(Trying to make long story short) -- There had been several reports around our area (rural) about a very large feral dog -- we had lost a cat, some other neighbors had lost a small dog, some chickens, a goat, etc. So everyone was aware and a little nervous about this. Where I live we have no 'animal control'. By all reports, tt was apparently a large german sheppard.
Last Saturday, nice weather, I was out in the back yard doing some target practice with my air rifle, a Beeman CrowMagnum IV in .22 caliber. I had just cocked and loaded, when out of the woods comes running the dog in question -- it had seen another of our cats right at the edge of the woods and grabbed it and proceeded to crush it.
I did the instinctive thing -- raised the rifle, aimed at the head and fired. I had thought that I might be able to startle the dog enough to get it to drop the cat and run. To my great surprise, the dog dropped dead right there, instantly.
Examining the dog, I had hit it square between the eyes, the pellet had penetrated and did a "one shot stop". Distance, 25 yards.
I have only used this air rifle for small varmints around the house and barn, and never intended to use it on anything larger -- this was just "one of those things" that happen fast and you use what you have.
But I have a new respect for the power of these magnum air rifles and wished to relay this experience to let everyone with one of these air rifles know to treat them with the utmost respect
(BTW, the cat, after a trip to the vet and a lot of stitches, will probably be OK!)
Last Saturday, nice weather, I was out in the back yard doing some target practice with my air rifle, a Beeman CrowMagnum IV in .22 caliber. I had just cocked and loaded, when out of the woods comes running the dog in question -- it had seen another of our cats right at the edge of the woods and grabbed it and proceeded to crush it.
I did the instinctive thing -- raised the rifle, aimed at the head and fired. I had thought that I might be able to startle the dog enough to get it to drop the cat and run. To my great surprise, the dog dropped dead right there, instantly.
Examining the dog, I had hit it square between the eyes, the pellet had penetrated and did a "one shot stop". Distance, 25 yards.
I have only used this air rifle for small varmints around the house and barn, and never intended to use it on anything larger -- this was just "one of those things" that happen fast and you use what you have.
But I have a new respect for the power of these magnum air rifles and wished to relay this experience to let everyone with one of these air rifles know to treat them with the utmost respect
(BTW, the cat, after a trip to the vet and a lot of stitches, will probably be OK!)