what range do you scope in your gopher getter?

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SSJChar

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i'm planning on shooting gophers this summer and i've been scoping in my rifle for 25y(or 25m, not sure) but after thinking about it, i dont know if thats what range you're supposed to scope it for. i've read that if you site in a centerfire at 20 or 25 yards, it'll be sited at 100 yards. i assume theres something similar to this for rimfire too, but i dont know what the ranges would be. also since i'll be going for gophers in .22lr, i'll probably not take any shots further than say 100 yards.
ALSO, what is your shooting position when you go for gophers? i find prone hurts my neck/shoulders some after a few minutes and was just thinking of getting maybe a lawn chair with a camera tripod as a front rest.
 
I sight in around 50yds and then when I'm shooting gophers. If I'm always high I'll turn it down a bit or visa a versa. I'll play with it a bit in the field. My favorite position is sitting, and I use the truck door as a rest, or sometimes the mirror.
 
I sight such that the bullet never rises more than 1.5" over the line of sight. Usually ends up zeroed around 200 yards
 
sighting

I sight mine at 50 yds. I generally use mildot scopes, and it will shoot a bit high at 25, and then I practice at 100 as well to figure out which dot in the scope I need to use for that distance. Getting to know your gun and the particular ammo you plan on using is the best way to get as many of the little critters as possible. I try to keep my average around a 80-90% kill rate, I don't like to miss, so I spend lots of time at the range in the spring to hone my shooting skills. I shoot prone with a 6-9" bipod, or sitting with a 13-27" bipod. Started using my quad, and it makes a great place to shoot from as well. I now a few guys that are shooting them already, and I can't wait myself. My 11 year old wants to come with me this year, makes for great father/son time. Later.
 
ssjchar

I have an idea you could try if you want to know exactly where your rifle shoots. I've done this with rimfire only, but don't see why it wouldnt work with centerfire. Its as simple as setting up a target at the max range you plan to shoot, then zero the scope at this distance. Now, take a target, walk 10 paces straight out, or to the left slightly, and set up(orange 6" sticky and log.)Go another 10 paces straight out, and a bit to the right. Continue till you get where you want to be. Then go back to your bench. Have fun! Seems to me the 22 is pretty much on from 10-60 or so yards. So if 70 yards is your max, center of gopher or a touch higher, and he's toast. It was awhile ago that I did this, but give it a try. And if your zeroed for 70 yards, big drop by 100, I'm guessing 6 inches or better.:sniper:
 
For .22s (I learned this last year on CGN) You can sight it in for 20 yds and 60 yds. This will effectively give you about 1" low at the muzzle and 1" high at about 40yds.

.22s drop considerably after about 50 yds or so, I did sight mine this way but have not yet tried the longer ranges, I think you should still be within an inch at 70 yds but will see a significant drop at that point.

I tried it on paper and it worked great from 10-60yds
 
Same as everyone else, it's set for 50. Dead on at 50. Hasn't really failed me yet. I missed one last year with a whole mag but it was out about 150 and couldn't get the right angle on it.
 
I usually have it sighted in for 50 yards. I might go for a 100 yard zero if I shoot Velocitors exclusively.

Trajectory if sighted at 100 yards

25 yards 0.9"


50 yards 2.1"


75 yards 1.9"


100 yards 0.0
Click to expand...
 
50 yds rimfire
200 yds centerfire

That takes care of about 90% of the shooting you will encounter in a gopher field. Just learn to hold a bit low close in and hold higher further out.

FWIW why limit yourself to 70 or 100 yds with your rimfire? A decent rifle and good shooting technique can easily get you out to 150+ yds.

ALSO, what is your shooting position when you go for gophers? i find prone hurts my neck/shoulders some after a few minutes and was just thinking of getting maybe a lawn chair with a camera tripod as a front rest.
Click to expand...
No pain, no gain. The less steady your shooting position, the shorter your distances are going to be. You want to play with the big boys and kill gophers waaaay out there, suck it up and live with the sore neck. Prone is the only way to go.
 
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