What yardage to zero?

[Froghunter]

Would like to ask what is probability the best range to zero my RWS M-40 at for hunting squirrels in small woodlots. The air rifle is in .177 cal. With a BSA 4 by 32mm AO scope. (none mil-dot) The pellets I use are Crossman 7.9 grain CPLs. I will limit myself to shots under 30 yards, because I feel this is the maximum effective range of the weapon on squirrel size game. Is there trajectory charts for air rifle or software programs? How do ya’ll set your hunt air rifles up for the hunt? Need your help!

[longislandhunter]

I have my rifles sighted in at 25 yards and this works well for my small game hunting.  Most of my squirrels and rabbits are taken at 30 yards or less, although I have taken them further out, so my small game hunting is far from being a long range sport.  As for the effective range like I said, I'll take a 40 yard shot a squirrel, done it many times, and the predator pellets (my main hunting pellet) get the job done cleanly. The crosman CPL's are a good hunting pellet also and should be able to take out a squirrel at 40 yards with a well placed shot.  

As for trajectory charts and software,,, I'm sure they are out there, no doubt some of the other members can give you such links.  I've never used them so I can't help you there.  

After I sight in a rifle at 25 I will then shoot the rifle from closer and farther ranges in order to map the POI and assist me with holdover or holdunder.  I keep a folder on each and every one of my rifles.  In that folder I document information about the rifle,,, when it was cleaned, sighted in, any alterations I may have made, FPS information and the like,,,,,, I also keep the targets I used to sight the rifle in,  the targets I used during my pellet grouping tests, and target shooting targets.  

After I take a rifle out of the gun safe to shoot or hunt with it the next thing I do is take the appropriate folder out of the filing cabinet and refresh my memory as to what pellet the rifle is sighted in for, what other pellets have the same POI in case I want to use one of them, and what the holdover is for the particular pellet I plan on using.  The information contained in the guns folder assists me in getting maximum performance out of the rifle and thus enables me to hunt more efficiently.  

Jeff

[shadow]

I do the same, I sight in at 30yrd's and close in from there. I also check my shot placement from the ground, layed out sniper style. That's where I hunt P-dog's from and squirrel's now with the Sniper B3. Ed

longislandhunter - 10/12/2007  10:38 PM

I have my rifles sighted in at 25 yards and this works well for my small game hunting.  Most of my squirrels and rabbits are taken at 30 yards or less, although I have taken them further out, so my small game hunting is far from being a long range sport.  As for the effective range like I said, I'll take a 40 yard shot a squirrel, done it many times, and the predator pellets (my main hunting pellet) get the job done cleanly. The crosman CPL's are a good hunting pellet also and should be able to take out a squirrel at 40 yards with a well placed shot.  

As for trajectory charts and software,,, I'm sure they are out there, no doubt some of the other members can give you such links.  I've never used them so I can't help you there.  

After I sight in a rifle at 25 I will then shoot the rifle from closer and farther ranges in order to map the POI and assist me with holdover or holdunder.  I keep a folder on each and every one of my rifles.  In that folder I document information about the rifle,,, when it was cleaned, sighted in, any alterations I may have made, FPS information and the like,,,,,, I also keep the targets I used to sight the rifle in,  the targets I used during my pellet grouping tests, and target shooting targets.  

After I take a rifle out of the gun safe to shoot or hunt with it the next thing I do is take the appropriate folder out of the filing cabinet and refresh my memory as to what pellet the rifle is sighted in for, what other pellets have the same POI in case I want to use one of them, and what the holdover is for the particular pellet I plan on using.  The information contained in the guns folder assists me in getting maximum performance out of the rifle and thus enables me to hunt more efficiently.  

Jeff

Whoah!
A VERY methodical approach you have there.
Downright scientific.

[Gene_SC]

Ya Jeff, with collecting so many shooters it is hard to remember what pellet shoots best with each air rifle. I have the same problem but some how I am able to remember fps for each rifle. But I use the tape method on the gun butt so I know which pellet works best for that particular rifle. Not nearly as organized as you. If I took notes of all the stuff like you, somehow I would lose the info.lol So a bit of tape works ok for me.. hehe

Most all my shooters are good for 30 yards plus so I set optimum adjustment at 30 yards and work from there. :)

Gene

:) Gene, if you kept a log/folder of all your shooters, might you need an addition on your new homestead???? You do have quite an impressive inventory.

[Gene_SC]

Funny you mentioned an addition....:) Actually I have an upstairs where I will probably put most of my inventory..:) But I need to make at least three round carousel rifle racks to hold the bulk of them.. hehe.. The ones I shoot regularly I will keep in my office downstairs on a wall rack. I really do not have that many rifles compared to some enthusiests, because I ran into a couple guys at the South Carolina Shootout who had 50 to over 100 pistols and rifles.. Yikesssss. Now that is a load of air guns.. hehe

Gene

[shadow]

Still not enough buddy hehe. I will keep aquiring them if I have to add a addition gunrack room......hmmm hehe. Ed

I ussually find the top of my trajectory and zero at that distance that way I'm only ever allowing for drop.

[Splash]

Whenever I got my CFX.22, I zeroed it at 40, that's where the target was set. As a result I had a nice surprize, it is dead on 25-50,I don't know if it is a fluke, but I'm not touchin it.
Mike

[Froghunter]

Thanks for the help. I will zero at 30 yards and make the hold above/below chart for the side of the air rifle. I have to go to the range to shoot at them distances to get it zeroed. (Ten yard range along carport) I will do this on Monday at lunch time and report my findings!

Thanks again folks!

I'm sure that's why Ed and Jeff are so successful in the field. I appreciate the practical info too, Jeff, because the details sure do matter for a consistently successful hunt.

Bryan

[Tex]

I didn't see this mentioned so I thought I would add this in case anyone is interested.  It is a FREE download and I find it useful, especially if you have a number of shooters of different energy levels, and also if you have, or have access, to a chronograph.  Using your most accurate pellet, and knowing the fps of your shooter, you can pick the "optimum zero" range and view the actual trajectories.  Additionally, if you use a scope with mildots it is very useful for long range (or short range) shooting. You can make a chart and tape it to your stock for quick reference in the field. There are many other interesting "variables" to tinker with on a cold winters night. Many folks use this program and it has been verified through test to be "a very close approximation to the truth".

Down load the following and play with it for awhile.  I think you will find it a valuable aid in hunting as well as target shooting. It is not necessary to register to use the software but you can join the club for around 10 bucks or so.

http://www.chairgun.com/

Cheers