Opinions - Sighting in distance

[longislandhunter]

I was just wondering what the consesus is on the best range to sight in your air rifle, .177 or .22, if you plan on using the gun for small game hunting.  I realize there are a lot of variables involved in determining such a distance such as pellet weight, shape, etc, but I'm just looking for general opinions.  I have a .177 and a .22 that I currently have sighted in at 25 yards, but was thinking of re-sighting them in for 40 yards for hunting reasons. What do you think?

[raterminator]

25 yards would be my choice too. BTW, you can replace the factory knob tops with target knob tops for quick determination of the range. Usually they are zeroed (0) at 100 yards but in case of air guns you can sight it at 25 yards too.

[D Miller]

Actually you have two zero's! Yes two I say because the pellet arcs. I have my -1000 fps guns sighted in at 20 yards which also gives me roughly a 40 yard zero as well. So as the pellet is going up I hit 20 yards and as the pellet is coming down 40 yards. The cool thing is between 20 & 40 yards the pellt rises no more than 1 inch so a 30 yard target is still in range without  having to make any major adjustments. Hope this helps.

[Gene_SC]

Glad someone made this post. I was under the understanding that you should start a around 10 yards. I do that with a new scope. I can site in at 10 yards and drive tacks. Then I move it out 20 yards. Reset my objective and fine adjust till it is where I want it. Fire off a pellet with the same sweet spot and I am usually two to three inches to high. Then I re-ajust for tack drivin shots. Then I move my target out to 40 yards where I feel comfortable. Same thing all over again. I am ususally off a couple inches and have to re-adjust.  

My question? Is this normal?

Thanks
Gene

[longislandhunter]

Interesting, thanks.  Next time I target shoot in the backyard I'll shoot varied distances and see the result.  The .177 rifle I use for hunting is an S1k so I guess theoretically the pellet arc should be close to the figures you gave for your 1000 fps guns.  thanks again  

[D Miller]

Here is a link to an article that may be of interest to you & explains my point much better than I could.
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/06/at-what-range-should-you-zero-your.html

[D Miller]

This link will give you tons of information. You're in for a real treat.
http://www.airgunexpo.com/index.cfm

[longislandhunter]

Just finished the article, very interesting.  Thanks so much for listing it.

[raterminator]

I have to do some research to be able to answer your question, but I got another idea; what if after zeroing your rifle at 10 yards, you just move it further and further without readjusting, to see there you again meet your “O” point?

[D Miller]

here are some demos that will help make sense of some principals for you.
http://www.arld1.com/

[raterminator]

Wow, just finished exploring the demos (for now   ) Very helpful link.
Thank you, Donnie

[Gene_SC]

Boy did I learn alot, Thanks for the great links guys..

Gene

[ribbonstone]

Mostly presonal prefrence...but I've learned that i reallly have trouble holding UNDER a critter.  Just a mental "quirk"...will miss those 15 to 25yard shots when I shight in too far away (the pellet is "on" at about 10yards and then again at about 50yards...inbetween it's going to be high, and about at it's higest in the 25-30yard range).

So I sight them in at 25yards...learn to live with the hold over at extended ranges (which to me just feels "natural"), and fnd it easier to deal with the lessened hold-under.