Getting started

I-ll be waiting.

Congrads. That’s how it’s done! Any pics?

Here a video of tofaz an Napoleon talking about shot placement. You’ll here tofaz say he goes for shoulder shots if they’re trick and Napoleon goes for heart/lung shot in the same situation. I think it is important to note that tofaz is pushing 170 fpe easy and I’m quite sure Napoleon is pushing considerably less base on his rifle, maybe 110 fpe. Based on their setup, you can see how the strategy differs. Where tofaz can almost take a squirrel out hitting his back foot, Napoleon choses different shots (both effective with their set up).

If I’m not mistaken, your rifle shoots 45 fpe or lower stocked. This is why your shot placement is so crucial. To add your pellets are not dumping it’s full energy into the target this may be remedied by choosing a hollow point pellet.

4:10 – 4:30 is the part but the whole video is more than worth watching

So much to think about just for a little squirrel, huh?

I you have any pellets in hollow point they might prove to expand more. Otherwise, I glad those 2 performed well. The shoulder is too far front for a good kill. Although I’m sure you realize this by now, the best placement would be a head or spine shot and lung/heart shot next. Shot placement is key.

I went outside to get the carcass of the squirrel I took yesterday and while skinning, it broke at the shoulders, to show you where the heart/lungs are in relation to the shoulders. Rather than fuss with skinning the top half, as there’s not much meat there anyways, I tossed it to the side for the foxes that ate all of my chickens last year. Obviously the the foxes came last night because this is all that was left from the squirrel. I took it with a head shot from my Gamo Shadow 1000 .177, just like my mentor tofazfou.

The foxes are next, before I restock my chickens.

I would start with (in order) JSB Diablo Exact 13.73 Domed, Predator Polymag (if you’ll be hunting) then H&N Barracuda 13.58 Round Nose. As for shooting tethered to a tank, that’s fine if that is how you normally intend on shooting. However, if you will be using your rifle in the field more often than not, it is my opinion, that it is best to shoot that way during sighting and practice. Reason being is your rifle will have different shooting characteristics untethered, such as, power curves and harmonics changes due to pressure differences and contact points with the rifle. Sighting and practicing the way you would normally shoot help you to learn those nuances and repetition builds muscle memory and intuitive understanding of what you and your rifle might do in the given circumstances. Perfect practice equals perfect execution.

With that being said and considering you only have about 12 rounds of each, it might be good to first test the pellets on 6-1 (refilling tank between 5 shot strings with each pellet). Once you find the pellet with the tightest group, use from the pellets not chosen but has the closest weight value to the chosen pellets (assuming their all diablo), to find the most appropriate setting to get the best power curve which maximizes air volume and shot count. To find the setting with best power curve, you will need a chronograph. If you don’t have a chronograph, I’m sure the 6-1 to 8-1 setting range will be where you’ll find the sweet spot, you’ll have to play it by ear. If you have a chronograph to find the setting for the best power curve start with a full tank that has been allowed to settle about 5-15 mins. after filling (the longer the fill time the longer the settle time). Then find the point on the settings to were your rifle chronographs first low the goes higher to a peak and back down again (this will probably take around 15 shots or so) Again I think starting at 6-1 and working up my serve you well. Once you find your power curve, you’ll still have a few of the chosen pellets to enjoy.

All of the above information is from my own reading and research and is meant to give you the point at which I am going to start, unless some wiser member (as there are many) post to show me the errors in my understanding. I should have my .257 around mid February to mid March, depending on how long some of my special request take to be filled (if they can at all) :wink:. I hope this helps!