Zero distance for squirrel hunting?

[Sleeper192]

Today was my first day hunting with my new Avenger 22. 
I bagged 4 grey squirrels from about 15 yards to about 35 in the woods. 

For those hunting with air guns longer what distance to you zero for squirrel?

I was zeroed at 40 yards. 


Thanks

Sleeper 

 

[Blackpaw]

Personally I would Zero at 30 yards.

 

[JimNM]

If you use apex zero, then you only have hold over to deal with, rather than hold over, hold under and hold over. Keeps it mo' simple.

 

[L.Leon]

I don't hunt squirrel, but do use a 40 yard zero. I dial down or up on my scope depending on distance to target. For the pests I encounter it works very well.

 

[dizzums]

depends on the velocity .. for an average airgun speed of 900 and average sight height, around 18-21y zero will give the longest effective 'point blank' on nutters ... in other words you put the hairs dead on and it will hit within 1/2" or so between ~15-45 yards .. then with shots outside that you compensate, generally longer you hold just above and it will take you to ~55 .. thats yor 'no guesswork' range .. plenty for most any squirrel situation unless your just playing around ... 100y shots on squirrels are unecessary as they dont spook to well under 50 usually ...

 

[thumper]

I sight in all my guns at 28 yards. Why? 

Thats how far it is from the deep freeze in the garage, through the door, and out to the fence where my target is. 

I hunt with 12ish FPE .177s almost all the time. Works well for me. 

 

[2L8]

If you use apex zero, then you only have hold over to deal with, rather than hold over, hold under and hold over. Keeps it mo' simple.

+1 /\ . Determine your max and minimum distance averages to your quarry , then determine your projectile ballistics average in that range, then do what JimNM says, use your apex zero, It will be very easy to do a reticle adjustment and take down your target.

Patrick

 

[BigTinBoat]

If you use apex zero, then you only have hold over to deal with, rather than hold over, hold under and hold over. Keeps it mo' simple.

I use a distance that puts my apex 1/4" over the zero. This way I can get a 1/2"kill zone without any adjustments. For example:

Cricket Compact .177 10.34@905 and scope ht of 2" - Zero at 20yds puts my apex at 28-29yds at which point it is .26" high. At 16 yds it is .25" low and at 43yds it is .23" low. This gives me a center cross hold between 16 and 43yds. Outside this range I have to use a holdover.

Beeman Chief .177 with 12.5NSA at 975 = 13-46yd center hold 1/2" kill zone.

This way if I'm stalking I just make sure I'm between about 15 and 45yds and I don't have to worry about "calculating" or dialing while the bushytail is running thru the trees. When he stops just long enough, he's dead.

 

[Babaganoush]

Here is a point blank calculator. I have the info in it for .22 Baracuda Hunters in my squirrel setup.

I take vital shots so I have a 1 inch target zone, if your a headhunter I would drop it to 1/2 inch.

ShootersCalculator.com | Point Blank Range Calculator

 

[Guest]

shooting .22 and .25 at 915ish

19 yard zero

 

[Pysiths]

Download ChairGun Pro and use the Optimum Zero function.

https://www.hawkeoptics.com/chairgun-and-x-act-end-of-life.html

 

[qball]

It all depends on your projectile speed, BC, shooting lane distance and depth or the distance range you would like to not correct for drop and lastly scope height. Plug al that info into ballistic calculator and find a combo works best for you.


Or the easy answer is zero at the far end of your shooting lane and everything else is a bit lower. 

 

[Gerry52]

Our "foursome" (Me, Centercut, Pesty3782, Socaloldman) here in So Cal all zero @ 50 yds. Ground squirrels here don't often let one get much closer & most shots are around the 75-100 yd range. Works for us.

 

[ram2jeep]

I like to use 35 yards due to if dialing it will only be dialing up and no down. It truly though is a personal preference as some use hold over/under and others dial. Really one of those questions where everyone has the right method because it works best for them...

 

[swopever]

depends on the velocity .. for an average airgun speed of 900 and average sight height, around 18-21y zero will give the longest effective 'point blank' on nutters ... in other words you put the hairs dead on and it will hit within 1/2" or so between ~15-45 yards .. then with shots outside that you compensate, generally longer you hold just above and it will take you to ~55 .. thats yor 'no guesswork' range .. plenty for most any squirrel situation unless your just playing around ... 100y shots on squirrels are unecessary as they dont spook to well under 50 usually ...

What dizzums said. I zero my .22 avenger at 21 yards

 

[DMR_214]

I use 30 yard zero. Anything closer I just aim above 1 mill. And anything at 50 yards is also 1 mill hold over. 40 yard zero is kinda wierd as you have some hold under.

 

[N2 Shooter]

I use an ATN scope with the built in ballistic calculator. If I range correctly, the crosshead is always at POI. Kinda like cheating.

 

[JimD]

Somebody else already said this but I zero my airguns so that the rise is no more than 1/4 inch after the first crossing around 15 yards. On my Prod, that results in a zero of 28 yards. So I don't have to think about where the pellet will impact until close to 35 yards. My 25 caliber Avenger is zero'd at 36 yards so it is good out to a bit beyond 40. I shoot both, usually, at 33 yards when zeroing them but I know (from chairgun) where the pellet should land at that distance. For the Prod it should be below the point of aim and the Avenger should be above, slightly.

I also shoot groups from 10 to 33 yards at 5 yard intervals to verify chairgun. Then I put a sticky label inside the back scope cap so I have an easy quick reference if I want to look at it. I print them on my laser printer on special paper with the circle already cut out. I don't trust the Hawke scope on the Prod to do any dialing with it but I added the clicks up or down on the sticky label on the Avenger. So I have a quick reference if I want to click away the trajectory changes. The West Hunter 4-16 on my Avenger seems like it moves pretty reliably.

 

[mtndragon]

I put .30 cal and under zeroed at 35 yards and .357 and up at 50yards.

 

[Dan25]

I would enter all your data into Chair Gun and pick a shot curve that suits you best. Once you pick one verify the pellet trajectory and you got it. Try changing the zero distance to get the dead on hold in the range you most commonly shoot.