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Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

The doves were back due to the rainy conditions. This time they were even closer to my window, and actually they were right under it. I of course chose my air shotgun for this task, however, the birds were so close that I couldn't really aim it, so I did the best I could and just fired down into a cluster of birds below. A clean miss! The birds were walking around a lot and at only 1, yes, 1 yard, the spray had no chance of spreading out. There was about a one inch wide hole where the shot hit the ground and no feathers anywhere.

I saw that the doves regrouped on a phone line not more than 30 yards away, and since none of their bretheren were hurt, then they had no reason not to return. Planning for that, I went back and removed the scope off the air shotty (which had impeded me prior) and prepared for the birds' return.

In true form they returned within an hour. This time they had spread out a little more and I was able to single one out at about 8 yards. I used the air shotty again and drew down on it. It was facing me which is ideal, because no matter how it moved it's head it would be directly exposed to the cluster of lead I'd soon be sending it's way. I fired and the bird didn't move--no feathers came out either. The other birds took off like bats out of hell but that one didn't move. I went out there and looked at it and a single pellet had struck it's head. It was a good kill and I cooked it up for dinner that night.

The air shotgun is just so fun and it is really rewarding when you get good kills. But the misses and the lack of power are always discouraging. I think the real challenge is picking and choosing when to use it over my other ag's.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

You could've taken a 30 yard shot too. Exclamation

Put the Condor (it was a Condor, right?) to 12-14 Fpe and take it down from the wires.

My Airmagnum does 12 Fpe and at 25-30 meters it does a hole in hole. Mr. Green

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

It's a talonss. I don't like shooting birds from lines, and there's no reason to since I can just wait for them to land in a more ideal location.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

I guess it's more convenient when they're already in the yard, huh?

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

cw · Banned

It is illegal to shoot them on phone or power lines. If you
hit the line it could be bad news.

You might have better luck throwing that "shotgun" at
them. Take the scope off first, of course.

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

That's another reason I don't shoot off them anymore. In my case it would only be phone lines though.

However, for shits and giggles, I'd be interested in a Mythbusters demonstration of an airgun hitting a powerline like that. Especially if you were aiming above the line and the pellet just happened to hit like 4 inches low and hit the line. But a dome pellet hitting another round and hard object like a power line is not conducive to a good solid impact. The liklihood is high that the pellet would deflect and merely graze or slightly damge the outer sheath of the wire. And those lines are designed to spend decades out in the elements, so it's not likely they are a weak material.

cw · Banned

OK then. It's agreed. That would be the best thing to tell
the judge.

lauchlin · Supporting Member

Shooting bird out your window is not hunting ??????????

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

It's not basket weaving either.