldn't bear to miss two video opps. in a row. This one went higher and stopped in a fork to keep an eye on me. Same fate, an Exact through both lungs. He made it down the side of the tree 15', then across about 20' of lawn and just passed out while going under the fence. Pulled him out by his tail as he was taking his last breath. They sure do bleed a lot more when hit by a .22 than a .177.
This gun is bigger, longer, heavier, and louder than the Compatto. It seems to do the same damage with domes as my Compatto doees with hollow points. But more penetration. Seems a bit less accurate? Maybe it's tuned too hot or maybe it just seems that way because the overall group size is bigger, on account of it being a .22. I'll probably switch back to the Compatto for squirrels and pest birds, and reserve this one for the possums and raccoons that are harder to take down. .177 @ 17 FPE is just a bit safer for backyard use than a .22 @ 28 FPE, in case of the odd ricochet or pass-through that changes directions.
Maybe I'll try a head shot though on the next nutter, before I decide.
I've got the Cheapers 4-16x40 zeroed for 13 yards @ 10x and one mil dot hold over for 10 yards @ 10X. Two more for the freezer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPviP4dVcUQ
I'll bump the thread after I revise the video to add those post-mortem pix.
