Squirrel hunting zero

[kokoji04]

What are your zeros for 22.lr. I guess .17hmrs or other calibers would apply too. I have .17hmr zeroed at 100 yards and .22lr zeroed at 50.

I feel like most of my shots are from 25-50yards. I will say this may open up after early season where all the leaves are gone but I still find myself sneaking up closer rather than taking further shots.

 

[Chris in TN]

35 yard zero with CCI Suppressor.

40 yard with CCI #0056 subsonic hollow points.

YMMV if you're shooting further. I just want to be able to have very minimal holdovers between 0 and 45 yards. The last squirrel I shot was maybe 15 yards. Fifty yards is almost unheard of for me.

 

[Natebonebusta]

I always sight in 22lr for squirrels at 50y. For subsonic loads I’m dead on at 20y, 1/2” high at 25 and 35, and back at zero at 50y.

I use iStrelok, sadly removed from Apple Store, that helps me with holdovers at longer ranges. I took 4 squirrels last week at 83,87,89, and 90y.

 

[Loper]

About 40 yards, though rarely will I take a shot past 25. I always try to get close. Where I hunt it is very thick, so if I take a 50 yards shot, there’s a good chance I’ll never find it when it hits the ground.

 

[weekender7]

35 yds

 

[RS3579]

17hmr zero at 50yds. Shoots flat enough to hold center 25yds -100yds. Hornady 17gr.

 

[Huntress91]

Interesting post since it’s so relevant to my recent time out with my dad.

My dad bought me a Savage 17hmr and he had me shoot to 50yards with my scope. He says it’s capable of going further but wanted me to keep it closer cause he says I won’t make far shots for small animals like squirrels or rabbits.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I zero for 50 yards with my .22 LR. That works well for squirrel hunting because I can generally hit a squirrel in the head out to that range from any seated or resting position. I can usually stalk closer than that and I enjoy doing that.

I use the same rifle for 50-yard practice shots offhand at 4” targets (I use an 8” plate with a 1” center dot for aiming and a 4” ring).

 

[Mike Islander]

22lr, 16" barrel with suppressor. CCI 40 grain Velocitor is 1328 fps. Still at 1080 fps at 80 yards.

I zero at 25 yards which is within 1" or less from 10-80 yards, much closer for most of that range. Aim 1" high for close shots.

Head shots unless they are moving. This is 5 rounds fired, 4 in the head. One wouldn't stay still.

 

[kokoji04]

I always sight in 22lr for squirrels at 50y. For subsonic loads I’m dead on at 20y, 1/2” high at 25 and 35, and back at zero at 50y.

I use iStrelok, sadly removed from Apple Store, that helps me with holdovers at longer ranges. I took 4 squirrels last week at 83,87,89, and 90y.

That’s far. Do you dial or hold? Do you bring a range finder out with you?

 

[kokoji04]

Interesting post since it’s so relevant to my recent time out with my dad.

My dad bought me a Savage 17hmr and he had me shoot to 50yards with my scope. He says it’s capable of going further but wanted me to keep it closer cause he says I won’t make far shots for small animals like squirrels or rabbits.

I just never tried. I feel like I’m the guy who always wants to get a little closer. Unless if I’m force to with a pond or ridge that won’t allow me to quietly get there but I can still retrieve the game.

 

[kokoji04]

22lr, 16" barrel with suppressor. CCI 40 grain Velocitor is 1328 fps. Still at 1080 fps at 80 yards.

I zero at 25 yards which is within 1" or less from 10-80 yards, much closer for most of that range. Aim 1" high for close shots.

Head shots unless they are moving. This is 6 rounds fired, 5 in the head. One wouldn't stay still.
View attachment 1001588

When you say close, you mean hold high for anything under 10yards correct? Is it just velocitors that hold 10-80? Because that’s a great coverage. That’s basically covers 99% of all squirrel shots in my opinion.

 

[Natebonebusta]

That’s far. Do you dial or hold? Do you bring a range finder out with you?

Mildot holdovers. Rangefinder attached to my squirrel vest

 

[Captains1911]

50 yd zero works well for me with subs. That results in no more than about 1/2” high or low between 10-55 yds, and I don’t shoot at squirrels beyond that distance.

 

[Captains1911]

22lr, 16" barrel with suppressor. CCI 40 grain Velocitor is 1328 fps. Still at 1080 fps at 80 yards.

I zero at 25 yards which is within 1" or less from 10-80 yards, much closer for most of that range. Aim 1" high for close shots.

Head shots unless they are moving. This is 6 rounds fired, 5 in the head. One wouldn't stay still.
View attachment 1001588

I have an almost identical 10/22 setup with the only visible differences being the scope and can. Even the same sling.

 

[Captains1911]

22lr, 16" barrel with suppressor. CCI 40 grain Velocitor is 1328 fps. Still at 1080 fps at 80 yards.

I zero at 25 yards which is within 1" or less from 10-80 yards, much closer for most of that range. Aim 1" high for close shots.

Head shots unless they are moving. This is 6 rounds fired, 5 in the head. One wouldn't stay still.
View attachment 1001588

I have an almost identical 10/22 setup with the only visible differences being the scope and can. Even the same sling.

 

[MTtrout]

@Mike Islander, what scope is that?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

@Mike Islander, what scope is that?

Looks like an SWFA fixed 10x gen1.

 

[Mike Islander]

@Mike Islander, what scope is that?

Good old fixed SWFA 6X42. 21 foot field of view at 100 yards and tons of depth of field. Huge 7mm exit pupil makes it dead easy to get behind. Definitely my favorite hunting scope.