Why I am Beginning To Change My Mind About Sub12 Hunting

[Barryg]

I am comfortable with using 12ft/lbs air rifles, and so is the the Law, for taking the designated critters within the farmyard.
I am comfortable being a hunter and hold great respect for my quarry. I am realistic that its not a perfect world, and even with great diligence not ever outcome is always perfect. I strive to be as humane as practicably possible.


I realise its not for everyone, and some hold other views.

Humans have always hunted and taken a bounty from what nature provides. Its the natural way of things and those that wish to object to that I find weird; well a minority and a very alternative stand point. They are free to hold those views, but please can we have a bit less of the erroneous "morality high ground" baloney. If we were just vegetarians we wouldn't tolerate herbivores as they would be competing for our cereals. As it is modern farming uses pesticides on an industrial scale to provide our daily bread; just look at the bird population crash for the evidence.
I think hunters are more aware of the human impact on the natural world than most. Far more than those who live within the metropolitan cities and have no clue other than what they see on their TV's when a nature programme happens to be the entertainment that night.
I've put my view across plenty of times.

For 12ft/lbs air rifle hunting then shot placement is everything. What effective range is dependant on the skill of the shooter. The final decision is with the person pulling the trigger.
In truth shot placement is always the most important part, that and using enough "gun" to do the business. Or we could always just nuke them

It's interesting how different countries view what is acceptable to shoot with a airgun, a post over on the DWC was talking about shooting dogs with a Diana 54, I guess that you would disagree in the same way some countries would disagree with you.
Look at this quote.

March 9th, 2012, 1:13 pm #34
Umair, it shot placement. I am sure you have heard this, but when using a light rifle like you are it has to be exact. I get the same type of response from people here in North Dakota when I tell them I deer hunt with a .223. Don't worry about it. Use what you have and be as good as you can with it. Get as close as you feel safe to maximize your impact energy and shoot as straight and true as you can.

The rest of you guys, have you ever been over seas to one of the countries with dog troubles? I was deployed to Iraq, and when we moved into Balad Airfield the dogs were thick. Like squirrels in a park thick. Feral dogs like these aren't large critters, I would guess 30 pounds at best; and they have no fear of humans having been around them their whole lives.

I understand Umair's problem completely. He needs to keep his kids and family safe, but doesn't have appropriate fire power. What should he use, a spear? These dogs are hungry, people have food. They won't leave you alone. I would rather see a dog die slow than someone die of rabies. You guys know it destroys your nerves and brain, right?

Umair, please be safe while shooting these dogs. Maybe bring a shovel with for backup.

[Muskett]

I do believe in using enough gun.
The .22LR has been used to shoot nearly every beast on the planet. Some way unethical but still been done. The .22LR have the potential to kill an elephant, its been done, but to me only by an irresponsible idiot.
Then there is the right gun but too soft a bullet. The example that I know true is a shepherd who used a Webley revolver three shots on the head of a distressed sheep. The following day the sheep had recovered with three welts on its head, absolutely fine. The lead bullets far too soft and without much velocity for some reason.
Interestingly in the not so distant past British Officers, Police and Military, carried Webley pistols not just for the bad guys, but more commonly used to shoot rabid dogs and put maimed horses down.
Red Indians used quite low powered bows to bring down Buffalo. Just enough power to penetrate to the heart.

Shot placement and enough to reach a vital organ is all that is required. More gun is often just to compensate for error in placement. However, some tough animal's will for life is high and it takes a lot to bring them down; the African buffalo notorious for how tough they are which makes them so dangerous.

Airgun power varies considerably from only a few ft/lbs to military weapons of great power. I've had a grey squirrel jump at my face having five .22 pellets in its body fired from a Webley MKIII which were know to be pretty powerful. Its why I only head soot them now. Export rifles can easily be a lot higher than 12ft/lbs, your Diana example may have twice that power??? Enough to deal with a dog sized animal. More importantly is it legitimate to the law of the land??? Heck, Halal hunters do not shoot to kill as only a slitting of the throat of say a deer is religiously acceptable for human consumption.
There are some really weird ways used to harvest nature's bounty around the world, many are not legal in the UK. Many would make me uneasy.

So I'm not sure where we are going with this thread now. I know what I find acceptable, and keep to that. What other cultures do is up to them.

[mrto]

Unfortunately,the straight jacket of 12ftlbs legislation makes it impossible for the average shooter to easily tailor their gun's power output to be ideal for the required circumstances,(beyond certain distances)!

That said,though and as can be seen on a number of youtube air gun hunting channels, 12ftlbs is actually more than adequate on recognised air gun quarry out to relatively silly distances to obtain a clean kill.

It's the loopy 12ftlb trajectory that the skilfull shooter has to deal with that increases the challenge.

We,(air gun enthusiasts),of course have always known this!