A springer shooting question for you all...

[USNCop]

What would you say would be considered a long range shot for a .22 springer that is in the power category of a B26 and such?

[jct842]

for me with a b26 35-40 yards on a squirrel is a long shot.  at 75 yards I can hit a 10" frying pan hanging from a tree every time.  but that isn't  some thing alive.   I think you should qualify your question as to a long range shot at WHAT.  John

[airgun/cuz]

Troy,,I would think that 40yards would be pushing the limits with that type of power,others may disagree,I wouldn't want to rely on a 40 plus yard shot with a .22 B26,,,At 25 yards,absolutey would do the job!

[longislandhunter]

I agree,,,, 40 yards is a good self imposed limit.

Jeff

[shadow]

I'm with the boys on that, 40yrds would be the limit for taking game with fur and nutter size and up. Beyond that you better have your Zen on and pinpoint that pellet to the target with enough juice left to drop the critter quickly. This would apply to hunting of coarse . Ed

[Bogey]

Troy,  if you are talking a non-living target then what ever distance you set is ok.   If you want to see if you can hit a soda can at 100 yards then go for it.   However, if you are meaning live game then the closer the better.   No more than 25 to 30 yards max.  This would be using one of the more  powerful AGs.

Personally,  I limit shots to no more than 20 yards.  I want good clean deadly take downs. The OSOK.  And I do not believe in wounding animals  just to have them go off a die somewhere.
And I am lazy and I  don't want to have to look for them to finish them off.
I pride myself in closing the distance on game , even squirrels.  

This is actually a Good question as I have read comments on the InterNet where persons make some incredible claims as to how far away they shot a bird or squirrel. ( 100 yds etc.)            I don't believe it but others may.  Plus this sets bad examples for Air Gunners in the eyes of the public.   Always be aware of what is behind your target, is it a safe shot?  If not, don't take it.

[douglas george]

I have been able to hit small targets at 85 to 100 yards with my RWS 460 22 spring gun off the bench...but, at that range the pellet is traveling slow enough that it has little killing power.  In fact the RWS 22 Super point won't penatrate a 1/4 plastic board at that range.  At 25 yards my RWS 460 22 spring gun will punch a hole in both sides of a Wal-Mart coffee can, at 65 yards it will put a hole in one side, and at 80 yards it will only dent one side.  Long range is fun, and a challange, but not a good idea when hunting.  For me, I will always try to take my killing shots at 25 to 50 feet.  Most rabbets and a couple of carp I have shot were taken at 15 to 20 feet.  My longest kill was a grackle at 50 yards...and that was a fluke...I held about a foot or so over him with my BSA 22 springer...and he fell dead!  Pure luck.
Douglas George

[tjk]

40 yard max with anything but a true Magnum powered springer,..then maybe 50,...and pellet selection is absolutely critical at this distance. But like some of the others have stated,...the closer the better. To me,...why take and "un-guaranteed shot" out-side of your sight set-up. To me it's easier to adjust the sights from your "practiced "target" range" when slightly closer from that distance, and further in. 10 yards is where I back away as well. tjk

[DanoInTx]

douglas george - 6/9/2009  12:31 PM
.......Most rabbets and a couple of carp I have shot were taken at 15 to 20 feet.......

Hehe, I am probably reading this wrong, but please tell me aren't shooting fish with a pellet gun....carp?  Like giant goldfish?  If I am reading this right please  explain your pellet fishing technique, this has got to be a great story.....

[kirby999]

I've shot carp with bow and arrow before , but to be legal, I had to have a retrieval line and system . Never shot them with a pellet before. kirby

[CBR400RR]

I think a good springer is good for up to 50 yards maybe more if you have the right pellet and your a good enough shot. I have hit birds and dropped them with my .177 R9 up to 46 yards and they fell like a rock and didn't move. For anything farther than 50 yards I would say a high powered .22 cal PCP would be your best bet and if you wanted to take anything up to 100 yards you better have a very high powered ..25 cal PCP but I could be wrong.

[douglas george]

Yes I have shot carp (fish) with an air rifle...also many painted turtles.  This was many years ago when I was in high school with my Sheridan 5mm pump gun.  We owned a large lake (parents house) and I shot several carp with my Sheridan, and one on shore with a Webley 177 pelet pistol.  I have shot many turtles with the Sheridan, as a turtle control program in the lake, and I have shot three large snapping turtles with the Sheridan...one was eaten...good soup.  The strangest animal I have shot with the Sheridan was a six foot shark when deep sea fishing...one shot to the head, from less than five feet!  I used eight pumps.
Douglas George