I was hauling out some yard debris to our property tonight after work and had the 850 riding shotgun, so to speak. My 4 year old and I unloaded all the rocks and then shoveled in 5 tubs of dirt to bring back to our house for some more yard improvements. I kept hearing a starling pair cackling above me high in the locust trees. I told Drew to keep playing but be quiet while I got the 850 out. It was about 60' up in the top of a locust tree about 20 yards away. The first shot was a little high and I could see the pellet whiz over it's back. Second shot I aimed about 1.5" lower and WHOP!!! It went in it's wing and out it's head. It fluttered a little on the way down but was dead on impact. #1.
After we loaded all the dirt and watered some potted plants, I pulled out the chrono to do some testing. Midway through the testing another starling started talking. I walked over to the grain bin, set the scope to 3X and spotted it in the same tree as the previous kill. I then zoomed to 9X, set the AO and let it fly. The CPHP made even a louder WHOP sound that the other one. DRT. It fell straight down and pile-drove it's face into some talky dirt. The pellet went in it's lower 1/4 and out the top back side, breaking the wing on the way out. #2.
After doing all the chrono work I wanted, we loaded up and slowly drove down "starling road" back to town. About 1/8 mile down the road I passed about 6-7 starlings on a power pole and wires on the left side of the road. I slowed and came to a stop about 30 yards past them. There was a house about 100 yards down the road on the left so I rolled down the left rear window about 4", enough to stick out the LDC and see with the scope, shooting over my left shoulder. Crosshairs dead-on. WHOP and it fell straight down. I'm sure with just the end of the LDC sticking out the window and the breeze, nobody heard a thing. #3.
Not bad for doing chores and not really looking to do pest control. Sorry, no camera with me today.
