No wind flags ... Pretty much no wind..Hand cast 39 grain in worked over LW factory barrel.1050 fps .. This is average performance ... That said shooting critters at 25-75 yards I hope accuracy is okay... Squirrel season around the corner..
Is this level of Accuracy Okay for hunting?
- Thread starter RM.510bigbore
- Start date
No wind flags ... Pretty much no wind..Hand cast 39 grain in worked over LW factory barrel.1050 fps .. This is average performance ... That said shooting critters at 25-75 yards I hope accuracy is okay... Squirrel season around the corner..
guessing about a 2 inch circle i would say the 3 closest to the center would be close to minute of squirrel .
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Everyone's definition of accuracy is different. To me, the accuracy shown would not be acceptable for squirrel hunting.
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???.. what do other projectiles look like at that same range and condition ? Maybe more careful culling of your handcasters . Like how guys sort pellets thing ?
I guess at 72 yards id be ok with it but would keep looking to refine a better result .. shoot shoot and shoot .
I guess at 72 yards id be ok with it but would keep looking to refine a better result .. shoot shoot and shoot .
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No not really, on small game 2 inches is a lot. Need to be quarter size at most for groundhogs squirrels etc. Be ok for lung shot on coyote or fox.
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i would think more @ dime size group or smaller , but i do not do body shots , only head shots for squirrel ( or anything else for that matter .)
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Me either 99 percent of squirrels Ive killed in last 45 years were head shot, before that used a shotgun for about 9-10 yrs. I agree a dime is better but a quarter will usually get it done if person can shoot.
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Is this level of Accuracy Okay for hunting squirrels?
Yes, plenty.
15/20 (75%) of your shots are within the head/neck/heart/lungs of a squirrel. And that's at 72 yards.
And you're @ .22 rimfire power levels.
Yes, plenty accurate, and plenty energy.
Less energy would need more precise placement (head shots).
Yes, plenty.
15/20 (75%) of your shots are within the head/neck/heart/lungs of a squirrel. And that's at 72 yards.
And you're @ .22 rimfire power levels.
Yes, plenty accurate, and plenty energy.
Less energy would need more precise placement (head shots).
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Are you casting these? If so are you sizing them? I finally got a local guy to size all his boolits and is af gun shot way closer. I would hunt for a tighter group, but that's only my preference.
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Needs to show groups at normal hunting distances like 25-35 yds. 2 inches is not acceptable accuracy for squirrels their body especially a grey is maybe 2.5 inches across and their heads a lot smaller. Rimfire power means nothing with fringe hits, squirrels can and will run off if hit with a rimfire same as a pellet gun unless its thru the vitals, 75 percent means that the other 25 percent will be wounded more then likely. You want 100 percent of your shots in kill zone especially off a rest which a lot of times you do not have in the woods. Im saying this from hunting squirrels for 55 years in the woods with everything from shotgun, rim fire rifle, rim fire pistol and springer/pcp air rifles. Also 2 inches will be out of the vitals on a squirrel shooting at the lungs easy, even 1 inch can be depending how far back you hit.
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If thats freehand then yes you are good to go, but I would stay closer to 50 yards with those groups. If this is shooting from a rest then I would say no, try some different sized slugs or I'd even try some pellets if you are only hunting squirrels out the 75 yards. Accuracy trumps power for me, but its all depends on the kill zone size. If those slug are all you have to work with then id say go hunt and just try to keep the shots closer range if possible.
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@DeanB,
I'll try to explain my initial post a bit better, using some hard numbers.
I grew up hunting tree squirrels in the densely wooded bottom lands of Southeastern Oklahoma. 50 yards on a grey or fox would have been a longer -than-average shot in those thick river bottoms.
So, @RM.510bigbore shares this group, at 72 yards. I added some data, using a target analysis software....
(The only point of reference I had to plug into the software was the 0.217" slug diameter)
3/4 of his shots are going into a group just slightly bigger than 2moa. And this is a 20 shot group, so fairly statistically significant, as far as group shot count goes.
2 moa at 50 yards is just a smidge over an inch.
In conclusion, his cast projectiles have a 3 in 4 chance of hitting within a 1 inch circle at 50 yards. Because closer groups should theoretically be better, and these stats are based on 72 yards,, he's probably got a better than 75% chance of putting a pellet in a 1 inch kill zone at 50 yards. And an even better chance at a successful head shot on an even more reasonable 25-40 yard shot. I'll take those odds to the squirrel woods any day, and fill my limit most days.
I'll try to explain my initial post a bit better, using some hard numbers.
I grew up hunting tree squirrels in the densely wooded bottom lands of Southeastern Oklahoma. 50 yards on a grey or fox would have been a longer -than-average shot in those thick river bottoms.
So, @RM.510bigbore shares this group, at 72 yards. I added some data, using a target analysis software....
(The only point of reference I had to plug into the software was the 0.217" slug diameter)
3/4 of his shots are going into a group just slightly bigger than 2moa. And this is a 20 shot group, so fairly statistically significant, as far as group shot count goes.
2 moa at 50 yards is just a smidge over an inch.
In conclusion, his cast projectiles have a 3 in 4 chance of hitting within a 1 inch circle at 50 yards. Because closer groups should theoretically be better, and these stats are based on 72 yards,, he's probably got a better than 75% chance of putting a pellet in a 1 inch kill zone at 50 yards. And an even better chance at a successful head shot on an even more reasonable 25-40 yard shot. I'll take those odds to the squirrel woods any day, and fill my limit most days.
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Been more than a few replies here but has anyone thought to ask "what size is that circle?" With your power level you can get away with less than perfect shot placement. However, with squirrels I would try to keep all my shots within an inch at whatever range I'm shooting at.
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I'm from PA. I'd have to ask, where & how far do you plan to shoot ? I've only once in my hunting did I shoot a squirrel at 70yrds (.22 rimfire,TC Contender handgun). I think with that power you could ,but ethically ? I was able to go prone & was shooting downhill. I don't see many prone shooting scenarios in Pa
woods for squirrel , just a thought. I 'd guess you would choose shots against the tree trunk as those slugs will penetrate like nobody's business.
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This barrel is consistently not super accurate...I have had 3 shot one hole groups at 25 yards..I have had one inch at 70 yards...I have found out it drops the first round out of group or center point of aim..Huge bummer for hunting..Those cast slugs shoot best..It wont shoot NSA 36 grains..I have sizers in ,221 .222. .223 and .224...It shoots best not sized...I have a 11 degree target crown, choke removed, hand lead lapped... I have had 3 chazel .222 12 twist barrel for my condor and they all were not good..That said they are cheap $68.00... I dont now wether or not to keep buying barrels trying to get a good one...Im shooting off a bipod on front and using a rest on the rear shooting tethered at a regulated 3400 psi.. I like working on the Airforce plarforms but i have not achieved super accuracy... I think i need to try to get a new barrel before hunting season....
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I shoot squirrel 25 to 50 yards mostly.. For groundhogs most all of my shots from 25 yards to 125 yards...I use tripods and or shooting tables and front and rear rest for hunting...I hope to find a more accurate barrel before hunting season
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I'd rather sort barrels than projectiles.
An anecdotal example....
My hardest barrel hunt was for one that would shoot the .22 Monster RDs, specifically for high power/long range field target that requires pellets.
Finally found one, after something like 5 or 6 different barrels.
An anecdotal example....
My hardest barrel hunt was for one that would shoot the .22 Monster RDs, specifically for high power/long range field target that requires pellets.
Finally found one, after something like 5 or 6 different barrels.
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