I've never hunted squirrels with a pellet gun. That said, I'd suggest that the squirrel did't run with the first and subsiquent hits IS a reaction.
Thirty yards out and 50 feet up seems a very long shot. At that range I'd think velocity loss would be significant.
I've READ that supporting a pellet gun does change point of impact.
I can tell you that a .17cal will kill a 10 pound soft shell turtle a 8' DRT.(Body shot)
Just my $.02.
You make a good point I had not thought of. At the time I was thinking he was just a stupid young squirrel, but he may have been bleeding out from the lung hits too. One of the shots did nick the spine.
Much prefer them to fall out from the first round though.
