Cautions of shooting birds with a rimmie

[saxosportsaxo 2]

I have applied for a FAC an i was wondering what precautions you would take when taking a shot into trees when using a .22LR or a .17 HMR round.

I know this might sound as a silly question but it's one i feel needs an answer. I have been shooting crows etc for many years with an air rifle but being new to the firearms game i coul do with the advise and tips.

Thanks

[FLATTOP 5,192]

I have a .17 rimfire and i personally would not dream of shooting a bird in a tree wheres your round going to end up if you miss just my opinion.

[saxosportsaxo 2]

And thats what i have been thinking............ I am a very careful shooter and i am always looking behind a target to see if it a safe shot... i just want to build a library of advise before i start to use a much higher powered rifle.

Thanks for your comment..

[moses 5]

Easy answer in my opinion

 

No backdrop no shot..

[lapin2008 1,587]

I have applied for a FAC an i was wondering what precautions you would take when taking a shot into trees when using a .22LR or a .17 HMR round.

I know this might sound as a silly question but it's one i feel needs an answer. I have been shooting crows etc for many years with an air rifle but being new to the firearms game i coul do with the advise and tips.

Thanks

best to try and avoid it mate to be honest even if you hit what your aiming for the round may still traval some distance. The FEO when I had my interview talked about not shooting into sky as well as soft back drops etc..

Even when your sure the backdrop is safe .22rf has a bad habbit of bouncing off stuff!

atb with application

[SportingShooter 0]

The same could be applied to squirrels.

 

If the bird is against a thick part of the tree, ie lower down the trunk, then I'd consider that a safe shot as long as you had confidence in your shooting and your rifle's zero.

 

However, If the bird/squirrel was up in the branches with just air behind it, then its a positive and definite No.

[saxosportsaxo 2]

Thanks sporting shooter. I think i'll leave the flying vermin to 12 bore......

Thanks everyone for the input.

I have always found this forum a very helpful place with excellent advise.....

[Malt 379]

You could always bait up an area to get the crows on the ground. What part of Pembs are you in, if you don't mind me asking!

[Colster 1]

I'd put in for a FAC air too, that would be ideal for stuff in trees but no never use HMR or LR for stuff where you can't tell where the bullet is going to end up (if you miss or the bullet goes through - not a big risk with HMR but def could happen with LR).

[saxosportsaxo 2]

Conclusion of it all is the .22lr and .17 hmr will be used at ground level and i'll keep the shotgun and my old faithful 12ft/lb webley raider for the wood pigeons.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

[jamie g 17]

ive shot pigeons out the trees with hmr no problem. i wouldnt shoot up at them tho. i sniper them out the trees in the hillside below a big oak tree i sit under up on a hill. of course its shooting them out of a tree but behind the trees there in is just big hills of mud.

 

so it can be done from a hill top shoot looking down on trees. just make sure you can see all round and through the tree lines

[martin 332]

If you wish to use a .22rf to shoot birds up in trees then you can do so safely with CB caps..........Martin.

[RicW 67]

I have applied for a FAC an i was wondering what precautions you would take when taking a shot into trees when using a .22LR or a .17 HMR round.

I know this might sound as a silly question but it's one i feel needs an answer. I have been shooting crows etc for many years with an air rifle but being new to the firearms game i coul do with the advise and tips.

Thanks

 

Noting the possible exceptions mentioned, the basic rule is IF IN DOUBT DON'T. Remember that a subsonic .22lr is still travelling at 500fps after 400 yds and carrying 23 ft.lbs energy. That is more than enough to kill an adult if the head is hit and God forbid that you hit a child. If the CPS decided to prosecute and a jury decided you had been careless you would be looking at a10 stretch for manslaughter. And rightly so IMO.

 

Ric

Edited October 9, 2009 by RicW

[pdl 0]

If you say this to your FAO on your interview you will not get your FAC.

 

If you fire up and it does not stop i wouldn't like to be on an aeroplane over your land.

[223 cz 0]

I have applied for a FAC an i was wondering what precautions you would take when taking a shot into trees when using a .22LR or a .17 HMR round.

I know this might sound as a silly question but it's one i feel needs an answer. I have been shooting crows etc for many years with an air rifle but being new to the firearms game i coul do with the advise and tips.

Thanks

Tell your FEO your going too shoot up into trees at birds with said calibres i garantee you dont get your FAC only take the shot if its on the ground with a safe back stop