Currently, I a working two part time jobs until a new career one comes along, and interviews finally starting next week. However, for now I try to hunt / pest when I can even for a quicky.
One nice thing is one of my two permissions is LITERALLY right off the freeway and the landowner loves me, reminder I need to bring donuts for next outing. So between my morning and afternoon job I ran out to the main permission, the usual for some more practice with Glimmer (my RTI PPC). Today, was still damn cold 12 F / -10 C, and this is without wind chill.
Setup RTI Prophet Performance Compact - 177 barrel kit CZ barrel using JSB Hades at 885 FPS or 18 FPE estimate. I did a little more adjustment down on the reg pressure, 105 bar, and slightly up on hammer spring. After a 25 yard sight in I gave it a go. Winds were around 10 mph / 16 kph. I started off using my AccuTac bipod but one of the legs froze. (Can anyone suggest how to keep a leg from freezing if some snow gets in?) Moderator DonnyFL Tanto. When I left the house I filled the gun to 260 bar, after plinking, sighting in, missing showing hands how quiet Glimmer is with the Tanto and kills, I used 3ishx 15 shot magazines, with an ending pressure of 210 bar (just checked), that is pretty economical in my book. The 22 barrel kit should be sent this or the beginning of next week.
This time out I wore FLEECE lined pants I picked up yesterday at Costco, excellent investment for $25. AND I wore my ‘poop kicker” boots, though uninsulated so double socked.
I had a slow start. The doves were skittish, and pigeons were unfound, except for the pair I missed at 45 yards. However, I redeemed myself with this shot. There was a group of about 20 doves, and I stalked my way there, of course no cover, so I was hoping for a dumb one to stick around, well it happened. The range was 64 yards using my range finder, a Halo 450. I took aim at the single dove, and for a Hail Mary shot, remember 64 yards in wind with a 177 10.34 grain Hades. Well, pop and the dove does down over the far edge of the roof into the paddock. I come around corner and the dove is stone dead, with no exit hole. I seem to do better at distance than close…hhhmm
Any suggestions why?
Along the way I popped some sparrows and saw some doves in a grove of trees behind some straw bales. Okay here is where it gets embarrassing and know I need more target time with Glimmer, however, it shows what a good add on the Tanto for Glimmer. I crouch behind the straw bales and take aim at a dove in a tree, and miss. The doves look around wondering what happened, the 177 / Tanto mix makes for a VERY quiet combo. Distance was around 40-50 yards. My angle though from the bales was awkward and wish I had the tripod on for those shot, well next time I will.
The last dove I got was feeding around the calf paddocks and was on top of the shelter, at 30ish yards I connected and had a clean pass through. Though a follow up shot was needed for an immediate end to the situation. Then I catch the attention of the neighborhood, around 4 magpies following me around and a large (really large) Red Tail Hawk, who is probably the reason the doves were do on edge, ME!?, I am harmless
. I throw. dove towards the hawk and decided I will let it and the magpies decide who gets it, but my money is on the hawk, he was 3 times the size of a magpie.
One note, today and the last time I was out at the main dairy I was curious why there were no sparrows in the barn, now I know why. Another “sparrow” took up residence, first name Sparrow and last name Hawk.
One nice thing is one of my two permissions is LITERALLY right off the freeway and the landowner loves me, reminder I need to bring donuts for next outing. So between my morning and afternoon job I ran out to the main permission, the usual for some more practice with Glimmer (my RTI PPC). Today, was still damn cold 12 F / -10 C, and this is without wind chill.
Setup RTI Prophet Performance Compact - 177 barrel kit CZ barrel using JSB Hades at 885 FPS or 18 FPE estimate. I did a little more adjustment down on the reg pressure, 105 bar, and slightly up on hammer spring. After a 25 yard sight in I gave it a go. Winds were around 10 mph / 16 kph. I started off using my AccuTac bipod but one of the legs froze. (Can anyone suggest how to keep a leg from freezing if some snow gets in?) Moderator DonnyFL Tanto. When I left the house I filled the gun to 260 bar, after plinking, sighting in, missing showing hands how quiet Glimmer is with the Tanto and kills, I used 3ishx 15 shot magazines, with an ending pressure of 210 bar (just checked), that is pretty economical in my book. The 22 barrel kit should be sent this or the beginning of next week.
This time out I wore FLEECE lined pants I picked up yesterday at Costco, excellent investment for $25. AND I wore my ‘poop kicker” boots, though uninsulated so double socked.
I had a slow start. The doves were skittish, and pigeons were unfound, except for the pair I missed at 45 yards. However, I redeemed myself with this shot. There was a group of about 20 doves, and I stalked my way there, of course no cover, so I was hoping for a dumb one to stick around, well it happened. The range was 64 yards using my range finder, a Halo 450. I took aim at the single dove, and for a Hail Mary shot, remember 64 yards in wind with a 177 10.34 grain Hades. Well, pop and the dove does down over the far edge of the roof into the paddock. I come around corner and the dove is stone dead, with no exit hole. I seem to do better at distance than close…hhhmm
Any suggestions why?Along the way I popped some sparrows and saw some doves in a grove of trees behind some straw bales. Okay here is where it gets embarrassing and know I need more target time with Glimmer, however, it shows what a good add on the Tanto for Glimmer. I crouch behind the straw bales and take aim at a dove in a tree, and miss. The doves look around wondering what happened, the 177 / Tanto mix makes for a VERY quiet combo. Distance was around 40-50 yards. My angle though from the bales was awkward and wish I had the tripod on for those shot, well next time I will.
The last dove I got was feeding around the calf paddocks and was on top of the shelter, at 30ish yards I connected and had a clean pass through. Though a follow up shot was needed for an immediate end to the situation. Then I catch the attention of the neighborhood, around 4 magpies following me around and a large (really large) Red Tail Hawk, who is probably the reason the doves were do on edge, ME!?, I am harmless
. I throw. dove towards the hawk and decided I will let it and the magpies decide who gets it, but my money is on the hawk, he was 3 times the size of a magpie.One note, today and the last time I was out at the main dairy I was curious why there were no sparrows in the barn, now I know why. Another “sparrow” took up residence, first name Sparrow and last name Hawk.
. Glad you were able to get out and thanks for sharing your photos.