C2300XT's first kill(s)

[only1harry]

I finally got a chance to use my Custom shop 2240 pistol (2300XT) on something live.  There were bunch of Grackles and Starlings on my front lawn this morning.  It was like an ornithological zoo outside for the first time in a very long time.  I think it 's because it rained a lot yesterday and worms are probably surfacing.

I grabbed the 2240, loaded a 14.3gr CHPH and opened the door because I knew they wouldn't expect me coming from there and they usually think I 'm just going to the driveway.  Well there was an small opening on the screen so I stuck the barrel through it and put the Red Dot on the closest one I could see.  He looked kind of small for a Grackle but I didn't care.  He was only about 11-12yds out and he was the target.  I take the shot and he goes right down and stays down without further incident.  I pick it up and it's young Grackle.  The Starlings had all disappeared so I go back inside because the Grackles just flew across the street and might be back.  

About 5min. later I hear Grackles on my Spruce at the side of the house making a lot of noise.  I had already left that side window open so I sneak into that bdrm to locate the Grackle from a few feet away from the window so I don't get detected.  It took a few min. but finally saw one well concealed 3/4 of of the way up.  There was a small opening through the pine needles so I get on the floor, rest my hands on top of the TV and put the red dot on it which barely cleared the top storm window.  He was facing away and had no idea what was coming.  This was a regular size Grackle about 13yds out.  I squeezed the 2240's heavy trigger as smoothly as I could and the bird immediately started making his descent when the CPHP hit home.  It was a young adult not fully black (w/blue) yet but still had some brown on him.
 
2 birds in 10min. and the 2240 finally drew first blood.  It looks like this pistola is going to be my bird gun up to 15yds.  For me that's a great day and I get to show off my new Cocobolo custom grips :-)  The grass was still wet so I took the pics under my porch.

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Way to go Harry!! I swear you & I are two peas in a pod,,dedicated sportsmen,, "small hole" in the screen??? Using the tv as a rest??? Dont tell me you have the same camo bath robe & slippers I have!!LOL!!! I did not think Rednecks lived in NY,,OBVIOUSLY I was mistaken!! He He He!! Way to "Get Er Done" Harry my Friend!!  Pogo/Disco Tim.

[only1harry]

Tim ol' buddy:  No camo bath robe here.  Good idea though!  Just some Camo rag hanging on the window when I leave it open for quick access.  

The tree is tall and I wanted to stay away from the window since the tree branches are only about 9yds from the house (they come closer every year) and the bird was close. So instead of resting my hand on the window sill like I usually do with a rifle, I was about 18" over to the left of the window where the TV is located up against the wall.  I crawled behind the TV and shot out the window from the side and up at an angle.  For g-hogs I usually have to shoot down at them or far out, so I rest on the window sill and stick the rifle out more than half way out.. but for birds up on that tree I have to get on my knees and shoot up at them since it's a pretty tall Spruce.

As for slippers, I was barefoot.  Does that count towards Redneck qualification?  Sorry but I would love to know what it's like to be a redneck.  Give me some more pointers and I 'll try harder next time :-)  Maybe I 'll take pics of my self in the mirror holding the gun and you tell me if I come close resembling one, ok?  :-)

[JOHNNY QUEST]

Nice pistola Harry.. and nice shootin ta boot.. I got ya covered on redneck,I  have pleanty to disperse anywhere needed..  East texas rat killer....

[longislandhunter]

Great shootin and pic Harry,,,,,   I've said it before and I'll say it again,,,,,,,,,, any kill with a pistol is certainly a shot to be proud of  !!

Jeff

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Hey Harry: "Sorry, I would Love to know what its like to be a redneck"  (What you said) Uhhhh,, Go into your bathroom Harry,, turn on the light,, Look in the mirror,, look closely,, NOW THATS A REDNECK!!LOL!! (That is if you can keep from looking out the window long enough!!) He He He!! Now,, remove one of those grips,, take the spring out & mash it down some (Redneck Style) Hmmmmm that trigger aint so bad now eh??  NICE shooting Harry!!  Tim.

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

If you: Tell a story about someone that "may have" at one time parked under an overpass "popping" pigeons with an airgun,,,, Yoooooooou Might Be A Redneck!! (Inside Joke!!) I now know of 3 NY Rednecks for shure,, not saying names,, Ok,, Harry is one of em!!LOL!! Tim.

[shadow]

Great shootin with the pistola Harry, pic's too. I'm fond of hunting with my pistola's also. Ed

[fatback]

Great shooting Harry!! I love the pistol.. did you get that at the crosman custom shop?

[only1harry]

Thanks guys.  I went through almost 10 CO2 cartridges practicing at 8 and then 13.5yds in my indoor shooting range downstairs (basically from one room shooting through the hallway to the end of another room where the silent trap is, hehe).  That's about 400 pellets.  I wasn't happy until I could shoot 1" groups from a rest but I 'm not doing so well free-hand with it.  I 'm shaking too much and it's hard to keep the red dot in place when not resting on anything so these birds were taken from a semi-rest when I placed my hands on the screen door and the TV. These pistols are actually hard to shoot accurately especially with the stock trigger which is about 5lbs so I 'll be getting the trigger tuned real soon.

Chris:
Yes I ordered it from the Crosman Custom Shop with the long metal breech, 10.1" .22 barrel and red dot scope which has no magnification but just a red dot through a square lens.  I went through one battery already because I forgot to turn it off and this 2nd battery is in its last leg.  That silver muzzle break is useless and I shouldn't have ordered it because I want to get a real LDC (moderator) to quiet the report so it doesn't scare the other birdies :)   The gun was over $100 w/shipping.
The grips are made by Rick (Rick's grips).  He makes a pair every 2-3 days and posts them on the Yellow Classifieds but they go very fast.  These are some of his more expensive grips called Cocobolo, and cost me $75+5 ship.  He uses different wood so he makes many different kinds some of which are not glossy, and vary in price from $49 to $85.  I was trying to get them when they were $65, then $69 but someone would grab them within minutes.  He kept raising the price so finally after more than a month he sent me an e-mail saying to check the Yellow Classifieds, and I was able to get them. He won't sell directly to people for some reason.  I like these because they have a couple of rings in them, one on each side, which I had asked Rick for.  With a decent set of grips it 'll cost you $150-200 and I don't even have the valve modified or any mods done to it yet!  Expensive? yes, overpriced? yes, but can be a lot of fun with a good trigger tune and they pack decent power.  The longer the barrel they more power you get.  Mine gets 495-500fps with 14.3gr @ 76-77deg., and 485fps with 15.9gr JSB Exacts.   That's 8-8.3fpe which is 50% more power than you get with most .177 Pumpers - good for squirrel too up to 15yds or more.  They seem to get more power with heavier pellets (like PCP's do).  I get 8.4fpe with 18.2gr Crow Magnums.  I 'm going to try those next if I get another opportunity at a Starling or Grackle.  
Here 's another pic of the other side. Also notice the word "Custom" on it by Croman.  22xx pistols can get expensive when you start adding stuff to them but a longer barrel and metal breech is absolutely necessary IMO.

[gamo2hammerli]

Very nice grips on the pistol indeed. The grackles are falling head over heels for it..... The muzzle break looks real good too!!!