A humbling experience

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I have a Savage Mark II GL (left hand) and I've found out that CCI standard velocity HP are the best round for this gun. (without going to really high priced stuff) I zeroed my rifle in for 25-35-50 yards with this round for squirrel hunting. It's just squirrels, no need for high velocity..when I'm shooting 50 yards or less.

I have been rather successful in hunting squirrels this season. (after taking 30 years off from hunting) The count so far: 32 squirrels.

I was out in the woods on Thursday, saw a big fox squirrel...and missed it with 3 shots! I feel comfortable in what I can and can't do with the rifle. And I 'felt' this was within my ability...pretty close to 50 yards, bracing against a tree. (finally got it 15 minutes later with a closer shot.)

But it made me feel that after all these trips to the woods, I must have banged the scope against something because I missed those three shots. It's not me...it must be the scope.

So I took the rifle to the range to fix it. And wouldn't you know it.....the rifle is dead on for 25 and 50 yards.

I must have been getting full of myself. Time to pull things back and become a better shooter. "operator error" is what I had.

 

[BigDMT]

Re: A hunbling experience

Happens to all of us friend Stay humble and always try to get better because that won't be the last time it happens. Fortunately it was just a squirrel and not a 200" buck Take care.

 

[5spd]

Re: A hunbling experience

Agreed & you can bet it has happened to more of us that will admit.
Ive done the same...it cant be me, it has to be the gun...shoot at a paper target and it perfect ....yup its me!

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: A hunbling experience

Been there, done that! :-[ Wasn't windy was it? Always makes for a good excuse. Saying, Man I missed the wind call sounds better than, I missed one. ;D

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Re: A hunbling experience

Wasn't windy was it? Always makes for a good excuse.

Yes, it was rather windy, but the woods were rather dense. I felt that the wind wasn't that much of a factor. Could have been, but I didn't feel like it would be. However, I don't have that much experience with how much the wind plays with a Standard Vel 22lr. But I do know it's rather susceptible to wind. And all the leaves are off the trees here...so maybe it did?

Here's what was 'verified' at the range after I missed the squirrel:

25 yard target 3 or 4 shots...but rather windy...range is not protected from wind.

50 yard target...

 

[BigDMT]

Re: A hunbling experience

But you said the squirrel was at about 50 yards right?

That gun is obviously dead on for elevation, or even a bit high 25 yards.
I'm not sure how you're 22lr shoots, but I also sight mine in dead on at 25 yards and that makes all my rifles shoot fairly HIGH at 50 yards, but then they are back to being dead on at 100 yards.

At 10 yards, I hold HIGH.
At 25 yards, of course I hold DEAD ON.
At 50 yards, I hold a couple inches LOW .
At 75 yards, I hold a LITTLE LOW.
At 100 yards, I'm back to holding DEAD ON.

The trajectory of the 22lr can be tricky, especially when you are trying to hit such a small target