.22 pistol accuracy for small game...

[Tod osier]

I'm very new to shooting .22 pistols and I'm wondering about what I should be looking for as far as practical accuracy for small game hunting with irons.

I'm just looking for a general rule(s) for what is "good" accuracy. from a .22 pistol. Similar to saying a centerfire rifle and shooter is good enough if they can shoot a 1" 3 shot group or keep all their shots under a couple inches at 100 yards. Or saying an inch per 10 yards for a bow. Or and 1" at 50 for a .22. Obviously, these rules of thumb can be debated all day (and often are, but that isn't what I'm looking for).

Not having a history shooting pistols at small game I'm just wondering what I'm shooting for. Knowing what the potential for good hunting accuracy vs excellent would be nice.

Since I know someone will ask, I'm currently shooting a Glock 44 suppressed.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Only you can determine what ranges to hunt at based on your own experience and accuracy, as well as the size of the game.

A red dot is going to give you a much higher chance at hitting small targets at distance than open sights.

Something like this gun I set up for my wife is going to give you a high level of accuracy. I’m very comfortable at 30-40 yards on a 2” target.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

My 44 year old Mark 1 still shoots lights out. And it is fun to shoot

 

[Loper]

Tagging in @huntsman22 as he seems to have a lot of experience with various pistols shooting small game. I’m sure he can give some guidance or expectations.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Honestly that gun is going to be more accurate than you are.

I'm not sure if I have ever papered a 22 pistol, just start dialing it in on stuff till its hitting If I can chase shotgun shells across the floor of a pit, I am happy with its accuracy...and mine

 

[huntsman22]

Pretty much me too..... Just sight it in on the rocks in the dirt bank about 25-30 yards away or horse turds in the corral and call it good..... I reckon it works OK as I popped a prairie dog at about 80 yards this morning on the second shot from the truck mirror.

 

[hereinaz]

I am laughing at myself, cause I got a 22 mag with 30 round mags per Forms bear protection thread. I was happy to unload a mag into an 8” plate at 10 yards.

I am gonna have to see how accurate I can be on small targets.

Dang that pistol above looks sweet. I so want to get a .22 suppressor soon.

 

[loganwayne]

With .22s ammo is probably as important as centerline. If you want to get really accurate you'll need pretty decent ammo

 

[AmusickTX]

Only you can determine what ranges to hunt at based on your own experience and accuracy, as well as the size of the game.

A red dot is going to give you a much higher chance at hitting small targets at distance than open sights.

Something like this gun I set up for my wife is going to give you a high level of accuracy. I’m very comfortable at 30-40 yards on a 2” target.

View attachment 868197

That’s awesome to hear, I’ve been eyeing one of these for a year or two but figured it would be about useless past 15 yards due to barrel length. Might have just cost me another stamp…lol

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

That’s awesome to hear, I’ve been eyeing one of these for a year or two but figured it would be about useless past 15 yards due to barrel length. Might have just cost me another stamp…lol

It is extremely accurate. I've shot it way past 40 yards. I take it whenever I'm shooting in the mountains and waiting for my barrel/suppressor to cool. I'll plink at little rocks 50-80 yards out and have way higher hit rates than I would with say a 9mm. The Dead Air Mask is great on it. It has the Volquartsen accurizing kit & trigger which is a big upgrade from the factory Ruger parts.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Pretty much me too..... Just sight it in on the rocks in the dirt bank about 25-30 yards away or horse turds in the corral and call it good..... I reckon it works OK as I popped a prairie dog at about 80 yards this morning on the second shot from the truck mirror.

I have rifles that have never shot paper as well LOL

 

[Fowl Play]

Only you can determine what ranges to hunt at based on your own experience and accuracy, as well as the size of the game.

A red dot is going to give you a much higher chance at hitting small targets at distance than open sights.

Something like this gun I set up for my wife is going to give you a high level of accuracy. I’m very comfortable at 30-40 yards on a 2” target.

View attachment 868197

This picture is not good for my wallet. I have a sparrow I’ve been wanting to pair with something. Mostly just a grouse/small game getter.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Honestly that gun is going to be more accurate than you are.

This.

As I've started working more on accuracy with a handgun, the old ideas of what a handgun is capable of have disappeared.

While I can't legally hunt with it here, my buckmark is stupid accurate and my single six hangs right with it out past 100. I'm not shooting rabbits or squirrels at those ranges but it's fun to ring steel at 200 while guys on the range stare in disbelief

 

[LoH]

It is extremely accurate. I've shot it way past 40 yards. I take it whenever I'm shooting in the mountains and waiting for my barrel/suppressor to cool. I'll plink at little rocks 50-80 yards out and have way higher hit rates than I would with say a 9mm. The Dead Air Mask is great on it. It has the Volquartsen accurizing kit & trigger which is a big upgrade from the factory Ruger parts.

Excellent gift for the wife!

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Excellent gift for the wife!View attachment 868424

You have no idea how close you are…

She’s wanted Tiffany earrings to match a necklace she has for years. I put this gun together and proudly presented it to her in a Tiffany blue box, complete with a perfectly tied ribbon.

Needless to say, her reaction when she opened it up was not too far off of Marge’s above.

Her exact words were “ What TF do I need this for?!”


Doh!

 

[Loper]

You have no idea how close you are…

She’s wanted Tiffany earrings to match a necklace she has for years. I put this gun together and proudly presented it to her in a Tiffany blue box, complete with a perfectly tied ribbon.

Needless to say, her reaction when she opened it up was not too far off of Marge’s above.

Her exact words were “ What TF do I need this for?!”


Doh!

Rarely does a Rokslide thread actually make me laugh out loud, but this scenario just made me laugh and smile for several minutes.

That’s a bold move and I commend you for not just thinking it up and actually following through on it.