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Paulius1981 · Member

I always go for headshots on rabbits because it doesn't damage any meat.

Also, shooting for a heart/lung shot gives you more of a chance of a gutshot rabbit...which is not only a very slow and painful death for the rabbit, but taints the meat even if you do track it down.

Just my opinion

ledsmoke · New Member

Well Paulius1981, with rabbits its a lot easier than with fowl, since the head is soo darn big on them. I dont know the exact, ehmm, "head to body ratio" but you would agree it is a lot more than any fowl I know of.
And they dont move their heads so fast as birds either.

Anyhow the idea that a gut shot is more painful to die from than starving to death because the jaw is a broken and pussfilled wound is, well, strange to me.

Anyways it is still a matter of debate and perhaps I will just agree to disagree on this one. I can live with a little meat loss. For others that may not be a option.
Have a nice one.

fritz · Silver Status Member

I aim for the neck. Instant and total paralyzation of all limbs. Generally also stops the brain's signals (no more heart and lungs because the brain tells them what to do). In addition to this the usually game is so small that the pellet will also disturb major blood vessels and the trachea (no more blood to the head, no air to the body).

The neck is also a slightly larger target, if you miss one way it will hit the head. I have also had much success with shots to the upper body right near the neck (because it knocks out the spinal cord).

Paulius1981 · Member

@ledsmoke

Here's my way of thinking:

If I shoot at a bird's head, I think it's far more likely that a miss will result in a 'clean miss'. If I shoot high or there's a sudden gust of wind and the pellet goes left or right, it's more likely I'll hit nothing but air...and shooting low is likely to result in a neck shot.

If I go for a heart/lung shot and miss, there's more chance that my missed shot it still going to wound the bird.

With rabbits, you're absolutely right...that's something I hadn't thought of.

Up until very recently I only hunted rabbits with a .22LR Rifle, which delivers roughly ten times the energy of my .177 air rifle...which makes it far more difficult to just wound a rabbit with a headshot.

I bow to your greater air gun hunting experience.

Smile

fritz · Silver Status Member

How much hyrdostatic shock is there with a .22lr, compared to an airgun?

Paulius1981 · Member

I don't know any exact statistics, I can only go from personal experience... but a .22LR Hollowpoint does significantly more damage.

Basically, if I compare my air rifle to my 22LR, the 22LR round is four times heavier, travels almost 50% faster and delivers around ten times the energy at impact.

Long story short, when I shoot an apple with my air rifle, I get an entry hole and a bigger exit hole...when I shoot an apple with my 22LR, I get apple sauce.

mneumiller · Member

I am a firm believer in shot placement. Size doesn't matter any more than to the extent that you need to use what is legal for the game you are pursuing.

I deer hunt in my home state of North Dakota where and .22 caliber center fire is legal. So, I use a .223, usually shoot 55gr ballistic tips of the generic mass reloaded variety. I have NEVER lost a deer. I have had them run, but they always fall. The furthest one ever went was 40 yards, and he had NO heart left and a broken right front leg.

I could take head shots, and probably hit them. I am that confident in my marksmanship and equipment. That being said, I don't want the mess of splattered brains. I've never seen them and have no desire to either; which is kind of odd really, as I am sure they smell better than the exploded guts you get sometimes.

Important things to remember with deer hunting, though, is we seldom get a shot at a still target (I know what hunters education says, but I want to eat). Center mass of chest area, with a lead out to about the nose is usually sufficient. Also, the body offers more mass to stop the bullet, where as the head is harder yes, but smaller too. Don't want bullets flying off into the distance, hit or miss.

I know of one guy up here that takes head shots all the time. He also is a farmer and knows where to sit to get those good shots, I don't have the time to invest in scouting.

Long story short - I'd shoot a deer with a .220 swift if I had one. Just have to put the bullet where it belongs.

I've a .177 for myself and one shared with my step-father. Mines an RWS 350. I am certain if I put the pellet where it belongs, there will be no issues.

Too many people simply put fur in the scope and blast away. Is it right or wrong? The prey is just as dead, but its also a lot of times a waste of meat.

There is absolutely no replacement for marksmanship when hunting, regardless of the gun (bow, powder burners, muzzle loaders, spears, airguns, whatever). Do not rely solely on the energy your gun develops to dispatch your prey.

Shoot straight and true, and you'll eat regardless.

Matt

dobiman · Veteran Member

Quote:
I could take head shots, and probably hit them. I am that confident in my marksmanship and equipment. That being said, I don't want the mess of splattered brains. I've never seen them and have no desire to either;

Reply:
I had the opportunity to take head shots on deer a couple of times. It is not as messy as you may think. Most of the brain will just cleanly disappear out the bullet exit hole or the crack in the skull. And the eyeballs will bulge out kind of goofy like. Then all the meat is intact for eating. No bits of bullet lead, or large bullet trauma damages, or spilled gut into the meat.