hunting distances

I realize this is a very vague question, but I am wondering what the approximate distances the board feels are safe to hunt at, meaning the longest distance where you believe you can make a humane kill.

say for the sake of argument your using a run of the mill 1000 fps .177 springer, any brand.

right now I am using a whisper with CPHP and can take out squirrels at approx. 30 yards. I haven't tried anything longer than that, and do not plan on trying until I hear different.

I'd like to hear what everyone feels are reliable distances.

-Mark

[Bhawanna]

i have taken a squirrel with a bsa supersport xl using jsb exacts (.177) at 50 yards.  neck shot, by the time i got to him, he was dead.  i trust this gun and my 350 mag at 50 yards using jsb exacts. there are 3 things to remember in "one shot, one kill" shooting......shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.  also, you must remember that 1000 fps is measured at the MUZZLE.  that is not the fps at 30 yards out.  that number reduces dramatically at longer distances.  what equates to 15 fpe at the muzzle may be as low as 6 fpe at 30 yards depending on the gun and ammo being used.

this is only my take on hunting with a springer.  i'm sure others with more airgun experience than me will have a better take on it.

[longislandhunter]

As a general rule I try and keep my shots at game to 40 yards or less with my springers. I will on occasion take a longer shot, depending on what rifle I'm using, but I really do try and stay within 40 yards irregardless of what rifle I'm using. This is self imposed guideline that I set for my small game hunting and it's worked well for me. The other thing I enjoy about this distance is that it provides me the opportunity to practice my stalking abilities to "close the gap". I really enjoy trying to stalk as close as I can to small game,,,, it just makes the entire experience just that much more challenging and enjoyable for me......

Jeff

[shadow]

To me it depend's on the quality of the shooter(airgun) that your hunting with, pellet sellection and most important to me the skill of the hunter. Each hunter know's their limit's and when you lay the crosshair's on a living thing there should be no doubt about your skill at any range. Now stepping out there to the 50 yard marker and beyond is when several thing's flash through my mind, am I in a relaxed Zen state of mind, comfortable with the range of the target and can my shooter reach out and grab the harvest cleanly and quickly. Weather conditions, wind heat where's that sun and will it play with my glass etc. . As I said I think each hunter know's their limit's and when their beyond them. If there's a hint of second gessing or your asking yourself can I hit it then back off cause there's alway's another varment waiting just behind the bush so to speak hehe. I've taken P-dogs, rabbit's and squirrel's at 40+ yards with both .177 and .22's and my big lovely lady, the 1250.22 as dropped some country rat's at 50 yard's and I've alway's used my go to hunting pellet the Predator. Just my pellet tin's worth.:) Ed

[Black Mamba]

I have to agree with LI and Shadow on this for the basic premise of when to shoot.

You have to know your own limits and the limits of your gun.  If it doesn't feel right, don't shoot.

Being able to hit where you need to for a clean, fast kill is the key for an airgunner.  If you cannot be sure of your shot than you really shouldn't shoot.

thanks everyone for your replies.

I think I may need to rephrase my question slightly, to say:

Just how long of a distance can the average 1000 fps springer be trusted to take out a squirrel?

accuracy isn't truley the issue, I know if I am unsure I don't take the shot, its more that I am unfamiliar with the distance to power drop of a springer.

"just how far out there can this baby drop a tree rat?"

so far I am hearing 30 to 50 yards. is this a good range? I know each rifle is different, I am just looking for a average number.

-Mark

[Black Mamba]

I'd say that if the gun is shooting in the 14 foot pounds of energy range with a good ballistic coefficient pellet like .... a Crosman pointed or dome you should be able to drop a squirrel with a headshot at 50 yards.

Is that what you wanted to know?

[longislandhunter]

I agree,,,, 50 yards is possible with a good shot....

Jeff

[shadow]

Yup and get em in the fusebox at 50.:) Ed

thanks guys!

I'll be making a trip to the range this weekend, hopefully will have some pics.

-Mark

[Progun]

Mark, If you are shooting a 14-15fpe rifle/pellet combo the only real parameter you need to consider is how far can you always hit within 1" of your aim point. For tough critters like squirrels 30 yds is probably a good ethical outside limit.Crippling loss is preventable usually if you respect the limitations of your weapon. Sure you can kill at fifty yards but that is a very marginal shot for all but the most skilled experts.Kill zones look real small at 50 yds.JMHO. I once killed a squirrel at 91 yds with a Gamo 1250 but I was shooting from a bench and the sight picture was perfect and I knew the gun and where the pellet would hit. Real world hunting ethics requires us to be sure we can kill when we take a shot at a living creature.