Stock 10/22 accuracy - MOSkunk?

happydude

happydude

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Was out for a walk tonight, enjoying the warmer weather, and I stumbled upon a skunk. Now we live in a rural area on 40 acres, next to other 40/80 acre sites, and I always carry some form of firearm with me when I'm out for a walk in the bush. Normally it's a .303 or a shorty 870, but today I hadn't planned on wandering far from the house so I left without. It was nice so I opted for a longer stroll around the 40. On my way back, I noticed a nice bushy black and white tail between me and the open garage door. ####. I only had a former mop handle as a walking stick. I retreated into the shed and found a large knife and two meat hanging hooks, armed myself and ran like hell back to the house.

Right now I've got an 870 with some buckshot and a 10/22 next to my door and I'm watching out my back windows to see if that little bugger shows up again. The last time I took a shot at a skunk it was with my 10/22 and 10 shots later I hit nothing, turns out my sites were not set where I though they were and I was careless.

I'm now realizing that I need to take a careful aimed shot at it with a scoped rifle, and I don't own a single scope. Long story short knowing what my target is, is my stock 10/22 capable of sufficient accuracy to warrant putting a scope on it with the standard base and are there any recommendations for a no frills easy to use scope?
 
Nine said:
Yeah a 10-22 can do it... but can you? :p

Set your sights and you should be able to hit a skunk. I mean... come on! :D
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No, I clearly can't, you've seen me shoot. :redface: Thus the scope. :D


beergut said:
why shoot it? let it leave on its own
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We've had a number of dogs put down in the neighborhood due to rabies in the past two years and the lives of our dog and cat are worth more than some skunk. Plus our hot tub is outside and I really don't want to get caught in my underwear at 10:30 at night by this damn thing.
 
How hard could it be to hit a skunk with a .22 rifle? The very first time I shot a .357 revolver, I was able to put 2-3'' groups at 25 yards... with a 6'' barrel and lots of recoil.

I think you definitely need to align your sights properly first, before attempting to shoot at any moving/living target (especially targets that can spray you when they get pissed or scared). Plus, you don't wanna be aiming for the skunk and killing your neighbor instead! :eek:

The 10/22 is able to easily put a skunk down at 25 yards, even with the iron sights and only 1 bullet... unless yours has some major malfunction.

.
 
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I wouldnt shoot it. Trust me, been there, done that. You will have the smell around for weeks, worst mistake I ever made!!!(mine was a perfect head shot with my SKS-D, but it didnt matter, it was unbelievable, I was camping with my rig crew, our whole crew had to move to a new campsite, it smelled for weeks!!)
 
762mm said:
How hard could it be to hit a skunk with a .22 rifle? The very first time I shot a .357 revolver, I was able to put 2-3'' groups at 25 yards... with a 6'' barrel and lots of recoil.

I think you definitely need to align your sights properly first, before attempting to shoot at any moving/living target (especially targets that can spray you when they get pissed or scared). Plus, you don't wanna be aiming for the skunk and killing your neighbor instead! :eek:
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Very easy to hit one actually. The last time I tried I did everything wrong and as a result hit a few inches above and below it every time, then I rant out of ammo.

Still, I'd enjoy the added precision of a scope. It's not the size or distance I'm worried about, but the stock 10/22 sights aren't built for precision and I want to be as safe and efficient as possible.
 
Alright, I don't mind the smell of a skunk. Not that I've been sprayed personally, but I knew someone who did while I was camping with him. I was the only person able to go near him without gagging. Still, it's not a scent I'd want lingering around my house. Shooting a skunk that close to your house? Hope you have money for a motel. Don't do it. Scare it off. Trap it in a cage and drag the cage via a hook on a stick(I've seen it done). But don't shoot it.
 
Go to Canadian Tire, they have .22LR scopes for uber-cheap (or at least they used to). The standard .22LR scope runs in the vicinity of 20-30$. If not, try Wal-Mart.

Your Ruger should've come with a scope base, so you'll be all set. On another note, I find it funny to imagine a guy unloading all kinds of ammo into a skunk and hitting nothing but thin air or dirt... I'm not laughing at you, just picturing the lucky SOB skunk, lol! :D

:p :50cal:
 
simko said:
your 10/22 should have no problems hitting a skunk, however i recommend 870 + slug for maximum badass factor.....
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Its not just the skunk's aggressive colouring (deep glossy black with back stripes), but its beady squinty disrespectful stare that creeps me out. What most people don't know about skunks is they have layers of thick bullet resilient muscle across their backs and shoulders. Like a rhinoceros, those bad boys have no sense of feeling when bullets start hitting them. When you go gunning for a skunk, choose your biggest gun and then carry another one. If you go after a skunk with a 12 ga. you are a bigger man than me.

(smirk and sarcasm mode off ... ;))
 
I have killed skunks, porcupines and badgers with my bone stock, scoped 10/22. It is realativly hard to kill a badger (unless you hit it in the head) but skunks never a problem. I usually spend the extra $ on a 4-9 power scope, but still under $100...... I figgure thats one of the bonuses of living on an acerage.... killing the "pests" that invade your land!! :D

I have scopes on all of my longarms..... well except for my 30-30 (my bush gun) & my 12ga. I reccommend a good scope for all your longarms.... especially if you are actually planning on shooting something with them. its not that its more accurate..... its just easier to be accurate.

Cheers
 
Don't bother with the Walmart or CT scopes, I did and I am not overly impressed.

Maybe spring for a 3-9x40 scope of any make, even bushnell will do.

Sounds to me like your not looking for very high end optics here, just a better aiming system? So, really, any scope with sufficient clarity should do.

Good luck
 
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