I got a 2-12 Helos, but the center dot too big for these little critters. Can you believe the FOV of the Leupold 3-9X33 Freedom air scope is bigger than the Athlon Ares!?
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Which Caliber for 100-125yd Ground Squirrel Kills? .22 or .25?
- Thread starter BradAir
- Start date
I use .25 caliber myself but figured that extra energy will travel downrange better to ensure a clean and humane kill.
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I'd skip right over the mrod 25 based in the experience I've had with mine. I've had it for close to 15 years and my dreamline compact tactical 25 was what I THOUGHT my mrod would be and it stays accurate to early elr ranges with hades pellets.
I only asked about the 18 jsb because of the BC. The 15.89 is a excellent choice as well, I use them in a couple guns.
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Granted their pests, but they are living things that haven't done anything wrong other than being born what they were. So yeah, quick & clean kills.
I hit one yesterday at 80yds with 14.3gr and it didn't DRT and made it to his hole. This was at 2000PSI, all my SCUBA tank has left to provide, I hit a couple same distance with 14.66 H&N Field Trget Trophy and they did better. Though I was 2200PSI with those. I hope the the compressor coming tomorrow to fill full 3000PSI will help me move the 16gr to get faster kills.
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can you have a blind to hide behind at half the distance ? sounds like you want a new gun so your creating a reason ?
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If most of my shooting of CA ground squirrels was at 125-150yds, the answer for me would be neither. I'd go with .30 Hybrids at ~900fps.
If it were an either/or .22/.25, I'd go with the .25...with 33gr pellet or 33.49gr JSB KO MKII or 30gr H&N HP Slugs..jmo
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The dot is too big, must be closer to 100 yards?
I shoot chippers and the dot is fine out to 70 yards.
Back to topic, I think if 100 would be a common range, something more than the Mrod would be in order.
There, now you have license to buy a new gun, LOL
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I like the elevated position my top level living room window has. The grass back in the vacant lots gets tall and they’d be hard to see.
Oh, I’ve bought guns for no reason at all!
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To all:
- I get a .22 that shoots the heavier pellets 16-18gr faster than Mrod to bring up energy.
- Jumping to .25 I see might or might not be the answer. I see trajectory and wind are worse than .22, but the .25 delivers more energy on the critter with the heavier pellets.
- Maybe limit current Mrod to 50yds and the next best/bigger gun for beyond?
- I get a .22 that shoots the heavier pellets 16-18gr faster than Mrod to bring up energy.
- Jumping to .25 I see might or might not be the answer. I see trajectory and wind are worse than .22, but the .25 delivers more energy on the critter with the heavier pellets.
- Maybe limit current Mrod to 50yds and the next best/bigger gun for beyond?
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I agree with that line of thinking.
.22 or .25, you need pore power than the Mrod to reach out more effectively.
Looks like a nice place to sit with my Air Force.
.22 or .25, you need pore power than the Mrod to reach out more effectively.
Looks like a nice place to sit with my Air Force.
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Well I just clapped a squirrel at 110y today with my Barra250z .25 cal. It’s a $450 gun. Hit another one at 101y too… shooting 31gr Franco slugs at 950.
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Im gonna echo everyone else who said “choose the one you can shoot accurately.” The shooter makes the gun. The gun is just a tool, some are better than others but equally useless when used incorrectly.
I got a head shot today on a squirrel at 110y and gut shot another one at 101y because I pulled the shot a little. I did it with my Barra250z .25 cal. I can’t give you advice for pellets I only shoot slugs. For 100+ shots slugs are gonna probably be your best bet in my opinion. I live in a high desert and it’s always windy. My pellets get tossed around. Also, I don’t think 800fps is gonna cut it. That’s okay for a .30 cal gauntlet shooting 78gr boat tails but the bc on the mass of that slug alone is massive compared to a .22 pellet.
You don’t need an super fancy gun to do it. My barra is a budget slug shooter but I shoot like 5-6 days a week. I’ve been stalking this particular hunting ground specifically because they are spooky and won’t let me get close. My point being you gotta practice. Today was the first time I’ve connected at 100+ and I gotta say it’s thrilling. The 31gr slug hit so hard on the 110y head shot I though I hit the rock and not the squirrel.
I got a head shot today on a squirrel at 110y and gut shot another one at 101y because I pulled the shot a little. I did it with my Barra250z .25 cal. I can’t give you advice for pellets I only shoot slugs. For 100+ shots slugs are gonna probably be your best bet in my opinion. I live in a high desert and it’s always windy. My pellets get tossed around. Also, I don’t think 800fps is gonna cut it. That’s okay for a .30 cal gauntlet shooting 78gr boat tails but the bc on the mass of that slug alone is massive compared to a .22 pellet.
You don’t need an super fancy gun to do it. My barra is a budget slug shooter but I shoot like 5-6 days a week. I’ve been stalking this particular hunting ground specifically because they are spooky and won’t let me get close. My point being you gotta practice. Today was the first time I’ve connected at 100+ and I gotta say it’s thrilling. The 31gr slug hit so hard on the 110y head shot I though I hit the rock and not the squirrel.
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If I had your spot and that window shot, I'd be losing my. Mind and shooting my 22 impact into that dirt plot out there with some 34 grain slugs raining lead on 4odent heads all the way to your lawn.I like the elevated position my top level living room window has. The grass back in the vacant lots gets tall and they’d be hard to see.
View attachment 564748
View attachment 564749
Oh, I’ve bought guns for no reason at all!
Man I wish I had a spot like that!
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Accuracy is on the shooter, precision is on the gun.
I'm a lifelong "powder burner". The airgun thing is new to me. I am green, but I know what I don't know! Like, I see the slug thing mentioned a lot, but I am just getting my feet wet with pellets...With that said, I would like to narrow the parameters to pellet use. Until I get time to rainman out on the slug thing. So, not off the table.
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This gun is my first PCP too bro. Keeping it to pellets is fine. Especially since your gun isn’t a slug shooter at stock settings… but if you stay with pellets it’s gonna be a struggle. The only guys I see shooting 100y+ with pellets are doing so with $2,000 Fx guns or Brocock or something like that. The level of difficulty is much higher with pellets because of their ballistic profile… out to 50-60yard pellets will outperform most slugs. Or at least that’s what I keep reading/hearing. But 100y+ with pellets is not easy. If you’re just starting off with airguns you might be setting a very challenging goal. Not saying you can’t do it. Just that’s it’s gonna be hard. With a pellet at 100y you can expect between 18-24” of drop, minimum.Accuracy is on the shooter, precision is on the gun.
With that said, I would like to narrow the parameters to pellet use. Until I get time to rainman out on the slug thing. So, not off the table.
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Yeah just looked at it again and omg what a spot!!! I’d probably set up a little bait station at like 50 yards for them late nights with the Dnt Zulus.
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Now this is good intell! The next rifle then should be something that will shoot the slugs.
I'm getting my compressor delivered today, so I'm excited to see the full 2500-3000psi potential of the Mrod. Yesterday, with PSI below 2000, I saw the pellets through the scope blooping in from high angle at 70yds at 2Kpsi, and then go erratic below 2K at end of the mag . The first five hit on or very near my 1" dot on the white computer box to the left in pic.
I will also install a wind flag out there on one of the metal posts. Lol. Engineer my environment for success!
In re your other post, yeah I did demo a Pulsar Digex C50 Day/night scope for a bit out back there. One could easily smack critters to 250yds and deer size game 450 with the sight picture it gave. Past than the image too grainy with digital magnification above 7X I think it was. I didn't shoot anything back there as it was destined for an AR15 or AR10.
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I don’t know that the twist rate on that mrod barrel is but I’m pretty sure the gun can be modded to shoot slugs.
Slugs can get complicated to perfect as it’s still very much a developing science in airguns but most basic facts are: 1) you need power to shoot slugs. They have more friction in the barrel. 2) they are spin stabilized unlike pellets. So barrels with faster twist rates are generally preferred. Mine is 1:18 which is common. I think some of the fx liners go as fast as 1:16 or 1:15 something like that. I suspect that’s why a lot of the fx guys shoot slugs around 880-890fps. 3) generally speaking the best speed for slugs is 900-1000fps. My good shoots them really well all the way down to 840-850 with the 37gr slugs. I have found I like a lighter slug going 950-960 for the expansion. 60fpe is great but if you’re passing through your target that’s Fpe left on the table. With my 30 and 31gr slugs I’m getting no pass throughs which in my opinion means all the energy is being delivered on target….Im still a noob so I welcome any feedback on this. There are many people in this forum who have forgotten more about Airguns than I’ll ever know haha.
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You will not be able to mod that SAMrod into a slug/long range gun without spending a lot of money.
Money better spent on a more power platform.
My Mrod is unregulated and is pushing 16s 100 fps faster. Will it kill a chipper at 100? Sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best tool.
You need a more powerful rig for the hide, so SAM can be used for combat patrol.
My Mrod Prod combo works well for that.
Keep the big gun in the tripod and use the little one for those that need to be chased.
Money better spent on a more power platform.
My Mrod is unregulated and is pushing 16s 100 fps faster. Will it kill a chipper at 100? Sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best tool.
You need a more powerful rig for the hide, so SAM can be used for combat patrol.
My Mrod Prod combo works well for that.
Keep the big gun in the tripod and use the little one for those that need to be chased.
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