I'm back in to shooting/hunting after several decades off. I purchased a new Savage Mark II (just the plain model...nothing fancy.) Had been experimenting with different ammo to try to find out what shoots best in it. So far I had decided on Federal HV game-shok 38 grain. (At that point, still hadn't tried standard velocity.) Still not happy with the results, but it's what's doing best. Have been hunting several times in the past two weeks. Have killed several squirrels, most with head shots or heart/lung/shoulder upper body shots. This was all done with temps in the 50's and low 60's. But we're having our 'indian summer' here in central Ohio, and the temp is approaching 80.
I went hunting yesterday, and I came upon a big fat squirrel, it was stationary, about 35 yards away, and I was able to rest against a tree....and I MISSED! (I consider myself a fairly decent shot...I should NOT have missed under these conditions.) The squirrel moved bit and I was able to get off another round....AND I MISSED AGAIN!
Went to the range this morning (It's warm again)...the gun is shooting 3-4 inches high!! No wonder I missed. And I was able to finally try some standard velocity rounds. So it was nice to shoot several types of ammo, find out which grouped best, then zero that in.
The winner: CCI 40 gr. standard velocity HP.
I'm not really worried about not using HV rounds on squirrels...especially since these SV CCI rounds are HP.
And another thing that was nice, I took my 40 year old Winchester 190 semi auto. It wasn't a very good gun back in the early 70, and it's not a very good gun now. (I was cheap and my dad got it for me as my first 22) I'm a left handed shooter, and it spits burning powder on my face. So it's not my favorite gun. But with all these different types of ammo around, I figure I might as well find out what shoots best in it. It has a horrible scope on it. (was probably a K-mart special from 1973..and may need upgrading)
But dog gone.. I was able to shoot 1/2 inch groups at about 30-35 yards. More than decent for squirrel hunting. I stuck with only HV rounds for this gun, as I need the power to move the action back.
The winner: Blazer 40 gr. HV round nose.
So now if someone want to go squirrel hunting with me, I've got a spare gun for them. (Hint: My grandson it 10 years old...maybe getting close.)
I went hunting yesterday, and I came upon a big fat squirrel, it was stationary, about 35 yards away, and I was able to rest against a tree....and I MISSED! (I consider myself a fairly decent shot...I should NOT have missed under these conditions.) The squirrel moved bit and I was able to get off another round....AND I MISSED AGAIN!
Went to the range this morning (It's warm again)...the gun is shooting 3-4 inches high!! No wonder I missed. And I was able to finally try some standard velocity rounds. So it was nice to shoot several types of ammo, find out which grouped best, then zero that in.
The winner: CCI 40 gr. standard velocity HP.
I'm not really worried about not using HV rounds on squirrels...especially since these SV CCI rounds are HP.
And another thing that was nice, I took my 40 year old Winchester 190 semi auto. It wasn't a very good gun back in the early 70, and it's not a very good gun now. (I was cheap and my dad got it for me as my first 22) I'm a left handed shooter, and it spits burning powder on my face. So it's not my favorite gun. But with all these different types of ammo around, I figure I might as well find out what shoots best in it. It has a horrible scope on it. (was probably a K-mart special from 1973..and may need upgrading)
But dog gone.. I was able to shoot 1/2 inch groups at about 30-35 yards. More than decent for squirrel hunting. I stuck with only HV rounds for this gun, as I need the power to move the action back.
The winner: Blazer 40 gr. HV round nose.
So now if someone want to go squirrel hunting with me, I've got a spare gun for them. (Hint: My grandson it 10 years old...maybe getting close.)
