I have not shot the 850 .22 since August so I took it out and went through a magazine shooting at my 25yd target. She 's still holding zero and rewarded me with a very tight clover group.
Later after lunch the wind subsided and it felt a little "warm" but it was still in the high 40's. It just didn't feel like it. I have only seen 1 squirrel in the last 10 days but today I got an urge for squirrel meat again and for something to shoot other than paper & wood. I checked the usual windows around 1pm and as soon as I put the blind up on one of them and push the window up 1" so I can hear better, a squirrel starts barking. After 5min. I could not locate him but had an idea where he was. I decided to go outside with the 850 .22 and walk around the wooded area in the back of my house on the 40yd long small hill in search of the nutter.
I could feel the gun getting cold walking from tree to tree looking up and I 'm thinking that the 850 will probably be shooting a little weak today, probably in the high 500's. I was trying to estimate the ft-lbs in my head when I spotted movement! It's a good size squirrel and its behind looks nice and fat hopping from branch to branch heading away from me. It would pause for 2-3secs on each branch not giving me a chance to line up the crosshairs on it, or when I 'd make a step or two towards it, it was on the move again. It was getting very close to the end of my property and now I picked up the pace. I got off the hill and started walking parallel to it faster so I can close the gap. It finally stopped on the last tree before it enterned the neighbor's property, and about 5 trees deep up the hill. I got within 24-25yds of it where I had a clear shot at it and decided to take it off-hand standing. I had the A/O adjusted to 25yds before I came out and the view was clear and seemed to be right on. The squirrel was mostly broadside but its head was behind a small branch covering at least 3/4 of it, so I decided to go for a neck shot. He had not stopped for more than 5secs when I squeezed the trigger and sent the 14.3gr CP on its way. I heard a loud "thunk" and the squirrel fell about 30ft to the ground where he proceeded with a small death dance lasting about 3 to 4secs at the most. He did not move much at all from where he landed though.
He had fallen almost at the top of the hill bordering 2 different properties. Pain in the neck neighbor on the left and another in the back 40ft beyond the hill. It was my first time shooting anything that far in that corner of the hill and near those trees, although a raven I got a few weeks ago was close to that spot but not that far. I climbed up the ~40deg. incline to claim my prize, through thick brush, tall trees, & many dead limbs some of which seemed to form nests or good natural cover for some animals. I stopped for a moment to familiarize myself with the trees and surroundings in that corner of my property. Found a new groundhog hole I didn't know was there but it seemed abandoned with cab webs at the entrance. That's hole #22. Picked up the squirrel and my cell phone rang. It was my neighbor 3 houses down. What timing! He wanted to know if I had seen any more possums and if I had shot any more squirrels! I said get ready I 'm on my way over with one right now :) I had printed out some recipes off the web and from some people here and had given them to him about a week ago, so lets see how he cooks it this time. This is a meaty one although it may not look like it from the pics. He is very round and full and feels heavy.
The 850 in completely stock form has not disappointed me yet although I always try and use it within 25yds for fur. Seeing how the pellet did not go all the way through the nutter, I will keep to my policy but who knows what the next encounter will bring.. Besides, I doubt it was shooting more than 11fpe in 48deg. weather. PCP-like accuracy and light, easy to handle, with 100 full power shots, it's perfect for a "walk through the woods", preferrably in not so cold weather :-)
