Which brings us to this post. While there is no video for this one (again....lol), there is a story. While out today TESTING my abilities and my guns abilities, I decided to call it a day and head home. Well, on the way, I decided to stop at the same local I just recently killed a Coyote at 120 yards with the TD257 using Neilson Specialty Ammo (post just below this 1). I noted that there where more rabbits in this area (6) since I killed that large male Yote last. As soon as I arrived, I spot 2 Jack Rabbits that where separated by a ways and both under (UNDA) bushes/brush. Both were about 130 yards away and I decided to go for a double. Well, while setting up my camera and filling my gun, I spook one of them and that rabbit decided to run. DAMN BLEED VALVE NOISE! Well, that rabbit ran for a ways. Almost another 100 yards and stops cold. Once it stops, it sits on its haunches and looks around for whatever it was that spooked it (me and my noise). I quickly range the bush that's right next to the rabbit and VOILA.......214 yards my Leupold rangefinder sais! At this time, I set the rangefinder on the ground and put the cross hairs on the rabbits chest remembering that 205 yards (100 yard sight in) with this round and a full fill and at 3500' altitude is at 6 HASH marks on my SWFA 12x42 scope. THIS IS A RANGE I AM VERY COMFORTABLE SHOOTING AT as I do it every weekend. LITERALLY! 110-205-435 yards are my comfort zones with this air gun and the TD257.
I gently squeeze the trigger while holding dead on the rabbits chest. About >1 second later, I was kindly rewarded with a THWOCK sound that all us air-gunners come to know as a direct hit. I could see the dirt behind the rabbit also kick up which notified me of a complete pass through. But that was NO SURPRISE! I then saw the rabbit lay down and kick and twitch a lil bit. SUCCESS! A DIRECT HIT! Amazing to me that the impact was so audible from so far away. You would think I would be used to it by now but it still excites me as it means a HIT!
The bullet (1% Tin) enters the chest and exits the hind quarters completely blowing the hip joint apart. The damage was extensive also to the abdomen. So much so, the pic of the quarry had to be taken from the animals backside.
2nd, shooting long range with any type of gun is exciting to me and always will be. I've been doing it since I was a tyke. But when using an air gun, it brings about a joy that isn't the same as doing it with a powder burner. This is 1 of the challenges of using airguns and its VERY rewarding. Airguns have less power and less extreme long range accuracy than PB's. This is why it's so rewarding. When everything comes together as you calculated to make a swift kill at some 100-200-300-400+ yards, you can't beat that.
Thank for reading and of course, STAY TUNED!
Tofazfou
