I do a lot of pesting around my house, which sits right behind an unattended 1.5 acre lot. There is a constant influx of field mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and sometimes foxes and coyotes, among other critters. Most of the shots I take are not very memorable, most are at 30 yards or less, and frankly rather boring, shooting the Cricket Mini Carbine off the bench on a bipod at that distance is not much of a challenge.
Yesterday however I took a shot, on a squirrel, that was very memorable. The shot was just a wee further than 30, maybe 35 yards way up high on a tree. I held just at the crown of the head, breathing calmly and collected (I'm currently suffering from severe acute bronchitis) I pulled the trigger very purposefully and almost instantly the 18 grain JSB Diabolo smacked into it's head with a very affirmative, authoritative, audible thud and I saw it just drop straight down. No hanging from a single claw, no stunned look on it's face, no frying pan dance. Just DOI, instant lights out.
I retrieved my quarry and brought it back to inspect the shot and the carcass as dinner was on my mind. I wanted in particular to see the shot placement, I had felt really good about it, but just needed to know. Upon close inspection I realized that the pellet entered dead center into the eye and exiting at the base of the right ear, but I was not sure of the exit as it looked like the ear meatus. So I pushed a thin stick into the wound channel and instantly saw brain matter just shoot out the ear, I had confirmation. But then I noticed something different. Upon palpation of the cranium I realized that it must have been shattered by the impact as it felt rather mushy. A post mortem autopsy was in order.
After donning my exam gloves (here's looking at you Bob), an incision was made with a very sharp and rather BA Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in s110v steel, but I digress. This confirmed my suspicions, all or most of the bony structure on the top of the cranium had been completely and utterly shattered by the sheer force of the pellet. That really brought together the sound and feel of the impact as I heard it from my shooting position. Damn! I love that Mini Carbine.
The squirrel in question was promptly processed and prepared for the grill as noted on my prior post https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/guess-whats-for-dinner-tonight/ . I do have pictures, but as the title says, there is just no way those pictures would ever tell this story.
Yesterday however I took a shot, on a squirrel, that was very memorable. The shot was just a wee further than 30, maybe 35 yards way up high on a tree. I held just at the crown of the head, breathing calmly and collected (I'm currently suffering from severe acute bronchitis) I pulled the trigger very purposefully and almost instantly the 18 grain JSB Diabolo smacked into it's head with a very affirmative, authoritative, audible thud and I saw it just drop straight down. No hanging from a single claw, no stunned look on it's face, no frying pan dance. Just DOI, instant lights out.
I retrieved my quarry and brought it back to inspect the shot and the carcass as dinner was on my mind. I wanted in particular to see the shot placement, I had felt really good about it, but just needed to know. Upon close inspection I realized that the pellet entered dead center into the eye and exiting at the base of the right ear, but I was not sure of the exit as it looked like the ear meatus. So I pushed a thin stick into the wound channel and instantly saw brain matter just shoot out the ear, I had confirmation. But then I noticed something different. Upon palpation of the cranium I realized that it must have been shattered by the impact as it felt rather mushy. A post mortem autopsy was in order.
After donning my exam gloves (here's looking at you Bob), an incision was made with a very sharp and rather BA Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in s110v steel, but I digress. This confirmed my suspicions, all or most of the bony structure on the top of the cranium had been completely and utterly shattered by the sheer force of the pellet. That really brought together the sound and feel of the impact as I heard it from my shooting position. Damn! I love that Mini Carbine.
The squirrel in question was promptly processed and prepared for the grill as noted on my prior post https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/guess-whats-for-dinner-tonight/ . I do have pictures, but as the title says, there is just no way those pictures would ever tell this story.
