Well, I didn't see a damn squirrel the entire weekend, but had a ton of fun. For weeks I've had to deal with the guys in my hunting camp making comments, "Mikey, you bringing that new 'bb gun' up with ya?", "Mikey, where's that new bb gun at?" my dad and his buddies been driving deer up at this camp since 68, a decade before I even existed, so they are pretty hard to impress. Well after this weekend they have a new found respect for air rifles, and they went home knowing the name Benjamin. Everyone here agrees, 75 to 80 yards a head shot on a squirrel will be no problem for this .22
Took my Akela small game hunting
- Thread starter Toolmaker
- Start date
What pellets are you using and at what power setting? I can't get mine to group like that yet. I don't have a chrono so kind of hard to work with it. I was shooting the JSB 18s at full power yesterday at 100 yds i did OK but nothing to brag about. It was pretty windy out though. Think that messed with me some. I put 3 in about hole to hole then the next would be 3 inches right The beer box looked like I hit it with a shotgun when I was done. lol
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18s at 100 yards in the wind is asking a lot.
You would have to be spot on with your wind calls, and I mean spot on.
You would have to be spot on with your wind calls, and I mean spot on.
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It's the JSB 18.13gr at somewhere around 75-80% power. My chrono reads them between 920-925 feet per second. This was a replacement rifle sent by Benjamin. I'm not sure if they tuned it or something, but at 25 to 30 yards this will hold a pencil eraser size group. Make sure ya clean the barrel very well if ya haven't.
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Out past 80 I won't be hunting. It definitely peters out at 80, and the groups are not reliable in the wind. I have heavier pellets to try, but I wanted to document every thing for the JSB 18s first
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OK I'll re clean the barrel. The first time I did, it really wasn't that bad. I'll check that out though. I'll turn the power down a little and wait for the wind to quit. I live in Indiana and it was stupid yesterday. Gusts up to like 20 mph then it would settle down then right back. I kind of knew that I was just wasting lead. Overall for my first PCP I like the gun.
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Toolmaker,
WOW! Nice shooting! Squirrels have very good eyesight...assuming you know this and they hide very well. The property you are hunting is beautiful and very open, so no doubt you are going to have fun picking them off! I’m an avid Squirrel hunter too and in those woods....I hunt similar open woods, I would camo up as if I were turkey hunting, long sleeves, gloves and a face mask. The Squirrels probably saw you when coming in, so sit in an area were you are comfortable and that you know are multiple squirrels, be patient, monitor your hand and head movement, basically imagine yourself as a Snipper....slow motions are best. Keep your eyes peeled for any game movement, when you see movement range the tree with a range finder. Take your shots with stealth in mind. Most times l’ll sit in this manner for 45 min to an hour, usually after sitting for 30 minutes or so the Squirrels will start moving around again. Often I’ll get 2 or 3 Squirrels doing this from each location. After a few shots I’ll relocate to another area. Good luck, believe me when you do this your hunting buddies will be surprised and then buy their own PCP and join you in the fun!
Beach-gunner
Dennis
WOW! Nice shooting! Squirrels have very good eyesight...assuming you know this and they hide very well. The property you are hunting is beautiful and very open, so no doubt you are going to have fun picking them off! I’m an avid Squirrel hunter too and in those woods....I hunt similar open woods, I would camo up as if I were turkey hunting, long sleeves, gloves and a face mask. The Squirrels probably saw you when coming in, so sit in an area were you are comfortable and that you know are multiple squirrels, be patient, monitor your hand and head movement, basically imagine yourself as a Snipper....slow motions are best. Keep your eyes peeled for any game movement, when you see movement range the tree with a range finder. Take your shots with stealth in mind. Most times l’ll sit in this manner for 45 min to an hour, usually after sitting for 30 minutes or so the Squirrels will start moving around again. Often I’ll get 2 or 3 Squirrels doing this from each location. After a few shots I’ll relocate to another area. Good luck, believe me when you do this your hunting buddies will be surprised and then buy their own PCP and join you in the fun!
Beach-gunner
Dennis
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100% I notice does not group well compared to turning it down a slight bit. Just like a car, redlining the rpm will give you alot of power, but the engine is timed to run best at a certain rpm. For the rifle, it's clear it shoots best slightly over 900fps with the jsb
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Thanks Beach, this is Northern PA very close to NY. We must wear orange for small game here. You're 100% right tho, but I went up more for the hike. me hiking and making all kinds of noise scared em off.
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OK I'm happy. The wind died down, barrel was pretty clean I turned the power down to 3/4 JSB 18s I put 12 in about a dime size at 37 yds. That"s good enough for me. Especially with little bit of a hangover lol thanks for the help
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I'm going out hunting 1 morning in the coming week...not sure when depends on what is going on at work but should get to go Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday....I'll post results.
Beach-gunner
Dennis
Beach-gunner
Dennis
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What have you guys been using to clean your barrels? Yes I know this is a dumb question. Is there something that works better than the stuff I have for my rimfire rifles?
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Funny you ask, I just cleaned mine 10 minutes ago on lunch break at work. I just use any old kit, with break free. Run the copper brush then patches. Brass will ding and score steel if hit or scraped hard enough so if the brush or any other attachment hang up before going in don't force it. At work I have to beat part around all the time to indicate them I to lathes. Brass WILL DING STEEL, so we use lead or rawhide. So be careful when entering the bore.
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Thanks, I have plenty of that stuff laying around. I've put just shy of 1000 rounds through my Kratos, I think it's time for a cleaning...
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Just a reminder, there is a breach Oring in the barrel. After cleaning look to see if its still there. The pellet probe needs to be lubed so as to lube the Oring.
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Man oh man, with those gorgeous pictures I'm coming -- that's all there is to it.
And to impress those old farts even more I'll bring my modded Kral Jumbo .25, your Akela's cousin, to teach the wild boar a lesson as well. Any pesky parrots in the 'hood by chance?
And to impress those old farts even more I'll bring my modded Kral Jumbo .25, your Akela's cousin, to teach the wild boar a lesson as well. Any pesky parrots in the 'hood by chance?
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