What am I doing wrong?
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: New to airguns?
Forum Name: Tips and things to look out for
Forum Description: Thinking of getting into airgunning? ask you questions here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=338
Printed Date: 23 Apr 2024 at 9:47pm
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Topic: What am I doing wrong?
Posted By: Ahudot
Subject: What am I doing wrong?
Date Posted: 02 May 2017 at 11:59am
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Hello, Am plagued by feral roosters which sleep too high in the trees for me to grab at night and are way too fast on the ground. Bought a Hatsan 70 .177 secondhand, which are supposed to have a fps of 1000. I have H & N field target trophy pellets. Pinged away at apples on the fence till I had my eye in, then went after them. Damned things just fly off laughing, even when I'm sure I hit them. One incautiously went to sleep in a low apple tree last night, shot it in the head from a range of about 3 inches, went out this morning with a spade, it is still well and happy. Could the spring be worn? Is there something else that might need adjustment/repair? Have spoken to someone who has the same gun, reckons he uses his on possums. Cheers, Ahudot
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Replies:
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 02 May 2017 at 7:15pm
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The best way to tell is by using a chrony but not everyone has one. If you shot at a piece of pine framing from 1 m, how far in does the pellet go? Maybe someone here has experience shooting roosters. I know some birds are hard to kill and you need to get them in the right spot. Layers of feathers can stop pellets dead. ------------- |
Posted By: Flub
Date Posted: 02 May 2017 at 7:32pm
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1000fps is the 'marketing' number achieved using the lightest posible pellets and doesn't mean much in the real world. However, this rifle using Trophy's is easily capable of taking out any bird at up to 30m with a head shot. The shot at 3" would have passed straight through the head and could have missed the brain (it's pretty small). If you are shooting straight up into a tree you need to aim a couple of inches low because the trajectory is a lot flatter than shooting along the ground. You could be missing over their heads, which would certainly wake them up. |
Posted By: Ahudot
Date Posted: 02 May 2017 at 8:06pm
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Thank you Flub and Pauly, I will persevere then, interesting about missing the brain, and yes, I had noticed that The gun shoots high even when used level, I will allow for extra again when shooting straight up. Regards Ahudot |
Posted By: Flub
Date Posted: 03 May 2017 at 12:55am
| If it shoots high even when level then you need to adjust the sights properly. I think that maybe you should practice some more before shooting live animals so that you can be sure of humane kills. |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 03 May 2017 at 7:36am
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And with a powerful springer I wouldn't rest it on anything hard when aiming as the recoil will ruin your aim. Google artillery hold, where you basically hold it in soft hands and let the gun do what it does. ------------- |
Posted By: Ahudot
Date Posted: 03 May 2017 at 11:00am
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Thank you both, even with the sight wound right down flat it is still high, but I know how high so can allow. Hadn't noticed much in the way of recoil, but will check the artillery hold out. Had actually given up on just stalking them round the property as I felt guilty about hitting them without killing them,but really thought that a close shot like 3 inches would be foolproof. Checked out where chickens brains actually are, they are nearly down into their necks! I had assumed they were kind of in the middle of their heads -not so. Will continue to practice before I have another go unless one is unwise enough to roost 4 feet off the ground again.
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Posted By: Flub
Date Posted: 04 May 2017 at 1:41am
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Just a thought. If it is shooting high with the sights screwed right down, check to see if the barrel is bent upwards by resting a straight edge, such as a rular, on top of the barrel. There shouldn't be a gap. A fairly common problem with break barrel rifles is if the piston is released whilst loading (accidental trigger pull or sear not fully latched). This causes the barrel to fly up quickly and when it suddenly stops, it bends upwards. Always hold the barrel (or cocking lever) when loading. |
Posted By: Ahudot
Date Posted: 14 May 2017 at 9:10am
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Hello, cold night last night so both roosters incautiously came down to sleep with my chickens and I was able to grab and cull them and once the deed was done made the following experiments while getting them ready for the pot. Slug to any body part which is covered with feathers, at one foot range, doesn't even go through the feathers. Slug to bald facial area goes in about a quarter inch. Could not find any sign of injury to skin on either bird once plucked. Now in soup pot on back of wood burner, will check bottom of pot for pellets but suspect there will be none. Do not think I will be bothering any possums with this gun, but am enjoying pinging apples off fence. I wonder if a .22 would work better on possums, they know all about Timms traps, only ever got two, then found one using it as a picnic table to eat my pears grr. Cheers, Ahudot |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 14 May 2017 at 9:15am
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Maybe your gun has a broken spring. They can still operate for a while like that, but your power would be way down. Your tests sound as though it could be lacking power. I agree feathers will stop pellets, but the head shots sound odd. ------------- |
Posted By: Flub
Date Posted: 14 May 2017 at 9:13pm
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At a 1ft range there isn't a feather out there that will stop a pellet from a 8ft/lb+ air rifle. I have a Hammerli 850 0.177 CO2 rifle running 11ft/lbs. It will put a hole straight through a rabbits head at 20yds, so a rooster head at 1ft has no chance. With it shooting high at such an obviously low power I reckon the previous owner fired it with the barrel cocked. This has bent the barrel and damaged the piston head and/or spring. You need to get it checked out. |
Posted By: Flub
Date Posted: 14 May 2017 at 9:31pm
| I see from your profile that you live in Rodney District. Maybe you could contact the North Harbour airgun club as I'm sure someone there would take a look. They'd also have a chronograph to check the power. There are some members on here who may see this and help. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2020 at 1:56pm
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Please dont shoot anything live until its had a once over. stick to paper targets for now, and agree with shooting a piece of pine to see penetration. Suggest taking a trip to Youngs airguns. $30 will get it stripped regreased and tested, with inspection for any faults. Parts will be extra if needed, jsut make him aware you want to know costs before proceeding. ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2020 at 1:57pm
Haha, ignore that, i see the post was from 2017!  anyway, point is that everyone should go to youngs airguns for a visit ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2020 at 8:15pm
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Good on ya mate. (Speights Ale add GIF) ------------- |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2022 at 1:29pm
| try under the wing from behind . the feathers aren't as heavy, the pellet is heading into the vital organs. the breast is a large amount of muscle and bone and surprising resilient. the head is good option for clean kills if you hit right, but can also lead to misses which may damage the beak or cause glancing head wounds. under the wing is the technique I've been using on pidgin in trees and its pretty effective. |