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.
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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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