Sniped : 33
Trapped :75
Total dead rats :108

Tonight I shot two within a couple of minutes of each other. 

Last night I saw 3 but only had a clear shot at one. It was much further than normal ~15 yards.  I missed.  Hit low by about 2".
Excuse -err umm,  I mean explanation to follow.

When I started using the marauder I took the scope off the fusion and put it on the marauder.  I tried to use the "low" mounts from the fusion but was unable to because the circular magazine on the marauder stuck up too high above the breech and the scope wouldn't clear it. I had to use the mounts that came with the marauder.  The problem is those are "high" mounts. They put the center of the optics about 2"  above the barrel. This may not be a problem when you are zeroed in at 50 yards but it really screws with zeroing the scope at the short ranges I shoot. A 1 yard difference in range can mean a big enough difference in vertical poi to miss a rat.   I don't go for head shots with the marauder.  I'd miss too easily. Body shots with that slug do the trick anyway.


The scope has mil dots and I've learned how many above or below to aim with at say 4, 6,and 10 yards but if my range estimate is off even little it makes a difference.  At the longer range I shot at last night I just guessed which dot to align on. I guessed wrong.

What I need are some mounts that are only s coupe mm taller than the short ones on the fusion.   I never had a problem with vertical poi using the short mounts.

Any ideas or lessons anyone want to share with me about how to compensate short of finding new mounts?

Normal open sights would work great IF the maurauder had some.  Alas, it doesn't.

I had thought about zeroing my scope as if the pellet goes in a straight path "forever" which is basically the very short ranges I shoot at and aiming at a spot that is the distance above where I want to hit as the distance between my scope center and barrel center.   I always thought this would work but never heard anyone else talk about it until I found the attached picture.   Now I see this may be my best bet.
 I will measure the exact distance between the barrel and center scope. Then I will make two dots on the target say 15' to 20' away that are vertically separated by that distance. Then aim for top dot and adjust my scope so that my pellet hits the bottom dot.  Once that is done I just aim that distance above where I want to hit from then on.

I had thought about zeroing my scope as if the pellet goes in a straight path "forever" which is basically the very short ranges I shoot at and aiming at a spot that is the distance above where I want to hit as the distance between my scope center and barrel center.   I always thought this would work but never heard anyone else talk about it until I found the attached picture.   Now I see this may be my best bet.
 I will measure the exact distance between the barrel and center scope. Then I will make two dots on the target say 15' to 20' away that are vertically separated by that distance. Then aim for top dot and adjust my scope so that my pellet hits the bottom dot.  Once that is done I just aim that distance above where I want to hit from then on.

Of course you realize that your pellet isn't traveling a straight path.  I'd be interested to see what happens after you get the scope zeroed as you mention, then try targets at 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 of the zero distance.  I'd expect that as you get closer, the hits will get higher.  Will they move enough to result in a miss?  Ah, that's the part I want to see!

You could also range landmarks around your killing field, and learn how many mils above/below zero you need to aim for a bullseye at that range.  Rat by the big blue rock?  Aim 2.5 mils high!  Under the corner of the house?  1 mil low!  Etc.  Heck, you could put range markers at 1-mil increments!

109 tonight.

Of course you realize that your pellet isn't traveling a straight path.  I'd be interested to see what happens after you get the scope zeroed as you mention, then try targets at 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 of the zero distance.  I'd expect that as you get closer, the hits will get higher.  Will they move enough to result in a miss?  Ah, that's the part I want to see!

You could also range landmarks around your killing field, and learn how many mils above/below zero you need to aim for a bullseye at that range.  Rat by the big blue rock?  Aim 2.5 mils high!  Under the corner of the house?  1 mil low!  Etc.  Heck, you could put range markers at 1-mil increments!

I suspect at the short ranges I am shooting (usually under 10 yards) that there is little to no drop.  I hope to do some testing on Monday. 

The other method you mention is too much memorization although that is similar to what I've been doing.

The best solution would be to get some mounts that barely clear the magazine.

I ordered a low profile laser sight from Amazon. I'm hoping to mount it under the barrel with only a 1/2" or so distance from beam to center bore.  With that little distance it should be easy to sight it in for hole in hole shots at any close-medium range.  Not sure I'm going to be able to get it that close without the LDC getting in the way.

Of course you realize that your pellet isn't traveling a straight path.  I'd be interested to see what happens after you get the scope zeroed as you mention, then try targets at 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 of the zero distance.  I'd expect that as you get closer, the hits will get higher.  Will they move enough to result in a miss?  Ah, that's the part I want to see!

You could also range landmarks around your killing field, and learn how many mils above/below zero you need to aim for a bullseye at that range.  Rat by the big blue rock?  Aim 2.5 mils high!  Under the corner of the house?  1 mil low!  Etc.  Heck, you could put range markers at 1-mil increments!

You should listen to Tom, he is good, he is wise.

Your projectile begins to follow a ballistic trajectory within a few feet of leaving the barrel. What this trajectory is will be a function of the projectiles weight and drag coefficient as well as the speed at which it leaves the barrel. Using the same type of pellet all the time will give you a good idea of what these properties are.
Think of your zero as a reference point, at a given distance a pellet of this weight will hit at X aim point. In order to hit y or b you should use the scopes mil dot or moa markings to compensate for the projectiles drop and windage. This will allow you to make faster follow up shots should you miss. Toms range marker idea is a good one, it will allow you to get used to using your scope markings rather than trying to constantly re-zero the scope.

Good luck and keep up the good work!   

I ordered a low profile laser sight from Amazon. I'm hoping to mount it under the barrel with only a 1/2" or so distance from beam to center bore.  With that little distance it should be easy to sight it in for hole in hole shots at any close-medium range.  Not sure I'm going to be able to get it that close without the LDC getting in the way.

That will be badass!

109 as of ~1am this morning.

The hammer strike and air cylinder •ping• seem to be louder then the muzzle report now that I've dialed back the velocity to about 680 fps *happy dance*.  The rat screams are sometimes louder than the hammer strike depending on where I hit. With the bolt action and magazine though I can stop any rat noise pretty quick with a follow up shot.  God, I hated single shot although that is usually all I needed since that rifle was accurate enough for head shots.

Now I want to spend some money to quieten the hammer and ping.  This is as bad as upgrading a computer or car.  Once you make one area better it exposes weakness in another area. Upgrade the new area and see a new weak link. Rinse and repeat until no money left.

I'm supposed to be off work tomorrow but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be called in for at least a half day.  That's going to cut in on my time to play with zeroing the scope and laser which should arrive tomorrow too.

I'm afraid I may need to refill the scuba tank pretty soon too. It wasn't full when I got it and I've refilled the rifle from it quite a few times. I don't have a pressure gauge for the tank but it still filled the rifle to the 2600 I like to put it at.  3000psi is max rifle pressure but that increases the noise level.  I guess I could just keep the valve open until the rifle and tank equalized to check tank pressure   

The hammer strike and air cylinder •ping• seem to be louder then the muzzle report now that I've dialed back the velocity to about 680 fps *happy dance*.  The rat screams are sometimes louder than the hammer strike depending on where I hit....
Now I want to spend some money to quieten the hammer and ping.  This is as bad as upgrading a computer or car.  Once you make one area better it exposes weakness in another area. Upgrade the new area and see a new weak link. Rinse and repeat until no money left.

But, once it is done, you can give us the exact formula!  Market the "Robbie1 Extreme" workup for the Ultimate Ratbuster!

Looks like I'll have more free time this week than I thought.
My face had an unexpected high speed meeting with the pavement.
3 stitches and lots of bandage in various places make me too ugly to face customers right now.   I plan on taking off until at least Friday. Maybe longer.

Looks like I'll have more free time this week than I thought.
My face had an unexpected high speed meeting with the pavement.
3 stitches and lots of bandage in various places make me too ugly to face customers right now.   I plan on taking off until at least Friday. Maybe longer.

Rats fighting back?   

It was bound to happen!

Hope you take this time to retaliate!   

Looks like I'll have more free time this week than I thought.
My face had an unexpected high speed meeting with the pavement.
3 stitches and lots of bandage in various places make me too ugly to face customers right now.   I plan on taking off until at least Friday. Maybe longer.

...
Sorry
Unfortunate for you...
More unfortunate for your little rat friends.

I suspect at the short ranges I am shooting (usually under 10 yards) that there is little to no drop.  I hope to do some testing on Monday. 

I've been thinking about this, and I really want to try a little math here.  I think you're right, I'm just curious how right you are.

The hammer strike and air cylinder •ping• seem to be louder then the muzzle report now that I've dialed back the velocity to about 680 fps *happy dance*. 

So, 680 fps over 30 feet is a flight time of about 1/22 second, or 0.044 second.  Let's plug that into the standard gravity formula, d=(gt^2)/2
Since we're using feet, G=32.  t^2 = 0.002.  That gives us roughly 0.03ft, multiplied by 12 inches, is 0.37 inch.  Let's round that off to 0.4 for giggles.

So, during its brief flight time, that pellet drops 0.4".  But it started with an upward velocity, right?  Because you sighted the scope in such a way.  Applying a little specious logic, we can assume that the pellet rises half that distance, then falls back into place.  Around the midpoint, it should print 0.2" high.  At the bore and at 10 yards, dead on.  Anything farther, the strikes should be descending. 

That's really quite nice, less than 1/4" of deviation, even with such a relatively low muzzle velocity! 

Rats fighting back?   

It was bound to happen!

Hope you take this time to retaliate!   

Rat attack, yes, but this rat drives a car and likes to cut off bicycles.

The little rats are going to pay for the crime of the big rat.

I've been thinking about this, and I really want to try a little math here.  I think you're right, I'm just curious how right you are.

So, 680 fps over 30 feet is a flight time of about 1/22 second, or 0.044 second.  Let's plug that into the standard gravity formula, d=(gt^2)/2
Since we're using feet, G=32.  t^2 = 0.002.  That gives us roughly 0.03ft, multiplied by 12 inches, is 0.37 inch.  Let's round that off to 0.4 for giggles.

So, during its brief flight time, that pellet drops 0.4".  But it started with an upward velocity, right?  Because you sighted the scope in such a way.  Applying a little specious logic, we can assume that the pellet rises half that distance, then falls back into place.  Around the midpoint, it should print 0.2" high.  At the bore and at 10 yards, dead on.  Anything farther, the strikes should be descending. 

That's really quite nice, less than 1/4" of deviation, even with such a relatively low muzzle velocity!

Thanks for the math!   That is quite helpful.
I'm not sure there will be any rising since I'll have the scope and laser aimed parallel with the barrel.

Oh, my woman had some nasal drip the last couple days and this morning she got up feeling like crap. Just left urgent care and turns out she has bronchitis.  she will be staying home at least the next couple days so won't be doing the testing.

The old saying, "misery loves company" seems to be in effect.

Thanks for the math!   That is quite helpful.
I'm not sure there will be any rising since I'll have the scope and laser aimed parallel with the barrel.

Oh, my woman had some nasal drip the last couple days and this morning she got up feeling like crap. Just left urgent care and turns out she has bronchitis.  she will be staying home at least the next couple days so won't be doing the testing.

The old saying, "misery loves company" seems to be in effect.

how's the hunting going?

i just went out to check the activity at my bait station
i hear rustling noises on top of my water heater cabinet
hearing some more, i opened the door
a critter that was on top of the structure ran DOWN A TEN FOOT LADDER and then ran past my feet
fricken things are smart if they know how to go up and down a ladder

gotta go up there later this week and see if there's a nest up there

how's the hunting going?

i just went out to check the activity at my bait station
i hear rustling noises on top of my water heater cabinet
hearing some more, i opened the door
a critter that was on top of the structure ran DOWN A TEN FOOT LADDER and then ran past my feet
fricken things are smart if they know how to go up and down a ladder

gotta go up there later this week and see if there's a nest up there

Ugh, forgot to update this s couple nights ago but I got just 1 more during last week. Haven't hunted much since I got all bust up and the wife was(is still) sick and home too. I still haven't been able to site in yet - causing me to miss a couple others I saw.

34
75
109

I'm about healed up now. Stitches come out tomorrow.   For 24 hours after accident face was plain ugly from cuts and scraped skin.  During the 24-48 hour period my eye started swelling.  For a couple of days my scope eye was completely shut.

Ugh, forgot to update this s couple nights ago but I got just 1 more during last week. Haven't hunted much since I got all bust up and the wife was(is still) sick and home too. I still haven't been able to site in yet - causing me to miss a couple others I saw.

34
75
109

I'm about healed up now. Stitches come out tomorrow.   For 24 hours after accident face was plain ugly from cuts and scraped skin.  During the 24-48 hour period my eye started swelling.  For a couple of days my scope eye was completely shut.

ouch

on saturday, i saw someone almost get hit in the new bike lane
bicyclist was riding to the thing with the mayor to officially open the bike lane and was almost hit on king and ward- just at thomas square where the group was gathering
would've made a great news article

Finally got a day off to myself and sighted the scope for about 3-4 yards and the laser for about ~7-9 yards.

 Was also able to take the OEM factory silencer off the fusion and put on a nice LDC.   

After shooting the fusion a bit today for the first time in awhile I gotta say if not for the multi shot and greater knockdown power of the marauder I'd rather use the fusion.  The fusion is half the weight (6lbs vs 12lbs), it is considerably quieter, it is more accurate in short ranges, and it's much shorter making it easier to move it around the plants (a big plus where I shoot). 

Alas, I could live with the lower FPE because I know for certain it is enough to kill rats but multi-shot is a very nice feature.   
Biggest negatives about the marauder is size/weight and the accuracy not great at very close range due to scope sitting ~30 mm higher then the barrel.   Speaking of size, the marauder is 57" long with the extended baffle and LDC.

Today I realized I should have just bought a Marauder 22 cal pistol in the very beginning. I would have spent less money for a fairly quiet, much smaller, and plenty FPE gun.

Hmm ...  anyone care to buy a fairly quiet .25 cal air rifle that's capable of taking out a pig?

I am trying to find a scope mount for 11mm dovetail, 1" tube and the important part - as close to 16mm height as possible without going under.  15 will barely touch the magazine.  higher screws up the aim.  I've been searching but haven't found.  maybe someone here has connections


*****************************
edit 7:17 pm

+1   I owe this kill to the laser.  looked over the wall and a medium size rat was scurrying along the ledge to his hole.  With no time to sight in with the scope I just pointed the laser a little lower than him, *PFFFT* (as opposed to *pfft* with the fusion),  and then he was floating in the water.

35
75
110
Edit 12/12. + 2
37
75
112

12/14 +1
12/16 +1


12/17 +2.
41 dead by lead
75 by slap
116 total body count.
I wonder how many pounds of rat meat I've made.

For the last five days I have been using the fusion rifle.
While it may not be as powerful as the marauder it is much more accurate and I am getting many more kills instead of misses.

+1


Today I discovered that you can use chase reward points to buy stuff on Amazon. 

I've had my chase card over 15 years and never used any points. 
Turns out I had almost 60,000 of them at 1 penny each.  Woot!   Almost $600. 

So what did I get?

This http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00200E0HM/?tag=2ahawaii-20
And
This : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BPF4WPI/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Probably sell my .25 marauder now.