Sighting In a Scope

[Backyard Hunter]

Please respond with advice about scopes for hunting squirrels.  Am I wasting my time with a scope or should I just use the green & red dot barrel sight?  The first scope that came with the break-barrel gun kept slipping in the mounting rings no matter how tight it was!  Then it broke at the adjustment housing.  The 2nd scope that I have on my gun has moved until the adjustment mechanism body is resting on the mounting ring.  So I left it there and tried to sight it in.  Even with a bench rest I can’t get even a 1” spread at 40 yards (more like a 6” spread).  This is very frustrating!

[gene_sc]

First of all what distance's are you shooting at prey. Most folks are shooting critters 15 yards out to 30 yards. Personally I use variable scopes and that would be my choice. I do not hunt or kill things but I do allot of paper punching from 25 yards out to 50 yards. I am sure more of the members will chime in on your post.

[famine]

Have you used loctite to make sure your screws aren't loosening up on you? Once you use loctite and set your scope stop pin you shouldn't need to worry about your scope moving.

[airiscool]

Scope, or open sights, you need a certain minimum accuracy if your going to hunt.

You need a gun that you can consistently put your shots in the kill zone, at a certain distance, for the size of the game your hunting. If you can't find a gun/sight/pellet combo that can do that, you'll just be wounding critters.

For Squirrels, the kill zone is about the size of a quarter, better yet, a nickle if you plan on using head shots (most humane type kill).

Even if you get a good scope, if that gun still can't shoot into the kill zone every time, I would not recommend that you use it to hunt with. Find a gun/sight combo that will.

When I was young, I had excellent eye sight and did alot of Squirrel hunting with just the open sights on my Winchester 77 rimfire. Now, my eyes are too old (so's the rest of me !). I use 3-9 variables for Gray and Red Squirrels, and Starlings. 3 power for the wider field of view when the Squirrels are closer than about 20 yards and moving - 9 power when they are out 20 - 40 yards. And, 9 power for the Starlings.   

Paul

[Atchman2]

Most of the time in Tennessee you aren't going to shoot much further than 30 yards.  I think even a fixed 4x scope will work most of the time. 

My squirrel guns have 3 x 9 Leapers Scopes on them.  I prefer non-AO because I don't want to mess with it. 

If you tell us what kind of gun you have maybe we can help you with your accuracy problem? 

[daved]

Yup, Atchman got it, we need to know rifle, scope, mount, and pellet.  It would also help to know how much experience you have shooting springers, and if you've ever heard of the "artillery" hold.  Springers are funny beasts, most require a pretty specific shooting technique, and can be pretty uncooperative if they don't get it.  They're also all individuals, even two identical models can show marked differences in pellet preference.  So give us more info, and maybe we can help you "zero in" on the problem :-).  Later.

Dave

[Yellowstone]

We assume you are using scopes rated for airguns. Using a one piece scope mount and cleaning the dove tail groves on the gun may help with the scope moving on you. Once you get the scope to stop moving on you.  Then you can work on getting your grouping down to size. AND that my Friend is the question and what we all are doing every time we shoot. Like Airiscool said everyone is looking for the right "gun/sight/pellet combo"  keep us posted on your progress

[CitySniper]

How many of you guys use a 10 yard zero?....I found for my guns it works great, I hold under at 30 yards. and i'm almost dead on at 60 yards.

[famine]

I sighted my gun for 10 yards and i'm dead on at 50 as well. Like you said at 30 yards i'm shooting about an inch high but I can compensate easily enough. I actually just dropped a rabbit last night at close to 55 yards and I thought for sure it was a stretch to get the headshot but sure enough held dead on and its POI was perfect.

[Backyard Hunter]

Thanks for all your replies.  I am using a Simmon 3-9x32 22 MAG scope on a Daisy Powerline model 1000 with Crosman Premier Hollow Point hunting pellets.  This is my first break-barrel style of air gun.  I generally keep the scope on 5 power.   I think it is rated for an airgun.  When I had this combination sighted-in I could bring down a squirrel from half way up a large oak tree with one shot.  I've got some Loctite in my shop, but I am curious about the one piece scope mount that Yellowstone mentioned.  What is special about it?  Also, what is a "artillery" hold?  And an explanation of the "10 yard zero" would be appreciated.

[CitySniper]

First things first..it's Best to "zero" your scope  on max magnification in your case 9xs.  A 1 piece mount for your scope is just a solid base with the scope rings attached...it is easier to install (align correctly) And on a magnum springer it is better to use because it is so solid...IE resist movement

However you can still use your 2 piece rings just fine, most have an internal scope stop screw for the rear ring which you screw into the base on your rifle.

The 10 yards zero I was talking about is just how far I setup my rifle to shoot exactly where I am aiming. You can set your "zero" at whatever distance you want...( but it is best to setup at the distance you normally shoot, or will be shooting your targets)

I would you suggest you try searching youtube for some of these same terms... there are great videos posted, trust me.

search "artillery hold" .....it is better if you see it rather than us try to explain exactly how you hold the gun. But you are holding the rifle in your hand but just barely supporting it so that it can go through its recoil cycle without being disturbed.


P.S. It sounds like you are unsure if your scope is for an airgun or not.. It is crucial that it is airgun rated especially on a spring powered gun! otherwise that scope will not hold up to the recoil of an airgun.

I think it is kind of cool that airgun scopes are better made, and can be used on firearms...but firearm scopes cant be used on airguns. (unless u have a PCP...no recoil)

[Atchman2]

The one piece mounts usually have more bolts holding it on and thus is more stable.  I have some four bolt one piece mounts, but if your gun is hard to keep a scope on you may want to invest in five bolt mounts.  

I have one of the Simmons scopes, but I'm not sure it is air gun rated. I put mine on my Sheridan pump gun since it doesn't have recoil.  

As for the artillery hold, you can find videos on it on the internet.  The thing about it is that you don't grip the gun tight like a powder burner.  You have to let if float in your hand.  

For example if I'm shooting on a rest, the gun isn't held it rests on the back of my arm or hand.  I also try not to grip it hard, but just firmly with my right hand.  Also depending on which one of my guns it is, I just let it rest against my shoulder, I don't press it against my shoulder.  If you do it right, it feels like it is too loose to shoot correctly.  

The artillery hold helps to compensate for the unique dual recoil of an air rifle.  

https://www.pyramydair.com/article/The_artillery_hold_June_2009/63
Here is a video to illustrate the hold.  

Hope we've helped!