This is a full magazine (7 shots) shot at 35 yards (distance from my house to martin housing). The bullseye on the target is 2 inches. I had one "flyer" if that is what you want to call it being that close.
I read forum ever now and then use to have 60 cavity PM set up.
Dusted off my 16 year old hammerili 850 pcp the other day set up at 12 yards (all room I had in my back yard) Put some in bullseye. Been in gun case for 7 years. I use to nail carpenter ants on my wooden T 18 pole At 10 yards and cut staples in half that held my target paper up. Mine whisper quite with suppressor wrapped with foam and aluminum tape.
By way of update on the new air rifle. As you can see from my signature below my HOSP shots are way up this year. In the past I only focused on the ones landing on or using my martin housing. I was also limited on what direction I would shoot because I usually used a 20 gauge shotgun. Or focused on insert traps. This year I have been able expand the directions I can shoot. Just this morning I was working at the computer and heard a male just chirping away. I stepped out the back door, rested on my trash toter and dropped him off the wire fence around my garden. In the next few years I will see the population really drop using this thing. Best money I have spent in a long time as far as the martin colony is concerned.
By way of update on the new air rifle. As you can see from my signature below my HOSP shots are way up this year. In the past I only focused on the ones landing on or using my martin housing. I was also limited on what direction I would shoot because I usually used a 20 gauge shotgun. Or focused on insert traps. This year I have been able expand the directions I can shoot. Just this morning I was working at the computer and heard a male just chirping away. I stepped out the back door, rested on my trash toter and dropped him off the wire fence around my garden. In the next few years I will see the population really drop using this thing. Best money I have spent in a long time as far as the martin colony is concerned.
Time for me to do the same, thanks for the update.
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu
Its a game changer. Really is. Glad this thread is up there.
Traps work great, and believe one cannot have enough of them. But to push your defenses out and get the threat beaten back is priceless.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
I forgot to add that I have knocked down several starlings as well. I don't focus on them due to SREH and the sheer numbers in my area. I could should 500 starlings tomorrow and not make a dent in the population. The sparrows I can somewhat keep their number in check. But when I see a starling in range I go ahead and get it too.
This weekend I spotted a female HOSP in a cavity that had already fledged. It was in my T14 and I don't shoot at them from straight unless they are on the roof. I also don't get many females because I typically take out the males when they start trying to call in the females. I have seen this one a few times and finally today another female came in and she jumped to the roof of the T14 and I took her out. The second female ended up showing up an hour later and jumped down to the ground to look around for a bug or something, I got her as well. I did try a different brand of pellets this week after watching a video about my specific gun. The other ones I used shot pretty good but after seeing some tests the new brand (H&N) shot even tighter groups. I did notice a slight difference in the groupings but more than likely either pellet shoots better than I do. I still just use a couple bags for a rest so I am not perfectly steady. Either way only a couple of misses since I have had the thing which I am fine with.
Awesome!!! Well done! Its a game changer. You mentioned starlings too, I look at it like shoot a starling, save a woodpecker...but sounds like you have way more starlings than we do.
Funny how diffrent guns like diffrent ammo, even the same make pellet gun "likes" diffrent pellets. You may find even better pellets at some point. Those stabilizing bags are important, its such a small target.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
Great shooting! Glad you found the pellets your gun likes! It makes a great difference in accuracy for sure. And don’t discount yourself for using stabilizing!!!! You ever see a professional sniper without a tripod, shooting bag or some type of stabilization?!!! Hell no! Im no sniper but I use stabilization at all times.. makes for deadly and consistent accuracy!!
Happy hunting
Rob
Im still picking off some HOSP's from time to time. Now that my season is winding down I'm thinking about building a cheap platform bird feeder and setting it out near the housing. In the past I never have fed birds just because it drew in to many sparrows. Now the other birds will benefit and I can safely continue to pick off any sparrows that show up.
I've been looking online at some decent scope cams but most that seem to be decent are pretty expensive. Some of the videos on youtube are really well done.
In the past my weapon of choice has always been a shot gun. So I never shot at my housing and would not have shot toward a feeder. This gun is accurate enough I have shot almost all the HOSP this year right off the housing with martins sitting close. I will like to see what other birds I can attract as I feed and the HOSP population continues to dwindle.
It is a favorite tactic of mine to shoot them off the ground trap, have 5 sparrows as bait, keep them fed, watered, give them grit and a nest box to take shelter in and they do the work. Caught a fledge 5 days ago, and shot 6...can't count them, seasons over.
Have not seen any in days, moved the trap a bit and within 20 minutes, here comes one. I think its the acoustics, they are a noisy bunch.
Soon enough they will be roaming around in their groups.
I would imagine your local native birds will bounce back as you will be doing serious damage to the HOSP. Can't wait to hear about what you will soon see.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
I built a platform feeder and so far after two days no takers. The HOSP population is pretty low right now but I figured something would find it. I have not seen a single bird on it yet. I know it's just a matter of time before they find it and star using it. I really like the idea of feeding the natives and being able to take out invasive species at the same time.
Good!!!! Its just a matter of time really, they will find it. A platform is perfect, wont blow around making a shot difficult. Once the natives find the food, sparrows will follow them.
One word of caution and I'm as guilty as the next guy...when you shoot one dont rush out and get it immediately, let it sit. Just get ready again. Give it a bit. The others will fly off quickly and when they see you pick up a sparrow will take a long, long time to come back. Chances are they will investigate and wonder what this bird is doing if it just sits. Iv gotten a few like that. They want to look.
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
I live out in the sticks, when I trap sparrows I kill them and throw them out. When I shoot them I leave them lay and they are always gone the next day. Tons of critters around here.
Tom - I'm like you, stuck in the suburbs.
Due to potential consequences of shooting pellet guns, I have to make sure I'm within as close proximity as possible to the house sparrow or starling before going kinetic.
