Squirrels and .22...what distance for my scope?

T

The Kid

New member
What is the typical distance at which you sight your rifle in for hunting squirrels?

Is 50 yards about right? I really can't see myself picking off squirrels at 100 yds.
 
Most of my squirrel shots are closer to 25 yards, but it depends on the type of hunting you do. Regardless,a 22 will almost shoot to the same point of aim at 25 and 50 yards, depending on the ammo. Sight in at 50, take some shots at 25, 50, and 75 yards to see where it actually hits, and go hunting!
 
I've shot enough squirrels to fill the back of a pickup truck (well, that might be a little exagerated but you get the idea) and I don't ever think I've shot one further than about 30 yds. I sight dead on at 25 yds and it is still good to at least 40 without compensating.
 
50 yards is long shot in the woods not much longert than that, but if you can hit the squriel in the brain he will be dead from 100 yards. If you shooting squirrels this far i would suggest a 22 magnum.
 
I sight my Kimber .22 rifle dead on at 50 yds and check the POI at 25 yds and 75 yds. Most of my squirrels were probably shot at distances between 20 and 40 yds. Don't think I ever shot at a squirrel past 50 yds but when using the rifle for other purposes it is nice to know the drop at 75.
 
Longest shot I ever made on a squirrel was 79 steps. Not yards..steps. Probably 55-60 yards. Most are inside 25, which is where I sight in.
 
I will routinely take 40 yard shots with the air rifle and out to 60-65 with my .22 I sight in at 50 or so and just raise the crosshairs for further. For 60 I put the crosshair on top of his skull for a neck/high torso hit and "a little air" between the crosshair and skull for longer shots which usually results in a full torso hit. I only shoot them for the snake so a bit of meat loss don't matter to me:D:barf:
Brent
 
optimum sighting zero for a .22 is something like 62 yards, it gives you the maximum range where you will have the smallest amount of bullet deviation from zero to the bullets max effective range. I forget where I heard that maybe gunblast...I use it. Similar to how the AR15 utilized a 300 yard BSZ (Battle sight zero) to optimize the flattest trajectory of the bullet for the longest range with the smallest deviation from the POA (Point of aim)
 
KID,
I've hunted your Mississippi woods as well as Alabama and although your squirrels look different, your woods are much like ours, here in the Midwest. I usually sight in at 30 yds. but I suppose + or -5 would not hurt. I always go for the head shot and if the range is further, I drop back to a shoulder shot. Bow hunting has given me some pretty good judgement on ranges. Whatever you settle on, practice on tagets in closer and further out. I have seen some pretty big squirrels in your woods. Have fun and;


Be Safe !!!
 
I had a ruger 10/22 set at 35, most shots were between 15 and 30 yds. no problem. Springfield 87A was set at about the same, with the same results.
 
Zero at 50 feet would be good enough for no hold over out to 50 yards or so I would think.

For maximum point blank range I sight in 1 1/2 high at 50 which is 1 1/2 low at 90, using CCI Stingers.
 
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