Close misses at 220 yards

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pcparmy

pcparmy

Member
Mar 27, 2019
351
20
NY
These woodchucks are terrorising my pastures. This one got away with only a haircut. It was hitting way right of where i thought it should. Maybe spin. Maybe scope cant. Ill be installing a level today to eliminate that possibility. I had good dope out to 250 but these also hit higher than expected due to a light upward angle and temp increase. I cow to do better next time around. Anyway, enjoy the long shots.

25 fx crown.

Nsa 36 grain slug at 840fps

nightforce 5.5-22

https://youtu.be/m7AfeY_5T_M
 
I probably have a different opinion than others and am willing to get flamed. We as hunters have an obligation to take animals, whether predators, varmints, or game as humanely as possible. That said, IMO, 220 yards is way to far to ensure a clean kill with an air rifle. Sure, you may hit the animal, but the environment factors that affect the pellets flight path minimize the ability to accurately place the shot. The chances of wounding the animal are far greater than a clean kill at those distances. Then the animal suffers a lingering, slow death. To me, that is unethical and not a shot a hunter should consider. A centerfire/rimfire rifle, which carry much more energy and accuracy would be the only choice for animals that far away. Or, at least stalk the animal to get within a much more reasonable, ethical distance for the type of weapon being used. I am not an anti-gun/anti-hunter guy. I have shot many animals throughout my life. It is our obligation to set up the shot to ensure a clean, humane kill. 
 
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I figured I would get some responses like that, and to be honest I agree entirely on all animals except woodchucks. I respect what you guys have said and Ill explain my position 

Every year they cause me thousands of dollars in damage to tractors and implements They also cause at least a few of my animals to come up lame each year. I have no love for them and I shoot them on sight. That being said ......

If you look at the shots I took the animal was nearly perfectly head on Any hit was likely to have gone the length of the body and killed it cleanly or hit it in the head. The slug still had 20 ftlbs of energy and would have gotten it done.

Also take the distance out of the equation for just a moment. Look at the misses They were close. So close, that I wager to bet that anyone who spoke or will speak on ethics has missed a shot by that much due to wind, a bad squeeze, or a bad range. I showed you my miss I think thats the only difference. The slug that touched him didnt harm him, and just grazed his head I observed him eating less than two minutes later after he stopped running.



If you have not missed by that much, I apologise for speaking to your abilities. You are clearly a much, much better shot than I am.



Again, I believe that you only take shots you think you can make. I thought I would make this one, and it had the energy. I do however also believe that you make imperfect shots, and if you dont .......you are amazing.

What is the difference between missing at 50 on a starling and missing a chuck at 220? You saw my cold bore shot. I think its pretty obvious im not just flinging lead with no idea where it might land.




 
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I too like you believe the only good groundhog is a dead groundhog. However why are you not using a centerfire at those distance to get the job done. Even with the use of slugs now I still believe you need to precisely place the shot between the eye and ear to take them out. With that in mind I would limit your shots to where you can consistently hit a inch size target depending on your skills and wind conditions. Bill
 
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Hey Bill. For the same reasons anyone shoots an airgun- noise, safety, pleasure. Lots of kids and lots of people working on the farm I try to avoid centerfires for varmints these days.



Up until now i have been a big believer in the head shot only for woodchucks. The 25 cal slugs are changing my mind though. I have successfully killed at least ten past 100 with chest and neck shots. There is a definitive difference between my 22 slug gun and this 25 in terms of stopping power. Seems like midribs and up will get it done. Nothing wrong with shooting one through the lungs and it runs down the hole never to come back up, same as a deer running fifty yards and crashing in my mind.
 
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Hey Bill. For the same reasons anyone shoots an airgun- noise, safety, pleasure. Lots of kids and lots of people working on the farm I try to avoid centerfires for varmints these days.



Up until now i have been a big believer in the head shot only for woodchucks. The 25 cal slugs are changing my mind though. I have successfully killed at least ten past 100 with chest and neck shots. There is a definitive difference between my 22 slug gun and this 25 in terms of stopping power. Seems like midribs and up will get it done. Nothing wrong with shooting one through the lungs and it runs down the hole never to come back up, same as a deer running fifty yards and crashing in my mind.
Click to expand...

Okay I will go with your experience on the slugs effectiveness to the chest. I have been amazed at the expansion that some shooters are showing with slugs. It would almost be like shooting them with a .22 rimfire to the chest, sometimes kills them out right and sometimes they make it down the hole but they are dead. I would in that case shoot at a range that you can reliable make that chest shot. Bill
 
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Here’s my opinion.

i really don’t care how each chooses to shoot. Not my business.

BUT what pulls my chain is when the same person is always talking about ethical kills and then turns around with an air rifle and is shooting stuff at 200 yards.

and now I am hearing the latest excuse that they are using slugs! Way too much can happen at those ranges to be sure of your shot.

pcparmy.... do u have an option to get closer? Either way, it doesn’t bother me you flinging lead at those ranges.

in the end, the slug craze is just the next way for companies to suck in the shooter and make more money.

any effective range for an airgun whether it’s power or accuracy, can be achieved with pellets.

just like anything else, we’ve reached that tipping point in the sport where it’s all bells and whistles now to make things better.
 
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Hey ts.

Yes i do of course have the option to get closer. Long range shooting just appeals to me. I can tell ive struck a nerve on this forum with this post so ill avoid it in the future. Not sure what the difference is between an average shooter shooting 90 yards and an experienced shooter stretching it to 200 with 25 ft lbs left...... its like the normal deer hunters that shoot at deer at 100 and have the same chance of killing it as i do at 700, but ill leave it there.



I think i know who you are referring to about talking ethics all the time and then going long in the next breath, and im sure it isnt me because i dont speak to others activities. I get that. If we are thinking about the same fella id back him in that hes put in the practice and if he thinks he can do it now good for him. He has sure put in the time and i think he can be effective on pests at long range Or at least as effective as an average shooter at moderate distances. Ive watched his skill grow and his expectations of hits at ranges change.



All respectfully stated and i understand the positions of everyone who has spoken on this subject.






 
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Thanks for the video. It appears you do your sight work before you take your shot and to me that means your trying to make clean kills. So I'm not sure how putting you down for a miss is valid. We are talking about a pest problem here. If you consider the dust the slugs are throwing up I think almost any hit would be a kill shot. At that range I'm impressed with even a near miss. Better luck next time.
 
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Thanks for sharing the video, takes awhile to get out to that range but looks like you were pretty clear left to right. It's hard to judge another hunters ethics, for me I think it's up to the individual hunter. These are Varmints and I can totally understand the damage they may cause to property and livestock, sometimes war is not fair. I know that NSA will be coming out with some lighter slugs that may fair you better than the 36gr. Best wishes 😊
 
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