Frustrated hunter....

[Tpatner412]

So I've been in the backyard the majority of the day
going after grackles and I've gotten three good shot opportunities and taken them
all with no success. My rws 48 is shooting cphp's consistently into one inch groupings at 25 yards. So I just don't know why I haven't been nailing these buggers. When I'm inside of 25 yards should I be aiming high or low of my target?  I figure because my scope isn't perfectly zeroed and I'm never shooting at a target exactly 25 yards away that I need to figure out where to aim for those in between
distances.

Thanks

Tyler

[fisherdude]

Try using some photos of birds or siloette targets - actual game is a little different sight picture.  Keep on  trying, it will all come together if you don't give up.  If you are sighted in at 25 yards, you are likely low at 10 - 15 yards.  Set targets at different distances and check it out.

[Tpatner412]

Thanks for the tip fisher.  I'll try it out tomorrow

[shadow]

As mentioned set up target's at different ranges and even height's you'll get your holdover down and be whacking em left and right. Ed

[Tpatner412]

Thanks Ed. Not only for the advice but for moving the post as well

Tyler

[only1harry]

Grackles are usually always on the move except for a short moment when they put their head down and their beak in the grass.  That's the perfect opportuninty to squeeze the trigger but they also present a little smaller target when they do that.  Your pellets are probably grazing their feather or going right through them without inflicting much damage.  The feather make them look bigger than what they are.  

If they are closer than 25yds aim slightly higher.  The POI (point of impact) will be lower but like the others said, practice on targets at 20 and 15yds as well so you know where the pellet strikes.  You will be surprised how much much lower the POI will be.  What kind of pellets are you using?