I got up early this morning, and put a chicken in the crock pot for tonight*.
Just as I finished that, I glanced out the window and saw a she-nutter working the grounds under the squirrel-proof feeder. I decided to try a head shot with the .22 Hammerli 850, its preferred ammo. I rolled the high speed video, braced on the sliding door frame, and released the medicine. The JSB 14.3 entered the back of her head with a high-pitched whack, and she fell down on her face. A short breakdance ensued.
In the video, you can see where the pellet hit the grass behind her. I heard it hit a tree in the background about a half a second later.
She didn't quite slow that 28 FPE pellet down enough for my comfort level. They ricochet off of frozen ground if they're going too fast upon exit; the angle is just too shallow to have a lot of extra power without a solid backstop at 90° to the pellet's trajectory. I'll be going back to the .177 Compatto with H&N Hunters at 13 or 17 FPE for squirrel size and smaller from now on. I'll reserve the hammer for raccoons, possums and skunks.
In other news, my next-door neighbor has bought a new cat, and she seems to want it to be an outdoor cat. She loves prowling around my back yard, and I haven't decided what to do about it yet. It's a nice cat, but it's only a matter of time before it starts using my wife's vegetable garden as a litter box. I'm thinking maybe the local raccoons or coyotes will make a meal of her one night.
Please forgive the low res pix at the end of the video. I downsized them for uploading here, forgetting that they'll look terrible at full screen when appended to a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3iPjQ7PDY
* Crock Pot roasted chicken:
Seasoning mix:
1) wash and pat dry the chicken
2) Rub it inside and out with the seasoning mix.
3) Put some chopped root veggies in the bottom of the crock pot (or 4 balls of aluminum foil, if you don't have veggies on hand) to keep the chicken cooking indirectly
4) Cook on low for at least 8 hours
5) come home to dinner after work. (maybe add a salad, for some greens?)
Just as I finished that, I glanced out the window and saw a she-nutter working the grounds under the squirrel-proof feeder. I decided to try a head shot with the .22 Hammerli 850, its preferred ammo. I rolled the high speed video, braced on the sliding door frame, and released the medicine. The JSB 14.3 entered the back of her head with a high-pitched whack, and she fell down on her face. A short breakdance ensued.
In the video, you can see where the pellet hit the grass behind her. I heard it hit a tree in the background about a half a second later.
She didn't quite slow that 28 FPE pellet down enough for my comfort level. They ricochet off of frozen ground if they're going too fast upon exit; the angle is just too shallow to have a lot of extra power without a solid backstop at 90° to the pellet's trajectory. I'll be going back to the .177 Compatto with H&N Hunters at 13 or 17 FPE for squirrel size and smaller from now on. I'll reserve the hammer for raccoons, possums and skunks.
In other news, my next-door neighbor has bought a new cat, and she seems to want it to be an outdoor cat. She loves prowling around my back yard, and I haven't decided what to do about it yet. It's a nice cat, but it's only a matter of time before it starts using my wife's vegetable garden as a litter box. I'm thinking maybe the local raccoons or coyotes will make a meal of her one night.
Please forgive the low res pix at the end of the video. I downsized them for uploading here, forgetting that they'll look terrible at full screen when appended to a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3iPjQ7PDY
* Crock Pot roasted chicken:
Seasoning mix:
- 1/2 tbsp paprika
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp multi-purpose seasoning (ex. Mrs. Dash)
1) wash and pat dry the chicken
2) Rub it inside and out with the seasoning mix.
3) Put some chopped root veggies in the bottom of the crock pot (or 4 balls of aluminum foil, if you don't have veggies on hand) to keep the chicken cooking indirectly
4) Cook on low for at least 8 hours
5) come home to dinner after work. (maybe add a salad, for some greens?)
