Thought I missed

[outdoorman]

This one was directly facing me, sitting up chewing away on something. Took the shot from 21 yards, Diana 34 .22 JSB 15.89gr dome. Did not hear the customary sound of pellet hitting squirrel. In fact, I heard nothing. Squirrel ran to the nearest tree, ran up about 20 feet, turned around and stopped for a couple seconds facing down, then started down the tree and suddenly leaped away from the tree hitting the ground DOA. What the heck? Thought I missed not hearing that sound but didn't hear or see the pellet hit the ground either. Turns out I hit the squirrel square in the middle of it's chest which is exactly where I was aiming, but no sound?. That's a new experience for me.

 

[TiredRooster]

Good shot! They are tough as nails little rascals. Yes, I know the sound your talking about. It makes a sound that reminds me of shooting a tightly stretched, wet piece of leather. I know that sounds funny, but thats what I think about when I hear a pellet smack a squirrel. Good job!

TR

 

[outdoorman]

Yes, love that sound, like a baseball slamming into a catcher's mitt. Guess there isn't enough meat there in the front chest for that to happen. That squirrel lasted the usual 15 seconds with a heart/lung shot but I had no initial indication that I had hit him.

 

[intenseaty22]

Nice shot. Nothing like the satisfaction of knowing that you hit exactly where you meant to hit. I have had both in terms of the smacking sound of the pellet vs none at all. I think it depends on the placement and anatomical structures at the POI. 

 

[MScottLeeman]

To me,I've concluded that the sound of a good solid hit is like hitting a rotten apple with a baseball bat. Don't ask me how I arrived at this "conclusion",but thats the closest I could come.

Mike

 

[TiredRooster]

This is funny! Everybody knows the sound of a pellet making solid impact on a squirrel......but we all have our own mental images of what that sound "looks like".

 

[AirNGasman]

My guess is the pellet struck at a steep angle; likely penetrating more soft tissue before reaching loud bone-structure than steeper-angle shots, and dampening the impact volume.

 

[Papy_Yosh]

Never a good feeling to see them run when you have a clear shot. Scratching your head why, until they drop with the light off.
I have had that happening where the sound isn't there and I hate it. Thinking that I missed or wounded it. But your story ends well. Nice chest shot.

 

[Jheikkila]

That’s one of the best sounds in the world.

Way to stay on target. The follow though as bagged me a few grouse and rabbits that way over the years. 

 

[Jimborg]

I like the sound of a head shot !