Another question guys! hehe I want to push the my .22 LR as far as it can go. It's got a 4x-7x scope, at what distance should I zero the rifle? (like, what's just right, or too far?) I was thinking 50-100 meters maybe. I don't wanna go beyond the capabilities of the weapon, but I want to go farther than just average .22 zero, towards the longest effective range.

-- Bobby L (Burncycle360@yahoo.com), August 27, 2002

Answers

In western Nebraska we have many prairie dog towns! And in the summer months when these towns are exploding with pups, we engage in much varmint shooting. Even though we can all afford to shoot center fires, the gun of choice is the 22 rimfire! Not only is it more affordable to use, it's quieter and you can kill far more dogs in any given day with these rifles. Our choice of rifle is the Ruger 10/22Target model. We all use high powered, bullet drop compensated scopes that are sighted in for 50 yards. When we choose ammo, it's now only a choice between any of the "standard high velocity" hollow point 40gr bullet cartridges. We do not shoot ultra-high velocity ammo as it has proven itself very difficult to shoot in the wind at ranges extending past 125 yds. or so.That is because these super high velocity rounds use 27 to 33 gr projectiles! Yes we shoot a long ways with our 22's. Often times exceeding the 300yd mark. Because gentlemen, it's at that range that the ammo becomes sub- sonic and less threatening (sound related) to our targets! Many shots are then afforded to us, and many hits occur...and with the semi-autos, follow-up shots are quick and effortless! Recently on a dog shoot a brother and I, each expended over 1500 rounds in one day! The Rugers always keep shooting but take several extra rotary mags with you! As no matter what 22 ammo you use, their mags gum up! As far as lethality goes- no, a 22lr is not a good killer. And at extended ranges only head shots and lung shots kill efficiently. Most dogs hit at any range with a 22 rimfire cartridge run back to their holes. But I suggest the alternative of a slow agonizing death from poisoning to be much less humane and in fact torture! We do our part to maintain a acceptable population of these critters without removing them all from the face of the earth. In turn we have many hunts in the years ahead of us, and without a doubt the 22 rimfire will be along for the ride.

-- Mike Hinde (mike@jrharchitecture.com), July 28, 2004.

Hello from Western Canada. Out here we shoot gophers (a major cattle country pest) through the summer. Our group shoot off-hand out to 100 meters (...not always perfecly, but the group is made up of small bore sillouette shooters, so we view this as 'practice'). Most of us use Federal Classic as ammo, but some also use CCI Stinger. Our convention is a 25 meter zero. At that range, the bullet is still climbing, and crosses zero again at about the 78 meter mark (falling). We hold dead on on estimation out to 75 meters (at its apex, the bullet is +1.25" high give or take), then 'shade over' at longer ranges (+ 80m). We find that beyond 100 - 120 meters for a .22 is not humaine to ensure a quick kill. Its possible to pot out beyond that of course, but after the 120m mark the velocity is bleading off FAST. Out beyond that, the .221's and .223's come out. This is our take on pest control. If you are only cutting paper, several of our guys BenchRest .22 out to 200 meters with remarkable results....but that's only good on paper. MOST of all, play safe, and have fun!!

-- Dave H. (lostin4re@yahoo.com), June 16, 2004.

I have a .22lr myself and I sight in at 50yards, for coyote,and fox. what do you think should I go farther.I shoot high velocity hollow points.

-- Nick A. Derico (bikerboy92892@aol.com), April 24, 2004.

i have a CZ varmint in 22lr and i shoot 200 mts twice a week 2moa with 500 round(swartklip 22lr blitzer) 420m/s hollow point

-- gnyarks (gnyarks@infonie.fr), March 02, 2004.

I recently fired a norinco jw15 .22 at a friend's house on a windy day. It grouped under 25mm easily at 50mtrs.At 100 mtrs wichester lasers were passing through a piece of 50mm timber. The rifle was zeroed 1 inch high at 46 mtrs and was extremely accurate at 60-75mtrs with the above ammo. At the 100mtr mark some holdover was needed but from the look of the timber plenty of power left to kill small game- if of course you can hit them at this range. zero range was taken from Nick Harvey's book on the .22 rimfire it is no longer available but a must for anyone into rimfire shooting. Ihave read it throgh several times and find it an excellent reference book .Will sell it for a resonable offer. Pete.

-- peter gower (gower@minidata.co.nz), January 23, 2004.

you guys are al a bunch of fucking losers that dont know shit , get a real rifle with a real caliber.

-- dick head (t3eea@aol.com), December 18, 2003.

Listen you fools...Agulia makes a hyperspeed 22Lr The bullet travels at an amazing 1750fps..At 100 yards the bullet is still travling 1260fps...You can knock a woodchuck/prarie dog right off it feet deader than a doornail at 200yards..Sight the gun in at 120yards..Aim a few inches over there head at 200yards, learn how to shoot...dead woodchuck...

-- sean f (sflaherty@rochester.rr.com), December 02, 2003.

After selecting a round that my rifle Likes to shoot. (Ammo: CCI MiniMag 36grn Hp. Rifle: Marlin 880SS with Williams peep/firesight combo) I have decided on a zero of 70 meters (76.55 Yards). The max height of the minimag over Line of sight is just a touch over 1.25 inches at 41 meters. So I hold just a touch low on squirrels around that range and have a good hit ratio. (head shots) I'll pop a squirrel from a sitting position anywhere from 15 meters to 50 meters. (free hand position up to 25-30 yards.) After 50 meters I won't mess with squirrels. For other game I have more reach as the animal is larger. I'll take rabbits/prairie dogs out to 75 meters Then lastly there are Raccoons, skunks, opossum, fox, coyote Etc. that can be hit and dead quickly at up to (but not over for me) 100 meters. (with a small amount hold over) What I'm trying to get at is that even though there are some varmints that I'll shoot confidently up to 100 meters I don't like Having a zero that is even close to that. Reason being, The trajectory of the 22LR being as it is, I would have LOTS of trouble popping those little squirrels. I would have to hold UNDER their head totally and still risk a miss from about 25-50 meters. To close on my post... I'm not a "great shot" So I sight in where I feel I can bast take short and longer range shots on different game without adjusting the Elevation ramp on my peep (pain in the butt while hunting). Here are the basic Hi/Low stats on my setup: Zero 70 meters, Max height above L.O.S. 1.34" @ 41 meters, 4.9" below L.O.S. @ 100 meters. Great discussion topic and thanks alot! Jason S

-- Jason S (cobalt76@lycos.com), October 31, 2003.

G’day mate. Well heres my view on this thing being a .22 owner myself. Ok well what I would do in your shoes and what I have done is find a range where I know I can shoot at no problems if its 50meters then zero at 50 but if you can shoot to 100 no worries then zero at 100. Take into account at what you will be shooting at or what kind of animals. In other words set the zero at the maximum level of your comfort zone or just past it, there is no point at having a zero at a distance that you can’t be sure of hitting. So spend some time training and find out what you can do. Now to if you are looking for a more pro way to do it heres the next step. Don’t zero your rifle at one mark but every 5-10meters. Do this at a range and write down the results of your scope settings. This way you will create a range book. Now here is a skill you should learn, estimating range. It is easy to do this with mil dot cross hairs but can be done with a 30/30 rectical. Tips on how to estimate range with different scops are available at the tasco site. So then with your range book and your knowledge of estimating range you select your target and estimate the range to it then pop up you range book and adjust your scope and take the shoot if need be. Well hope this helps. Take it easy mate and good shooting with your .22

Jakub

-- Jakub (jakub@diri.com), September 23, 2003.

I used to live on a farm and the farmer I woked for owned this old .22 cal. Brno rifle with the standard sights and every autom he went hunting his own calfes, he always killed them in one shot in the range around 50m to 75m and only had to shoot a second shot once in 10 years I went with him when a boy came and starled him, hi did'nt miss but did not put the shot good enough to kill, he got very angry at the boy for doing that even though the boy did not meant to startle him, he shot 10-15 calfes each year the calfes were close to 2 years old so the were not very small and they were all head shots. I vitnessed this myself so I know what .22 is capable of in the right hands. I just wanted to share this with you. Best regards, Gummy

-- Gudmundur Thorsteinsson (gummysplace@hotmail.com), September 23, 2003.

A friend and I just got back from a little plinking and found out this : 0 @ 50yd -6" @ 100yd -12" @ 150yd -48" @ 200yd -156" @ 300yd

note 156" is 13ft ...you had better let the wind die down. a 22lr shot at steel @ 300yds will expand to .030" thick.

-- John (kay@oil-cooler.com), September 15, 2003.

Well Brian you may have killed a coyote at 200 yards with your .22LR zeroed at 100 yards, but the bullet drop between 100 yds and 200 yds is about 20 inches, so either you are using a range finding device or your shot was pure luck. It is complete rubbish to say that “Only un-experienced shooters who do not know how to place a shot need bigger calibers” With a larger calibre rifle you take aim and fire. Anything up top 200 metres is dead, allowing for some marginal adjustments. With a .22 LR even between 180 yards and 200 there is a seven inch drop. It is quite impossible to shoot at those ranges with a .22 LR unless you are using a range finding device and then either adjusting your sight or using one with multiple aiming marks. Even then, wind, elevation,or depression all have a radical impact on the flight of the .22LR bullet unlike a larger calibre one. Even if you do hit the poor beast at 200 yards, unless you get a ribcage, head, or neck shot, the bullet just not have the striking velocity to break up and do the damage necessary for a quick kill. Do the kind thing and get yourself a larger calibre rifle for anything above 150 metres

-- chris b (c.boone@virgin.net), August 20, 2003.

I sight in my Ruger 10/22 at 100 yards. For those who think 100m is too far, well.... 100m is 111yards. that is spitting distance. And Last week I shot and killed a coyote at around 200 yards from a slight run. Only un-experienced shooters who do not know how to place a shot need bigger calibers.If you do not know how to judge distance and correct for elevation and windage, then you need learn. Why do you think that the .22LR is the caliber of choice by illeagal poachers. In the right hands the .22 is deadley. Did you know in Grozney, Chechnia the smart Rebel snipers used makeshift suppressed .22's with much success. Who cares if the Russian Troops had armored vests and ballistic helmets. The only thing that is needed is a exposed neck or face. The guy standing next to the fallen soilder soils his BDU because he didn't hear a shot and his buddy is Dying or Dead already. Sure they cannot take down a moose at 400 yards, but for small game and varmets it is capable to do its duty.

-- Brian Carter (hybridcivic91@hotmail.com), August 09, 2003.

I've been using a Sako now for the last two years with Winchester hollow point sub-sonics, a deadly combination. I have mine zeroed in at 60 yards and very rarely miss at that range, head shots each and every one (rabbits and foxes). At 100 yards I give an extra 3-4 inches and its usually spot on. Its always a good idea if you are shooting on regular patches to mark out distances from your usual hides. On one of my fields I have various bits and pieces i.e. rocks, logs, and anything at all really, all at set distances. One at 50yards, 60yards,70yards and so on. Its very usefull at night as that is when its even harder to judge ranges. Hope this is of use Geoff

-- Geoff Curtis (geoffcurtis777@hotmail.com), July 20, 2003.

it all depends on what u want to shoot. if ur punchin out the lil bullseyes on paper with a .22 or slaughtering pop cans, then 100yds is the max i would set it, but please dont shoot a varmint at 100 yds with a .22 I have shot ground hogs from 5 feet away with my ithaca as they pop out of the hole in the eye to save the fur and meat, only to have them scurry into their hole and i had to wait for them to come back out and pop em in the ear to put em out of their blind misery. If u are shooting varmints with your .22, use only a .22 stinger or velocitor, and site in ur rifle at 50yds, any farther the round will not penetrate enough to ensure a quick kill and u will have to pop it again to kill it. groundhogs are a big problem on our farm and over the years i have found that a .22 is really too small for this critter. I only shoot em with my 22-250 now and it blows a 3 inch hole in their head and it kills them before the bullet even gets there. just dont shoot em from 100yds with ur .22, u will hit em, but it will be a slow death. i dont think i would want to be shot in the eye with a bb gun at close range and then go home would u?

-- anti ground hog (beerbottlebill@hotmail.com), July 11, 2003.

I have just purchased a 3-10 x 44 sight with a mil dot reticle for my Brno 30 year old rifle. If you don't have a mil dot reticle for your .22LR then this is a must. Gives you 11 aiming points. Zero at 70 yards then the dot above is 40 yards, the dots below are 100, 120, 135 & 150. Using this in combination with a laser range finder will give you results you would not belive. With High velocity, the same zero is 100 yards & then the dots below are 150 yards dot 1.75, 200 yards dot four.

-- Chris Boone (chb.wf@virgin.net), June 12, 2003.

I've put rounds out to 200 with about a 2moa group ... thats a cci stinger ... pain in the butt of it is it going sub sonic at 110 yards

-- Rob (dont@spamme.com), May 18, 2003.

I think that a 100m is a little to far to zero a 22, with any luck you will sight it in at a 100 then find you are shooting at game as close as 20m and wondering why its dissapearing in a cloud of dust. I have a 22 magnum with will drop small game at 100 yet i shoot it at 50m on range. i find that if i zero it for what i shoot at the range then learn its rates on the feild.

-- Stuart S (stuontop@hotmail.com), May 14, 2003.

Dear sir I have a Brno. .22lr rifle and like to zero it with remington 1255fts/sec. rimfire please advise me how far should i zero it.. tariq

-- Tarique Perwaiz (tariqperwaiz@hotmail.com), February 16, 2003.

i got an anschutz 64 match with a 3-9*40 scope. i shoot balloons with it at 200 meters. My zero is at 50 meters. At 100 meters i dail 40 clicks (1/4 moa). At 200 meters i dail 110 clicks. this is with cci standard. I do hunt with the same rifle but i will never kill something beyond 120 meters, to much chance of wounding the animal. make sure you know the distance( use range cards or laser range finders) .22 lr bullets drop VERY hard. What kind of rifle do you got???

-- Arend (nl) (arend_h_nl@yahoo.com), October 15, 2002.

Hi! I have a Browning 22LR... I use the Winchester Laser Cartridges. The bullets goes 418 meters/second... Its a speedy one! I zeroed it at 100 meters, and that is perfect!

-- Daniel E (erce@home.se), October 15, 2002.

I sight in my rimfires at 30yards. Matt.

-- SavageSniper (sksman3@mchsi.com), September 21, 2002.

thats a good range,i hang to a thought that max. range is as far as i can cleanly take whatever varmint i am after,but as far as target work, its what ever range you want or can hit good enough to make you happy,every weapon i own shoots better than i am capable of shooting(with the proper load)so its mostly a matter of how much practice you want to put in with a firearm to get the most out of it,but you do have to consider if the weapon(and ammo) has a realistic abilty to do the job it is asked to do,and imho anything byond 100mtrs is asking a whole lot of a 22rim fire and the shooter, unless random holes in a target is all that you want,i,m not saying more cant be done,it can,but not without a very very good weapon and ammo and a very skilled shooter, so if you have it all,have at it as far as you like,but for me,with a 22lr i'll stay under 75yds hunting small game and then only if the conditions are right,if i need to reach out farther i'll go with a round a little more capable,but thats just me.bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), September 19, 2002.

"not if your zeroed at 100,but why do you want to shoot a rim fire at 100mt"

Because I want to go as far as the .22 will go without being beyond the capabilities of it-

I'm leaning more towards 50-60 meters now though, does that sound alright?

-- Bobby L (Burncycle360@yahoo.com), September 15, 2002.

I totally agree with you bobby. Like I said above i have mine set at 100yds. A little tip for you if you have problems at first is set up targets at 50,75,100,125,150,175,200 and do some group tests. Shoot at center don't worry about changing the dial after you have sighted in a the range you want. Say ten rounds per target then take those targets and average the spread to get your hold distance. for example here are my hold distances for above stated. @50yds=4.4in high, @75=2.6in high, @100=0, @125=3.1in low, @150=6.5in low, @175=10.3in low, @200yds=14.3in low. I have shot a few bunnies at a bit over 200yds, anything over and I pull out the high power. test your capabilities. Anything out past 150yds is really pushing it though. Keep it real.

-- Dean J. (xdeano@hotmail.com), September 07, 2002.

Here's what I do or know, based on shooting an lot of rabbits on farms every year with my .22LR. I shoot from a 4x4 with a roof mounted spotlight, or dismounted with a spotlight on top of the scope running off a battery pack. Rig: Sako Finnfire, 3-12x56 scope, Sako sound moderator. I only use Eley Subsonic Hollow Extra ammo. This combination is quieter than most air rifles. I zero at 60yds, where I take most bunnies, but have had killing hits at twice this distance. The Sako has a great trigger and is quality all round. From the bench it will put 10 rounds into a half inch ragged cloverleaf at 50 yds with my ammunition choice. If your rifle/ammo combination cannot match this level of accuracy, do not even try shooting bunnies at 100yds. You will have an unacceptable wounding rate. Screaming bunnies thrashing around on a cold still night with their guts hanging out or hind quarters smashed is not fair and spoils the outing. The Eley subsonic has a heavy (for the class) bullet that penetrates well at longer range. Through my chronograph I have proved to my self that this ammunition has the most consistent muzzle velocity of any of the available expanding bullet .22LR ammunition I can get my hands on regularly. RWS is also nearly as good, so is Lapua. All .22LR ammo, even the HV stuff has a trajectory like a rainbow. Zeroing out at 100 yds means bullet path is well high of line of sight up to 100yds, then falls off rapidly beyond 100yds. So you would actually have to aim below or above target for most of the ranges you would shoot at. Or to put it another way you would only have a narrow range bracket when you were not aiming off fur. With my ammo zeroed at 60yds I know that it crosses LOS at 17yds, rises less than an inch to POI at 60yds then drops 1in at 70yds, 2.5ins at 80yds, 4.5ins at 90yds and 6.5ins at 100yds. Beyond that it drops 1.5-2.0in per 5 yds out to 140yds. 0.22LR ammo is pretty cheap....buy a bucket full then get out and practise for hours. Once you have verified the accuracy of the rifle/ammo stop shooting paper for group and just concentrate on shooting for hits or misses. I put those yellow Post-It notes on lolly sticks and set up 20 or so over the ranges I'm interested in. They show up shots well. You will soon find your personal first shot kill range by doing this. When you know this range......stick to it. That is until you improve it on the range. Good Luck, Adam . . . (out)

-- Adam (fireforcefour@yahoo.co.uk), September 06, 2002.

Mine is sighted at 100yds and I use it to get rid of pests. Rabbits in the winter, musk rats, gophers, coons etc in the summer. 22's are very lethal in the right hands!

-- Dean J. (xdeano@hotmail.com), September 06, 2002.

not if your zeroed at 100,but why do you want to shoot a rim fire at 100mtrs ? yes you can make hits that far,but the ballistics at that range are not good at all,a lite bullet and low vel. do not make for accurcy or penetration if you are just punching paper thats fun,but dont expect more from it,i would zero at what range i think i would be most apt to get a good shot at what i was hunting,trying to judge holdover on targets at 100mtrs and byond is not easy,needs a lot of range time,and consistant ammo,both are hard to get enough of,best of luck,bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), September 05, 2002.

if I'm zeroed at 100 yards, and I have a target at 25 yards, do I have to adjust much?

The box of ammo says drops 3" at 100 yards, so I should just aim 3" higher?

Peace

-- Bobby L (Burncycle360@yahoo.com), September 05, 2002.

I have mine 22 set a 100yds. it works out for me well. start by setting a very small target at 13.3 yards or so, kinda depends on your ammo. align your sigths at that distance then move it out to 100yds, that way you'll start out hitting paper. If your not hitting paper do corners. top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right until you are on paper. Good luck.

-- Dean J. (xdeano@hotmail.com), September 05, 2002.

it all depends on the shooters and the weapons ability,all being good 100 is as far as i would try to zero,its about as far as the round has enough vel. to be resonably accurate,you might push a little on calm days,but the only way to tell is to get the range time in with the weapon and see what you can do!bobby

-- bobby (bobbydickey@hotmail.com), September 03, 2002.