How Far Should I Zero My 22 For Squirrel Hunting? 
When you’re squirrel hunting, how far should you zero your 22? The answer will depend on your rifle, and your range is determined by the speed and sight height of the airgun. For most rifles, you’ll need to zero your 22 between 18 and 21 yards, which will give you the greatest effective range for nutters. Between 15 and 45 yards, you should be able to hit your targets within 1/2″, and outside of those parameters, you’ll need to compensate.
.17HMR
The first thing to consider is the effective range of your rifle. A hunting rifle with an effective range of 20 yards will usually miss by about 1.5 inches. But that’s not the end of the story. If you can manage to hit your squirrel at 25 yards, you can get away with it. In fact, your 22 will have an effective range of 18 to 21 yards if you are shooting dead on. You’ll still be within an inch of the kill zone if you shoot dead on at 15-45 yards. But if you happen to miss, you’ll have to compensate.
For hunting, it is better to use a fast flat shot. The headshot will minimize the damage to the meat, but this is not always possible, especially when squirrels are in trees. However, if you’re lucky, you’ll have the time to get the headshot. This way, you can take advantage of the low-light conditions to get the best shot. Moreover, if your target is high in a tree, you won’t be able to get a good shot at it, but you’ll have to make sure you hit it.
.22WMR
When squirrel hunting, one of the first questions you may have is, “How far should I zero my 22?” Many hunters use a hybrid of known drop and Maximum Point Blank range when zeroing their firearms. They hold the zero at 65 yards and use the drop as a guide. They adjust the zero at 70 and 100 yards by holding dead-on to the target and then calculating the drop at those distances. A BDC reticle is especially useful when using high velocity ammunition or hollow points.
Using an iron-sighted rifle will help you avoid missing the animal. At 25 yards, a bullet will hit the animal one-fifth of an inch below the crosshairs. During the same time, at 75 and 100 yards, the bullet will miss the animal by six inches. This makes it a bad idea to shoot from fifty yards or more. A better zeroing distance would be around 15 or twenty yards.
Model 60
To shoot squirrels effectively, you must know how far to zero your rifle. In addition, you must adjust the zero according to the range and trajectory of the load you’re shooting. You can get the optimum range by using an airgun with an average sight height and 900 fps. In general, an 18 to 21 yard zero is enough to achieve a dead on hit on nutters. In fact, you will often be within 1/2″ of the kill zone if you shoot dead on.
It is best to zero your rifle in order to shoot accurately at long distances. A 25 yard zero will place all points further down the range below the line of sight. Similarly, a 50-yard zero will miss any target at 75 yards. A hundred-yard zero, on the other hand, will allow you to take full advantage of the bullet’s trajectory, but will produce maximum mid-range rise and misses if you shoot over it.
Savage bolt-action
In order to get the best possible shot from your rifle, you must know how far to zero your Savage 22 for squirrel hunting. Zeroing a rifle depends on the range and trajectory of the load. For example, if you shoot at a squirrel from a tree stand, you should adjust the zero of your rifle accordingly. Savage rifles come with a correspondingly adjustable AccuTrigger and a delayed blowback action.
While the average kill zone for a squirrel is 1.5 inches, hunting rifles have tiny kill zones and even a miss of 1.5 inches can cause the hunter to miss the animal completely. If you zero your rifle at 50 yards, the bullet will drop two inches, six inches, or more at 100 yards. At 25 yards, the bullet will rise a half inch and hit the animal dead on. However, if you aim outside of these parameters, you need to compensate.
Remington Model 34
There are several factors to consider when zeroing your rifle for squirrel hunting. You should not shoot at the wrong distance because the bullet will still fall, but you should aim for the center of the kill zone. You want to get the bullet to drop less than an inch when you’re shooting at 75 yards. A deviation of 1.5 inches will still kill the squirrel, but it will be less than a full one.
Squirrels are notoriously difficult to spot. They run or freeze when they see danger, so training your eye to detect movement will greatly improve your accuracy. Try sitting still and scanning the area, waiting for a squirrel to approach. Then, take your shot. You’ll be rewarded with a successful shot. After a couple of shots, you’ll be able to shoot many squirrels with a single shot.
What is the smallest caliber rifle you can use for squirrel hunting?
The .
22 caliber rifle is the smallest caliber rifle you can use for squirrel hunting.
How far away should you be from the squirrel you are trying to shoot?
You should be no more than 50 yards away from the squirrel you are trying to shoot.
What is the best time of day to go squirrel hunting?
The best time of day to go squirrel hunting is early morning or late afternoon.
What is the best type of ammunition to use for squirrel hunting?
The best type of ammunition to use for squirrel hunting is lead ammo.
What is the best way to attract squirrels?
The best way to attract squirrels is by using a squirrel call.
What is the best way to find squirrels?
The best way to find squirrels is to look for them in areas where there are a lot of trees.
How can you tell if a squirrel is male or female?
You can tell if a squirrel is male or female by looking at its tail.
If the tail is large and bushy it is male.
If the tail is small and not as bushy it is female.
What is the best way to kill a squirrel?
The best way to kill a squirrel is by shooting it in the head.
How can you tell if a squirrel is sick?
You can tell if a squirrel is sick by looking at its fur.
If the fur is patchy or thin it is sick.
What is the best way to clean a squirrel?
The best way to clean a squirrel is by skinning it.
What do you do with the squirrel once you have killed it?
Once you have killed the squirrel you can either eat it or use it for fur.
What is the best way to cook a squirrel?
The best way to cook a squirrel is by roasting it.
What should you not do while squirrel hunting?
You should not shoot a squirrel while it is in a tree.
What should you do if you see a bear while hunting squirrels?
If you see a bear while hunting squirrels you should immediately stop what you are doing and slowly back away.
What is the most important thing to remember while squirrel hunting?
The most important thing to remember while squirrel hunting is to be safe.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
