GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : longislandhunter January 27, 2008, 02:31:47 PM
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Got home from work this afternoon around 3 pm so decided to go hunting again. I was gonna grab the Panther again but then I had a better idea. I took the .22 cal QB-57 off the shelf and decided to take her on her first "big woods" hunt. My plan was to take advantage of the rifles small size and very simple 4x scope and target the rabbits that live in the briar thickets as they started to get active at the end of the day.
I spent the last hours of daylight slowly working my way through as many briar thickets as I could "squeeze" through. The shooting, if I could find any rabbits, would all be close in shooting, within 15 yards, and the small size of the QB and the simple 4x scope proved a perfect combination for this type of hunting. I found it easy to move through the thickets while having the rifle up and ready for a quick shot and the scope made it easy to just get on target easily. It would've been very difficult to maneuver in the thickets with a full sized rifle..
Well,, even though I know the rabbits are in there I never did spot any,,, but I was really pumped about how perfect the QB-57 is for this kind of hunting. After work tomorrow I'm gonna head back into the thickets and give it another go. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some pics to post....
Jeff
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Great account of today's hunt Jeff,
I sure wish you luck on tomorrows adventure ! Them briers can be tough on the hide, so take care.
Thanks for sharing with us !
Bill
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There out there buddy and it sound's the the 57 is the perfect brush gun.:) The bunnies around here are moving good before sunrise and again late at night. Some move during the day but few and thier just digging for food under the layer of snow. Good luck which should be no problem for you..:) Ed
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They`re all huggin the ground around here...been itchin to go but nuthin I can scare up,lately Ma Nature`s been doin her own thing,I think the ole girls gone senial here in Indiana!
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Hey Jeff, make sure you get Burr Rabbit with a head shot..:) Never did like him.. Gene
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Sorry for my poor English... :-|
I have a question - anyone had killed a rabbit or a hare with QB-57 airgun?
If had killed, please post stories, and photos of killed "victims" here!..
I also have a QB-57 in .177
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I've gotten a couple squirrels,,, which are alot tougher than a rabbit or hare, with the QB-57. It's a capable little game taker at closer ranges.....
Jeff
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Welcome, Vladimir! You've come to the right place for that question. As Jeff (longislandhunter) says, squirrels can certainly be taken. Another member, Shadow, apparently has a QB57 that he's putting his special camo on and probably tuning up a little. I'm sure once it's ready, he'll be taking it out for a test ride, and will more than likely bring something home for supper with it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's rabbit or two. And he'll certainly provide us with a report and some pictures of his prize.
Keep checking here at the Hunting Gate, and definitely post your own pictures and stories if you take any game or pests with your QB.
Glad you found the GTA. It's an international family ;~)
Bryan
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Thanks a lot to all! ;)
But why "squirrels are alot tougher than a rabbit or hare"?
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Squirrels have extremely tough skin that is very hard to penetrate. Combine that with a "will" to live that enables them to keep on scrambling even after being hit very hard. Head shots are usually your best shot on them. With rabbits their skin is very thin and easily penetrated and they just seem to go down much easier than their tree rat friends..... :)
Jeff
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Welcome to GTA and as Jeff said the rabbit's just drop easer, alittle more fat then muscle like those Super Squirrel's. I'm working on finishing up my 57 and with this good tune inside I should be able to drop some rabbit's if I do my part. If you decide to try for a rabbit, make it count with a good shot placement and the right pellet for the job. We look forward to hearing about your hunting adventure's, good luck. Ed
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Thank you! ;) Now I know, why.
And before this, I thought, that squirrels are such small and it is rather easy to kill them them, easier then the rabbits...
By the way, how much weighs squirrel?
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Vladimir, according to one online source that I found, the adult grey squirrel averages between 550 and 650 grams, although they can be bigger when their living conditions are optimal.
We'd better ask Jeff, Ed, and some of the others how many it takes to make a good meal ;~D
Bryan
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A good meal ?? One fat one or 2 skinny ones :)
Jeff
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Clear. Unfortunately, we haven't such big squirrels. And rabbits also... Only hares, what are bigger, when the rabbits, and weights 2 - 4 kilograms in average...
Is it possible to kill such rather big hare, with my airgun? I think it is possible, of course desirable with headshot, and from close distance (20-25 meters?). The speed of my rifle is about 750 fps with Gamo ProMagnum pellets (measured with ''pendulum'' - unfortunately I have not chrony)...
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I think a well placed head shot would do the job with no problem....
Jeff
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We have snowshoe hare here as well, it's our only "rabbit" species. They fall to pellet rifles far easier than squirrels. I've taken them with one shot kills with .177 rifles shooting below 500fps (canadian model Crossman Springmaster), with both head and vitals shots. Their dance lasts longer when shot in the heart/lungs, but not more than 30 seconds. The caveat is, if they're shot in a non-vital area, the adrenaline rush makes them very hard to finish, so shot placement is absolutely key. The headshot is best.
Now that I own a more powerful rifle, they're the easiest quarry in the wood. If you can shoot accurately at distance, it really only takes about 5fpe to put'em down quick.
First time I killed one, I was so surprised. As the shot left the springmaster, I was sure I'd pulled it, and put a nonlethal shot into it's hindquarters. The hare leapt about 3' into the air, landed on it's back, flopped around vigorously for a few seconds and then....just....stopped.... I nearly fainted! Good eatin!
J
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Thank you both for interesting and useful information!!! ;)
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I don't know what kind of pellets you have available but if you can get some Predator pellets you will find they are absolutely awesome on small game......
Jeff
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Unfortunately, I didn't seen Predator pellets in our shops. Only different Gamo (rather good), and Crosman Premiers, what I don't like...