possum won't die...

[Bhawanna]

i've had a possum for the past 3 weeks raiding the cat's food bowl outside.  it has given me the slip everytime i've tried to stalk it until last night.  the wife and i are watching tv and i hear my cat going crazy outside on the porch.  i looked out and there was mr. possum!  i grabbed the r-1 and some cph's.  this gun has 19.6 fpe so i figured why not go ahead and shoot 'em in the breaker box?  all the other possums i've shot, i would pop them behind the shoulder and down they go.  i was about 20 feet from him and place a cph in the top of his head between his ears.  he rolled over, THEN GOT UP and started walking around in circles!!!  what the hell?  so i reloaded and put another between his eye and ear (i'm still about 20 feet away).  this time he hits the ground and starts rolling all over the place.  NOW I'M GETTING TICKED!  i reloaded again (it has never taken 3 shots before to kill one of these 4 legged buzzards) and gave him the mafia execution shot.  i don't think i'm going for the head shot anymore with these critters.  the r-1 is very powerful for its league and has taken bigger possums than this one with a body shot.  the only thing i can think of is the bone structure in their skulls must be really thick!! it was late and the camera wasn't available so i didn't get the pics you folks like to see...sorry!  has anyone else noticed possums that won't die with a head shot?

[Gene_SC]

Well Roger, your first mistake was to grab the CP's. I think that Ed and Jeff would agree that if you are gonna go for the fuse box on a possum or racoon you need a Preditor Pellet in order to penetrate the skull. I have seen a video on how a Preditor can completly disenagrate solid bone. But I guess when you are excited about getting ready to eliminate a pesty possim sometimes pellet choice is left behind...:)

Gene

[Splash]

I believe that a possum's skull is pretty thick, on the top. You need to go for the eye to have less resistance to the fuse box.

[shadow]

Roger Country Rats are very tuff customers the front of the skull has the thickest bone density and a low profile. A side shot even at a closer range should be precise, the hollow cavity behind and around the eye socket is preferred. I use nothing less the a Predator pellet to take on larger game such as possum, coons etc.. It gets through the bone and into the fusebox. I have made both front skull shots and side and the Predator hasn't let me down yet, nothing worse then a injured and upset night critter. The following pic's are testimony to the Predators power with good shot placement and these kills range from 20yrds to 30yrds. I have no doubt that you were hitting em with all you had and I know a tin of Predators are alittle more but the payoff comes back to you when you know that your puttin the hurtin on him, just my Predators worth.:) Ed

[longislandhunter]

I agree 100 % with Ed,,,,,  Predators certainly do make a difference on such tough critters.  Mike is correct as well with shooting for the hollow area around the eye socket,,, gives an unimpeded path to the brain.  

Those predators really are amazing pellets when it comes to penetration through thick hide and bone...  

Glad you got your "raider" though,,,, I'm still trying to get the coon that's raiding my garbage cans.  Almost got him this morning at 2 a.m. but he was a bit to quick and got away.  Gonna try again tonight.....

Jeff

[gunsup0331]

roger
 if you up for some empirical research you could lop off the critters head and take it to the nearest ant pile, after a week you should be able to see what your pellets were doing

[Kingspear]

After shooting some varmits with my new gun using Predators vs other pellets I think you owe it to your game to use Predators.

[only1harry]

That's ok, you got him that 's all that counts :)  The top of their head is very very thick and tough.  Shooting them on the side of the head near the eye is more ideal.  We want pics!!  hehe

[Bhawanna]

one thing is for sure...he had one hell of headache before he died!!!..ha!!

[fsdanlie]

Sound like i need to get them pellets to.I"ve taken 4 possums with slow kills with neck shots.I also had problems with them but now it"s racoons now,I shot one with my 350 mag 177. in the chest and thats all it took , using ram jets.Not doing it for fun just trying to save on my cat food bill.

[Bhawanna]

when i had my 350 mag .177 it loved crow mags and they really did some damage to the possums and koons.  i have switched all but one of my guns to .22 and the crow mags are a little heavy on those springs!  like you, i'm trying to save on the cost of cat food!