As promised to Jeff.. some Springer action

[only1harry]

Well today was an interesting day because it was the first time I missed with the Diana 36 .177(!), ever! honestly.  

I had decided to give the Condor a break and treat the lady Diana to some fur because ladies should be pampered and given luxurious gifts like a fur coat :)  I settled down by my favorite window in full camo around 4:30 and covered the window with camo netting. I didn't wait long to spot a squirrel about 34-35yds out according to my Legend's A/O.  After a few minutes he was broadside on a limb behind only a couple of leaves and I had a clear shot of his head and neck.  He was about 40ft up.  Only problem was the gun is sighted in at 25yds and I don't think I had shot a critter with it that far out before with this gun, or at that angle.  I had practiced a little at 30yds and I remeber the POI being higher but that was shooting at a target 16-18" off the ground.  I wasn't sure shooting up at that steep angle if the pellet would rise or drop so I guessed and put the crosshairs a little below and over from his eye in hopes it would rise and send the 8.3gr Superdome on its way to find some bone.  I see the squirrel "duck" through the scope after the report.  He kept his head down for a few secs while I brought the gun back in and was reloading.  

It was clear it was a miss and it looked like the pellet went right over his head.  He probably heard it wizzing by.. He moves up a few feet farther now where the main trunk meets another big branch and I can only see his tail standing up and moving very fast which is a sign of  apprehension, awareness and agitation.  Then all of a sudden he does a 180 in a quick acrobatic motion, and looks my way trying to locate me as I 'm trying to stay perfectly still in the middle of pushing the camo netting aside to stick the gun out.  He 's positioned at an angle with his nose pointing to my left and eye balling me because they can see you better sideways due to their eyes being on the side of their head.  I adjusted the A/O slightly as I was getting ready for another shot and it was reading about 36yds or so.  This time I aimed at his front paw or about 2-3" below the mid-point of eye & ear.  Superdome is off and I hear a "crack" type of sound but not too loud.  Squirrel falls immediately on impact and hits the ground hard landing on his side.  Starts doing the death dance and then begins tumbling down the hill without control.  He looked dead sliding down.. He came to a stop behind some foliage and I couldn't see him or any movement.  I ran down and found him dead amongst some poison ivy and fallen limbs.  

The Superdome had struck a little low, at the very base of the neck/top of the chest, and had exited out the right side.  He was an adult finally, and meaty.  After the last couple of jouveniles I took I was starting to wonder if there were any adults left that I hadn't shot :)  This one is going to the freezer because my neighbor wasn't home.  I'm hoping the wife won't find it and freak out :)
Oh the last pic, I was teaching him tricks, like how to roll over and "play dead" and all that.. he was very obedient.

[longislandhunter]

Great hunt Harry, and with a springer  !!!  That rifle sure is sweet looking and the nutter looks like he's gonna be a good meal.   This is just what I needed,,, I don't think I could've held out if you posted another pic today of that beautiful  Condor of yours  :)   I would've been breakin out the credit card big time and then I woulda got in trouble big time with the Mrs.  :)

Outstanding shot and a beautiful pic....  

Jeff

[Gene_SC]

Was that my old Diana 36 Harry? It sure is beautiful buddy?

Gene

[only1harry]

Thanks Jeff.. I thought it would subside your enthousiasm for the Condor for a little while.. at least for an hour anyway :-)

Yes sir Gene, that's your "old" Diana 36.  It's Harry's 36 now! hehe  
Seriously though, it has those distinct darker shades or lines in the stock that you can recognize anywhere, doesn't it? :)  It took a dozen G-hogs this past summer too, so it should make you proud :)  As a matter of fact it took so many g-hogs with such accurate shot placements to the head, that I got none left to shoot now :(

[Gene_SC]

All I can say Harry is that if you ever send that to me for a check up or tune,you may not get it back.. hehe Very impressive hunting history with that 36 for sure.

Gene

[shadow]

GREAT SHOOTIN Harry I almost thought you PCP guys forgot how to shoot those ol springers lol lol. Just funnin you buddy, again great hunt, story and pic's and that baby is a sweetie for sure. Ed

[gamo2hammerli]

Great story and shooting with the 36.  Too bad the nutter didn't learn from the 1st close miss heh heh.  And yes, the stock is really beautiful.

[only1harry]

Oh oh, I may have to re-think sending it to you Gene :)  Tim is after this gun too! hehe

It definitely needs some checking and probably a little lubing.. but I 'm having too much fun with it right now :)

[only1harry]

Thanks Stanley.  Yeah I was lucky, that doesn't happen too often I guess.  I think it was because I was well concealed and when I missed I pulled the rifle back in quickly and the window went back to being fully covered by the camo net.  Besides 36yds through a lot of foliage I would assume makes it a little hard for the squirrel to spot a predator too.  

Thanks Ed.  When you learn how to shoot Springers first, PCP's are just another gun, and you will always be a "Springer guy" if you love them like I do.  I never considered myself a "PCP guy"!  This is the first time someone called me that,  hehe  I know you 're joking, but seriously I wouldn't even give it a though that I 'm a PCP kinda guy.  I posted a "I 'll take it!" on an R9 .20 4sale last night on the Talon/Condor forum, and the gun had just been sold :(   This would have been a one of a kind too, because it was only 5mos old and had been "super-tuned" by Beeman!  They had also done trigger work on that almost perfect Rekord trigger!  The guy said it was shooting 200% better than when it was stock.  Oh well, I 'm always a few min. too late on these things.  If my wife had not insisted on going out last night, it would 've been mine.  It had an exceptionally beautiful dark stock too.  The guy e-mailed me while I was out, saying he 'll wait a couple of hours for me to Paypal the $, and then would sell it to someone else that was 2nd in line.  I didn't get back in time..  

So you see I 'm still looking to buy Springers!  When you see more PCP's than Springers in my signature, then you can call me a "PCP guy", deal?  :-)  Until then, have no fear, Harry the Springer guy is here :-)