9-6-2020 Tree Rat Safari

Decided to go to the WMA closest to the house again, the one at the end of Smith Springs Road in Nashville TN.

A few pics snapped while working the trail -

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One has to zig zag on a trail to a small finger of land to cross a slew that leads to beaucoup shag bark hickory, red & white oak, and black walnut.



Noticed some motion in a big shag bark, so I froze, but was spotted, so the game of hide & seek begins. After what seemed like a lot of looking straight up and scanning through the scope, I spot the tree rat, steady myself and take a shot - a clean miss in fact - but this little carbine is so quiet, thanks to donny fl, the squirrel freezes - I re-load, take a second shot...BOOM... Haysoos Murphy the bolt was half open, but I recover, look up, and see the squirrel's dying quiver as it drops - a clean thu & thru shoulder/heart shot - 

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Decided to follow the shoreline and move amongst the hickories, and it didn't take long to see a grey scampering along some deadfall and hop into a big beech tree, so I quietly worked my way a little closer using river rock boulders as stepping stones, and began scanning the beech tree, eventually spotting a suspicous lump in the fork of two limbs - yep, that's a nutter staring right at me - I take what feels like a 40 yard offhand shot, and am rewarded with a loud POP -

Squirrel hunting this style is a solitary activity,and sometimes it feels like I'm making a "hole in one" without a witness -but still satisfying nontheless -

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Sat down close by after retrieval and eventually spotted and stalked one more successfully -

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I'm back at the house by 10, in time to post this and before the missus left for her two mile walk -



This mornings bag, about to be soaking in buttermilk, tonight's hor's d'ourves

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Maybe some input on the rifle, looks kinda home school.

home school ...hmm.... I guess it is....

This is an airgun made of boutique/aftermarket parts, based on the Crosman 22XX format, but geared for hpa - nothing that hasn't been done, just my version -

Cothran Machine 2250 hpa tube and valve, Grant Stace breech, Marauder pistol trigger pack, JDS Airman drop block adapter & 3000 13ci bottle regged to 1800 psi, shooting H&N 14.6 gr 22 caliber pellets through a 19.5" MellonAir prepped Crosman barrel at 945 or so -



EDIT: In a Tom West Stock
 
Beautiful woods and gorgeous rifle too!

I find offhand shooting so much steadier and more accurate with a sling that a rifle in the woods looks naked without one to me, though. But I'm an old guy, maybe they're out of fashion these days.

Thank you for the kind words, and I couldn't agree with you more about a sling - I just haven't figured out how to attach it -

Always used shotgun slings on my break barrels. Will figure something out before it's over lol
 
Yes sir that's what I'm talking about!!!

Sometimes hunt with my brothers but I find it much more serial one on one with nature in the big woods!!! 

Great write up and awesome hunt....so waiting for the 15th and a walk with the new Huntsman!

James from Michigan

Thanks James -

And I'll be looking for your first walk in the woods post with that .20!



And to Blackpaw, Ranchibi, Phildog59 - glad you enjoyed the pics and I do appreciate the positive comments!
 
Hi Steve,

How long is the barrel? and how long is the gun in total without the suppressor? What are the other specs like the length of the tank and what is the output pressure you have on the tank

Hello Fuciliere -

The .22 caliber Mellonair prepped Crosman barrel is19.5 inches, just long enough to clear the bottle. The bottle is 13ci/3000 psi, not sure of the exact length, will add that number with an edit.

The output pressure is 1800 psi. The valve is a Cothran Machine Powerhouse, and boy is it named correctly - using a 22XX hammer spring w/4 or 3 coils removed -

Have been doing google searches, and found a 2"/15ci bottle that's the same size in carbon fiber that fills to 4500 psi. Combined with an externally adjustable reg, should be the bee's knee's, but it's not due to hit the market till December - but she's shooting so well right now, just want to enjoy, rather than tinker -

Now to go get you some measurements -



EDIT: She's 34" from the butt pad to the base of the Donny FL Tanto, so actually just a little less w/o the 1/2" x20 adapter -

The bottle is of the 2" variety, and is approximatly 7.25" long