GTA

General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : djmyers May 03, 2010, 01:16:44 PM

: 1st Starling!
: djmyers May 03, 2010, 01:16:44 PM
Well got home from work today and there were a few grackles coming in and out but with the wind blowing the tree with the feeder all over they wernt hanging around very long. The stralings were doing their usual hot laps around the yard. They would stark about 60 yards out walking all over the yard making their way in twords the house. This one was wandering around in perfect range. I walked inside set up the tripod loaded the 350 and was procedeing to follow him around waiting for it to pause just long enough to shoot. My wife decided it was at that exact time the tiem that we MUST leave right now for walmart so now she is heckling me. So there he is wandering around at a feverish pace with heckling me right to left wind 15-20 mph on our indicator, range was estamated at 30 cross hairs on his head, this gave me about 1/4 mil of elevation. The starling turned twords the house and notice a worm, he ducted and right when he stood up with the worm I let the JSB 10.2 fly! THWACK! the starling did a flip onto its back and didnt flinch again. I celebrated then went out to get in the truck and thank goodnes my son did not have his shoes on yet, gave me time to walk out to pick up the starling so I didnt loose it. I paced it off at 29 yards from the edge of the flower bed to the bird. Flower bed is about 3-4 ft deep and I sit back about 6-7 ft from the window so range was 30-31 yards. These starling s are a chore. They are always moving around bobing up and down. Tracking them off a tripod is a pain out of a window only open about 12 inches. My hats off to your guys knocking them down all the time. Got pics of the entry and exit and the bird with the gun. Man I am really liking this 350 mag more every time I get her out. Enjoy the pics. My wife works Wed Thur Sat-tues so will have lots of time to shoot sat evening adn rest of the days she works. Starlings bewarned!  :)
: Re: 1st Starling!
: dk1677 May 03, 2010, 01:38:55 PM
Nice shooting!
: Re: 1st Starling!
: longislandhunter May 03, 2010, 02:23:00 PM
Good shooting.... looks like a healthy bull starling  :)

Jeff
: Re: 1st Starling!
: ShadowShot May 03, 2010, 02:51:03 PM
Hammer Time :)
: Re: 1st Starling!
: Furseeker May 03, 2010, 03:04:59 PM
Dj great shooting man. I know how tuff those kind of shots can be. I killed quite a few last winter but they were fairly easy, just hanging on the suet feeders. So hats off to the good shot. Nice looking set up you have there with the 350. Keep at them, can't wait to see and read about the next success.
: RE: 1st Starling!
: onemountain May 03, 2010, 03:28:15 PM


Nice shot.



Did the worm survive?

: RE: 1st Starling!
: only1harry May 03, 2010, 03:39:55 PM
Good shooting on that male Starling!  It's not easy shooting moving Starlings with a 350.  

What kind of scope do you have on the 350?  A CenterPoint?  Let us know how it holds up.  The 350 eats scopes.  All we can do is make sure we check the mount and ring screws regularly as well as the stock screws.. other than paying $500 for a Leupy or Bushy 4200 which I am not doing.

JSB's are very accurate pellets.  I got some 8.4gr I want to try with my Diana 350 and 36 .177 guns but have not had a chance yet so they are still in sealed tins.  But just got to shoot some 14.3gr JSB Express over the wknd with my other 350 .22.  I am very happy with them.  More accurate than the CP's & CPHP's, and just as accurate or better than the JSB 15.8gr Jumbos.
: RE: 1st Starling!
: djmyers May 03, 2010, 11:07:39 PM
Yes the hostage was saved, he is currently in counselng but will recover. Lol

the scope is the leapers golden image 3-9x40ao, already killed one but this one is holding sofar,with the BSA laser light combo on top. The laser sucks and am looking to replace it with another light. I was also looking at the center point 4-16x44ao scope last night. That thing is sweet and I'll probably get it tomorrow when the boss is working. I shoot jsb out of all my guns. 7.33 out of the springe big cat 8.4 in the np hunter and 10.2 in the 350. Have tried alot of other pellets but these work best for me. They are accurate to 65 yards. I've hit the plastic trainer golf balls at the range and every grackle under 35 yards I've hit with the 350 has been a confirmed kill with most penetrating all the way through.

Will keep y'all posted on the next round.
: RE: 1st Starling!
: shadow May 03, 2010, 11:14:14 PM
Good shooting and pic's Dj and that's how we like to see the Yellow Beak's... taking dirt naps. :) Ed
: RE: 1st Starling!
: airiscool May 04, 2010, 12:49:58 AM
Congrats on your first Starling DJ.  Especially so with such windy conditions.

Paul
: Re: 1st Starling!
: atchman2 May 04, 2010, 03:01:07 AM
Nice shooting and you KNOW I love the gun!  Starlings won't come to my backyard.  I'd have to use the Whisper and stealth mode to ever get one.  I can just see me setting in my blind in the front yard to nuke starlings :)
: Re: 1st Starling!
: tjk May 04, 2010, 04:32:27 AM
Not too bad DJ,...not too bad at all. The 350 is a hard rifle to master and it looks like you're getting the hang of it!!!! Now can you do the same task on a House (English) Sparrow? That's when you'll really get a thrill!!! Smaller targets are ALWAYS more rewarding!!! Especially at long range. Great Job Bro', keep it up! tjk
: RE: 1st Starling!
: onemountain May 04, 2010, 05:29:37 AM
Excellent! GTA's first hostage rescue!
: Re: 1st Starling!
: clip May 04, 2010, 05:38:27 AM
WTG there DJ! I'm like you...hate starlings! I took my 22nd one this morning. I'm switching out rifles every other day starting with an older Gamo Hunter Elite and then using my new Crosman NPSS...both in 177. I have a feeder about 12 yards from my shooting post which they can't resist. I'm a bit sneaky in that I shoot from a prone position through the dog-door. I don't have to worry about spooking 'em because I don't have to open any door, just put the rifle through the door flap the dogs use and I'm on target.
: Re: 1st Starling!
: gamo2hammerli May 04, 2010, 07:19:45 AM
Excellent 30 yard shot at that flying varmint with your 350 Mag.  Looks like the JSB pellet got him right in the middle of his back.