Hunting X1 rabbit.

[JoeHeugh]

I've been doing a lot of experimentation over the summer with transitioning from a normal LVPO to an X1 prism being one particular project. So after walking round with eyes and range finder and a lot of plinking it was time to get out into the field.

This was the only rabbit we saw all evening, too warm I think and it was a hard shot, unsupported but leaning into a hedge while the rabbit was in the shadow of another but the result, a 27 yard drop summersault was encouraging so unless things start going seriously downhill I'll be keeping the sight on and looking for another air rifle for more conventional situations.

It's been quite a learning curve and not an easy one and to be honest I wouldn't recommend trying it over a scope unless your really patient. People think they're like red dots but they're not, I was hoping for speed but it's not the kind I thought. What you do get is a quite deliberate way of sighting which does have limitations but is more than the sum of it's parts. If you can pull it off it's really quite magical and it seems it works too!

 

[hairyarms]

I've been doing a lot of experimentation over the summer with transitioning from a normal LVPO to an X1 prism being one particular project. So after walking round with eyes and range finder and a lot of plinking it was time to get out into the field.

This was the only rabbit we saw all evening, too warm I think and it was a hard shot, unsupported but leaning into a hedge while the rabbit was in the shadow of another but the result, a 27 yard drop summersault was encouraging so unless things start going seriously downhill I'll be keeping the sight on and looking for another air rifle for more conventional situations.

View attachment 786060

It's been quite a learning curve and not an easy one and to be honest I wouldn't recommend trying it over a scope unless your really patient. People think they're like red dots but they're not, I was hoping for speed but it's not the kind I thought. What you do get is a quite deliberate way of sighting which does have limitations but is more than the sum of it's parts. If you can pull it off it's really quite magical and it seems it works too!

Thanks for posting Joe. I must admit I had to goggle what a X1 prism was! I don't think I could use anything like that anymore though, I recently bought a cheap break barrel springer for a friend and we were both hoping to use the truglo open sights but that wasn't happening even at close ranges It was hard work.
In the end I clamped on a little 4 x40 Hawke scope but I haven't taken it up the farm yet.

Anyway that's good shooting with the .22 99 It's a shame no one has commented, if you had posted about shooting a Squirrel off a bird feeder while sitting on your settee with a 2 grand PCP you would probably have had loads of replies

 

[Magnus]

Good shooting! It's always a buzz when a standing unsupported shot comes off, one for the table aswell!

 

[Gummage]

That is an interesting setup,I shall try to familiarise myself with it, good shooting!

 

[JoeHeugh]

wasn't happening even at close ranges It was hard work

This is probably a bit easier but by how much I don't know. It really does test the eyes and in just the same way that you limit how far you push your kit it's the same with the eyes, we forget how forgiving telescopic sights are. My main problem was the rabbit was partially obscured in the shadow of a bush and I have to admit I was tempted to rub my eyes just to get a clearer view, still I think it would have been a lot easier out in the open. I'm also lucky that I have good eyesight and probably also that I'm right eye, right hand dominant which leads to the little bit of "magic" I was alluding to. Looking through the prism there is a slight loss of contrast compared to the other eye which is inevitable I guess but when the images from the two eyes come together there is a boost and an enhanced binocular effect which makes up to some extent for the lack of magnification. It is very fast to get on target as you would expect but it takes a moment for the effect to kick in, and like those 3d picture books the more you practice the quicker it gets and the longer you can sustain it. It caught me by surprise the first time I noticed it and it makes for a very interesting way of shooting.

The rabbit was the proof of the pudding so having got one I'll continue using it, sometimes it's nice to do something completely different

 

[hairyarms]

This is probably a bit easier but by how much I don't know. It really does test the eyes and in just the same way that you limit how far you push your kit it's the same with the eyes, we forget how forgiving telescopic sights are. My main problem was the rabbit was partially obscured in the shadow of a bush and I have to admit I was tempted to rub my eyes just to get a clearer view, still I think it would have been a lot easier out in the open. I'm also lucky that I have good eyesight and probably also that I'm right eye, right hand dominant which leads to the little bit of "magic" I was alluding to. Looking through the prism there is a slight loss of contrast compared to the other eye which is inevitable I guess but when the images from the two eyes come together there is a boost and an enhanced binocular effect which makes up to some extent for the lack of magnification. It is very fast to get on target as you would expect but it takes a moment for the effect to kick in, and like those 3d picture books the more you practice the quicker it gets and the longer you can sustain it. It caught me by surprise the first time I noticed it and it makes for a very interesting way of shooting.

The rabbit was the proof of the pudding so having got one I'll continue using it, sometimes it's nice to do something completely different

Nice one Joe and like you say it’s nice to try something different

 

[Bob _T]

Nice shooting Joe and an interesting read - as always with your posts. Can you explain how looking through the 1X prism is different from eg looking through a good quality LVPO set at 1X?

 

[JoeHeugh]

That's a hard question to answer because I think the answer depends on each person and I can only speak for myself.

I always shoot both eyes open but being right eye dominant apart from keeping some peripheral awareness the left eye basically blanks out. I wonder if years of scope use have trained my brain to do this as a way of avoiding eye strain?

I've tried the Binden concept used in Singlepoint sights i.e. right eye looking at red dot on black background with both eyes open so that the dot is superimposed on the image seen by the left. I find the dot starts drifting quickly and to be of any use the dot has to be big / bright, it might have been good for it's intended purpose on large targets but not for my type of shooting.

The problem I've had previously with LPVOs is that the left eye still blanks out so I'm still just looking through the scope. When I started with this I didn't get that but I did find it difficult to merge the two images, I thought at first it might be because the prism is not giving an exact X1 magnification, it can but what you get varies with the diopter which obviously we adjust for focus, it seems however a small amount of difference is ok

When I was on my second plinking trip it suddenly came together which is why I mentioned the 3d books, and having merged the image once it became easier. Brain training I guess so it might be if I returned to an LPVO I'd now get the same effect although on the other hand I think the long eye relief of the prism and distance from the eye might be helping.

And that's why I'm not recommending the setup as a general way of doing things, it might work, it might not, it will all depend on your eye and brain. Also you are pushing your eyes so be wary of eye strain but with the caveats out of the way I'm really quite enjoying it. You probably gathered I like experimenting and pushing the boundaries a bit and it's nice when something works. This was 50/50 as I had intended to do the same with rimfire but the setup with my eyes is only really good to 50 yards, fine for air but not 22LR.

Incidently, I did try adding an X3 magnifier for a bit of help on trickier targets and rimfire ranges but what can I say, well it makes for an interesting paperweight at least.

I thought I'd add this for anyone wondering what all this is about:

 

[Bob _T]

Thanks Joe. Really interesting to hear your experiences with this