Help a neighbor...or First Blood XL Style

[ezman604]

Well folks, it's been a while since I posted a story. And some of you may remember, I'm long winded when it comes to typing my AG adventures. For those of you that haven't read one of mine before, you're now forewarned. I just want anyone with the time to read them to get as good of a picture as possible. And hopefully a chuckle or two along the way. So, make yourself comfortable and here we go.

Yesterday I rushed home and fired up the old gas powered 48" goat and proceeded to munch and manicure the lawn. By the time I finished, my most DEFINATE better half had our dinner grilled and ready. I washed up and proceeded to throw down the groceries. After I made 2-3 happy plates, I looked outside and at my watch. Hey, I've got about 30 good minutes ofdaylight left. And since I need to pass some lead through the bore of my new XL1500 to get it seasoned, what better time? I ran out to the garage and retrieved my Beeman pellet trap, stuck a fresh 5" Shoot-N-C target to it and ran it out to my usual 25 yards, my nearest pecan tree from my deck. I brought out several different tins to test fire and just see how my XL liked the diet. And as with all my other beauties, my new XL likes CPHPs. I did shoot Gamo Red Fire, Gamo Rockets, Crosman Destroyers and a few others but I'll save that for another post.

Anywho, while I was stacking pellets, my new neighbor to the West was getting out of his truck and shouted, "You shootin' squirrels?" To which I replied, "I COULD, but not right now." I kept popping rounds into my trap as he ambled over. They just moved intoour ruralneighborhood about a month ago and one of the toys he has is a 5th wheel travel trailer. He said, is that a pellet gun? Which I proceeded to explain it's a MAGNUM pellet gun. He said the squirrels had gotten into his RV and reeked havoc. And if I saw any around to PLEASE put an end to his misery. I told him I'd gladly oblige and that Benji was fully capable of the task. Even though we are in a rural area with some surrounding clumps of trees, we don't have a lot of furry vermin roaming around. I have seen a pair of tree rats that reside in the trees in the yard of my neighbor to the East. I have given this pair a free pass MANY times over the last year in the hopes they would produce more furry targets for me to take my aggressions out on or to hone my shooting skills with. Now I feel I've GOT to help a neighbor out and earn his undying gratitude for saving his RV and sanity. So, no more free pass for the nuisance nutters!!!!

This morning I had to make a trip for work and swung by my house on the way. As I turned in my drive, what did my eyes behold, a fuzzy nutter sitting on the bench below my 25 yard target holding pecan tree. I drove into the garage while I said a prayer to PLEASE let him stay put for 2 minutes. JUST 2 minutes is all I need. I slid into the house and found my XL sitting there waiting for me since I parked it last night from punching paper and impressing my neighbor. Now's your chance boy, don't blow it. I cocked and slid a CPHP into the chamber. I slowly started opening the back door, it took about 15 minutes. Well, seemed like it anyway, even though it was only 15 seconds. He's still there, sitting in the yard munching on a pecan left over from last fall.

I carefully started cracking the storm door and sliding the barrel out into position. I glassed the bad boy and after getting him in the X, Igently squeezed the golden trigger. The CPHP went down range and in my follow-through, I saw the acrobatic twurp flip backwards and out of my scope sight. I thought, success. After lowering the rifle,I was very surprised to see him sitting VERY still and crouched down. He didn't move for several seconds, then bolted up the tree. I lost him in all the foliage. I scanned around but couldn't see any movement. But a closer look, that darn tree rat was stretched out in the first fork of the tree, either relaxing or recouperating. Either way, I had a perfect full side look at him. I reloaded and reglassed about his shoulder. I figured I would get either a head shot or a vitals out of it this time. And I hadn't REALLY zereod the scope, I'm still in the break-in period and testing. But, I sent the CPHP flying and again, the grey mass disappeared from my scope view. I lowered the rifle in disgust and about the count of 3,I heard a resounding thump. Lookingdown that way, I see the furball laying under the tree, feet pointing skyward.

Imosied down to see just what theXL & CPHP had done and saw that I made a vitals shot clean through.

So now, when I get home this afternoon, I can proudly tell the new neighbor that me & Benji have his back. Oh, and did I mention how much I LOVE this new AG?? Well,I should have. Man, this XL1500 is one heckova air rifle. It has allI wantin my toys. It's definately a magnum gun that's super accurate. I'm really looking forward to some long range testing. I'm probably going to do the old glass juggling again as soon as my side wheel BSA returns from repair/replacement. This gun definately deserves more than 3-9X40.

I have a projectplanned for my Benji SS that I'll be posting in the next week or two. And I'll be swapping barrels on the XL to an SS.22 for testing purposes also that I'll need to photograph and post. Be on the lookout forthose too. In the meantime....

Happy Shooting!!!!

Dave

[shadow]

Super story, shooting and pic's bro, sure there's more of em out there. Ed

[only1harry]

Nice shooting!  Hey if the neighbors ask you to shoot any squirrels you see, how can you say no?  It wouldn't be too neighborly of you

Is the XL 1500 the same gun as the Crosman Trail NP XL?  BTW, it looks like you got lots of property there for some nice 50+yd or long range target shooting.

[ezman604]

Yeah Harry, this is the Crosman/Benjamin Trail NP XL1500.

And I have an acre to mow. It gives me 50-75 yards of shooting lane to work with. I'm debating on getting some hay bales put in the very back as a safety backstop. The wife may not appreciate that and I may just have to keep to 50 yards or less using my 1-1/2" thick 4x4 backstop or pellet trap.

Hope the other tree rats venture on over soon. I'd like to give the neighbor a very positive report. It's the neighborly thing to do!!! LOL

Welcome Wagon, GTA style.

[ezman604]

Thanks Ed, just trying to share and entertain.

[longislandhunter]

Excellent shooting and nice pics, enjoyed your hunt  

Jeff

[only1harry]

Cool.  So you got the .177 version?  Don't the .177 pellets go supersonic or no?  

It must be nice to be able to shoot 40-50yds out though..  

My property is 101yds long but unfortunately I have houses on both sides, so I am confined to shooting only from the back of the house or the backyard towards the back.  Shooting diagonally from a back windor or backyard, I can only practice to 35yds max.  I did set up a rest in the middle of the driveway a couple of times and shot at targets 50yds behind the house.  I was shooting through 2 open doors of the chain-link fence  It feels weird shooting in the open from the side of the house where neighbors can see you, so I don't do that too often  I used to shoot 40-50yd targets all the time which were trees on top of the 14ft tall hill behind my house.  I used to pick a spot on a tree and shoot it from a 2nd floor window, but 2yrs ago they leveled that 1 wooded acre and built 2 houses up there so I can't do that either  I thought I would have really good privacy behind the house for ever, and had no clue they could build up there, but apparently it was private property and residentially zoned.  Well at least I have a 35-40yd long 14ft tall hill as a backstop 26yds behind the house, so I can't complain

[Gene_SC]

Great story Dave. I think I see some more of those nutters hiding in the trees... Great shot and glad you put up some pics of your take down..

[ezman604]

As with ANY advertised output, it'sexagerated or measured using PBA rounds to get your attention. But this gun CAN sling lead (other than PBA) to supersonic speeds. I haven't tested a lot and haven't chronied at all, YET. Was waiting to get it broke in a little first. But, when I shot Gamo Red Fire (8.0gr),those went supersonic for sure. A little quieterwhen I shot Gamo Rockets (9.6gr). When I shot CP Ultra Mags, it didn't seem to go supersonic. Will have to revisit and actually chrony in a few days. I have some Crow Magnums and other heavy weights to test also. But this is one GREAT gun,IMHO. Especially after adding a Tuna trigger. Not sure I even want to tear into it to home tune/lube.

And yes,it's a magnum .177 and will punch out supersonic on MOST rounds. I plan on slapping a .22 barrel on it when I get the time to really test. I'm VERY curious how it shoots, how accurate it will be with whichrounds and how much power it can generate as a .22. Will post those results soon.

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Dave!

[TheKnot]

nice story and pic's and the shooting not half bad either

[1377x]

congrats
nice shooting
its always a good thing to help a neighbor

[StrawHat]

Good job EZ!

[ezman604]

Thanks....I was out working in the yard yesterday and shouted at the neighbor that I got one of his pesky invaders. He said "REALLY???,that's great". His wife shouted "My Mom said for you to come over to her place when you finish here and help her out. She has dozens that sheREALLY needs gone. They are invading her attic." I said, Benji For Hire, at your service.

This may turn out to be fun. Will let ya'll know when/if I get over there. I've got a co-worker also saying we could just pull up a chair in his back yard and pop them all day long. My arsenal may get a fun workout soon!!!!