Shooting down...

[yenniedn]

I've had an abnormally bad problem this year with moles/gophers in our yard. We get them every year but usually some poison pellets will get rid of them after a couple of applications. This year, however, they seem particularly evasive or there's just a lot more of them because I've applied the poison several times throughout the yard and they still keep popping up.

Much to my surprise, I looked out my back door this morning to see one pop his head up just outside the door. It was too close to open the back door back I'd surely spook it so I grab the .22 Colibri, went upstairs and opened one of the 2nd story bedroom windows. It was about 8yds down at a pretty sharp angle to the bugger's head so I put the crosshairs right between the ears and pulled the trigger . . . and hit nowhere near the damned thing. It retreated into its tunnel and hasn't been seen again for the last couple of hours.

I had previously read on the forums that you have to aim low when shooting down but forgot this tidbit because I was so excited to nail this guy. Is this true - that you aim low on the target when shooting downward from an elevated position? If so, how much? I typically sight my rifles in at about 30yds.

So pissed I let that fugger survive this morning!

 

[Dairyboy]

Actually you won't be aiming low at this distance way too close. Probably will need to aim a good mildot or 2 high at that close. Honestly I would put a tin/soda can or piece of paper or something where he was and where you were standing and test it for yourself so you'll know where to aim.

 

[Redleg]

I believe that the distance is how far the target is straight forward from the point of aim..... not the distance from where the muzzle is to the target.
Think of a telephone pole. The distance from to the top is greater than the distance to the base so gravity only applies from the point of aim to
the base of the telephone pole.... or so I have read elsewhere.

Really makes me think I should do the experiment suggested by Dairyboy to prove it to myself!

 

[Mousefart]

Dairyboy has it right. That close, aim high. You have another excuse to practice and have fun!

 

[xarus]

Redleg is right. sniper 101 has youtube video on this subject. and shooting up or down the same rules apply.

in my ballistic program says sited in at 50 I would have to hold over 3.5 mils at 8 yards.

 

[Barbarian]

That's why some rangefinders have arc technology built in to calculate shooting at targets that are up or down, severe angles. This would be useful when bow hunting from a tree stand or shooting goats in the mountains where shots could be straight up or down. I also think scope height would come into play at that distance.

 

[yenniedn]

Thanks for the input, guys. Had a busy day yesterday so couldn't do any testing but this was bugging me ever since so I put this to the test as soon as I woke up this morning and mystery has been solved. You guys are right - you do have to aim high. In fact, Xarus was spot on . . . I had to aim 3.5 mil dots high. See picture below: first two shots were aimed at the small x in the center circle and hit 3.5 mil dots below it. Third shot was aimed 3.5 mil dots high of big X in the lower left square and hit near intended target.

BTW - before some wise guy (i.e. you, Donny) gives me any grief for not hitting the target dead center or for not stacking the two test shots pellet on pellet - this was a quick and dirty test done first thing in the morning in my boxers, with no caffeine and before I could even see straight!

https://imgur.com/Wjr6VGV

 

[Dairyboy]

There you go! Glad you got it figured out and now when he shows up again he's all yours

 

[scrane]

You should be within the kill zone at 8yds as the pellet climbs to cross the line of sight if you zeroed for a reasonable (~35-50 yd) distance.
The computation of vertical angle shots is a function of the effect of gravity which is not much of a factor at 8yds.

 

[xarus]

this is the video I mentioned in my first post. 

a bit long winded but good information.
a bit more to the point video.