How to Sight in a Rifle Scope for Squirrel Hunting
One of the most important details of a squirrel rifle is the sight height. Sight height is the height above the center line of the bore of the rifle. A scope can be mounted as low as one and a half inches from the bore, or it can be as high as two inches. The reason for this difference is that higher sights will lead to low shooting at short ranges. It is important to know the proper sight height to achieve the best shooting accuracy.
Parallax scope
You’ve probably heard about a few ways to sight in a Parallax rifle scope for squirrel hunting, but how do you actually sight in a rifle scope for squirrel hunting? First, let’s define parallax. In simple terms, parallax is the amount that the crosshairs will move off target when your eye is not straight through the scope tube.
For LR/ERL shots, you want the reticle to be near the center of the tube. However, if you’re shooting from a bench rest, or if you’re using a tricky eye box, the reticle can be off-center. For this reason, you want to aim for the center of the rifle tube, and use side focus adjustments for deliberate shots.
Next, make sure the eyepiece is level. If you’re using a rifle with a side focus turret, the side focus turret will double as an illumination control, so you’ll have to be consistent in this step. To do this, set the center of the scope’s field of view to its highest power, and then look through the center of the sight picture. If parallax is an issue, try using AO until you make the correct adjustments.
Longer magnification scope
The first thing you’ll need to do is decide what magnification you need. The bottom end of your scope will determine how high you can sight in, and will ultimately determine what range of magnification you need. For close-range squirrel hunting, you’ll likely want a scope that can provide a wide field of view. 6x is simply too high, but you might want to consider using a 4x or 3x scope instead. And if you’re going to be using a rimfire rifle, a 3x scope will be enough to see.
Another important step in sighting in a longer magnification scope is using a reticle. A reticle will be helpful for creating perfect cross lines. This will help you focus on your target. If you use a focus adjustment, you should be able to distinguish squirrels at about 25 yards and 50 yards. Likewise, a long-range scope will be very helpful if you want to track a squirrel from fifty or more yards away.
Binoculars
When hunting squirrels, you should consider using binoculars in conjunction with a rifle scope. A rifle scope is ideal for pinpointing a squirrel’s location, but it’s not the most effective way to scan an area. In this case, you will want to use binoculars to check for a “bump” that resembles a squirrel.
If you’re going to be using binoculars to hunt squirrels, you should opt for a 3-9×40 scope. Make sure that the glass is of good quality and that you can easily adjust the prallax adjustment to compensate for the difference in distance between your binoculars and the target. Some hunters use 4x while others prefer 9x. If you’re going to use binoculars for squirrel hunting, make sure to have the correct permits and hunt with caution.
For smaller prey, aiming for the head is the most effective way to kill it. Trying to hit the squirrel’s head might prove difficult for a new hunter. If you’re unsure, the second-best aim point is the heart, which is located under the neck of the animal. For beginners, it’s best to shoot from the side to make the head a bigger aim point.
.22 LR rifle
If you want to kill squirrels with a.22 LR rifle, you should know how to sight in a scope properly. Most rifle manufacturers recommend sighting in your rifle at 40 yards, but it is better to shoot at 35 yards if you want to ensure that you will hit your target with your first shot. Sight in your scope using the side focus configuration or the objective. Most parallax scopes have minimum and maximum parallax distances out to infinity. Adjustable objectives also give you the freedom to focus up to 45 yards and infinity.
Before aiming your rifle at a squirrel, consider its size. Most of these rifles shoot 36 to 40-grain bullets, and they travel at about 1,150-1,250 fps. Hollow-point bullets are less lethal than solid ones, so it is best to try different brands and types of bullets to ensure that you can hit your target effectively. Whether you’re hunting for squirrels or other small game, the right weapon will make the process more efficient and enjoyable.
What is the best way to sight in a scope for squirrel hunting?
The best way to sight in a scope for squirrel hunting is to use a bore sight.
What is the best way to use a bore sight?
The best way to use a bore sight is to align the bore sight with the center of the scope.
How do you align the bore sight with the center of the scope?
In order to align the bore sight with the center of the scope you will need to use a level.
How do you use a level to align the bore sight with the center of the scope?
In order to use a level to align the bore sight with the center of the scope you will need to place the level on the bore sight.
Where do you place the level on the bore sight?
The level should be placed on the bore sight so that the bubble is in the center.
What is the next step after aligning the bore sight with the center of the scope?
The next step is to adjust the scope so that the crosshairs are in the center of the bore sight.
How do you adjust the scope so that the crosshairs are in the center of the bore sight?
In order to adjust the scope so that the crosshairs are in the center of the bore sight you will need to use the windage and elevation adjustments.
What are the windage and elevation adjustments?
The windage and elevation adjustments are screws that are used to move the crosshairs.
Where are the windage and elevation adjustments located?
The windage and elevation adjustments are located on the side of the scope.
How do you use the windage and elevation adjustments?
In order to use the windage and elevation adjustments you will need to turn them until the crosshairs are in the center of the bore sight.
What is the next step after adjusting the scope?
The next step is to fire a few shots and make any necessary adjustments.
Where do you fire the shots?
You will need to fire the shots into a target.
How far away should the target be?
The target should be 25 yards away.
How do you make adjustments after firing the shots?
If the shots are not hitting the center of the target you will need to make adjustments to the windage and elevation.
What is the final step?
The final step is to fine tune the adjustments until the shots are hitting the center of the target.
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.
