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Sighting in a 17HMR question
Posted on 10/19/21 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 10/19/21 at 1:55 pm
I had my 10/22 stolen a while back and I went to get a new one, but was intrigued by the 17HMR. I don't do much hunting, but my 7yr old son is dead set on going so I figured I'd take him to do a little squirrel hunting before our season ends in November.
Since I don't do much hunting and mostly shoot pistols or ARs plinking or killing hogs here and there, I'm not up to speed on what distance I should zero it at. I have done it before on bigger calibers when I hunted in my younger days, so I know how sort of. But everything I've read has people zeroing at 100 yards and even out to 150 for a 17. That seems way too long. Especially for my application of just doing some squirrel hunting. I'm not gonna be taking 100 yd shots at a squirrel.
So, should I just bring it in to 50 yds and zero it there? Because my understanding is if I zero it at 100 yds and I've got a squirrel head in the cross hairs at 20 yds, I'll miss high, right?
I'm just trying to make it where my son doesn't have to worry about holding low or high based on where the scope is zeroed. He is still learning (especially with a scope) how to shoot and I'd like to make it easy as possible for him where he can put the cross hairs on his target and squeeze of when he's ready.
Sorry that got so long, but am I on the right track with my thinking in zeroing it closer since we won't be taking shots over 50 yds at the longest? TIA
Since I don't do much hunting and mostly shoot pistols or ARs plinking or killing hogs here and there, I'm not up to speed on what distance I should zero it at. I have done it before on bigger calibers when I hunted in my younger days, so I know how sort of. But everything I've read has people zeroing at 100 yards and even out to 150 for a 17. That seems way too long. Especially for my application of just doing some squirrel hunting. I'm not gonna be taking 100 yd shots at a squirrel.
So, should I just bring it in to 50 yds and zero it there? Because my understanding is if I zero it at 100 yds and I've got a squirrel head in the cross hairs at 20 yds, I'll miss high, right?
I'm just trying to make it where my son doesn't have to worry about holding low or high based on where the scope is zeroed. He is still learning (especially with a scope) how to shoot and I'd like to make it easy as possible for him where he can put the cross hairs on his target and squeeze of when he's ready.
Sorry that got so long, but am I on the right track with my thinking in zeroing it closer since we won't be taking shots over 50 yds at the longest? TIA
8
Posted on 10/19/21 at 2:02 pm to IAmNERD
I used the hornady ballistic calculator for my 22 wmr.
LINK
for this, the velocity is really the only thing that's relevant since bullets drop at the same speed regardless of weight. I played around with it until I had the most options to hold zero and still hit. If I remember correctly, I sighted in at around 34 yards and I'm never more than a half inch high or low from 5 or 10 yards out to around 80.
LINK
for this, the velocity is really the only thing that's relevant since bullets drop at the same speed regardless of weight. I played around with it until I had the most options to hold zero and still hit. If I remember correctly, I sighted in at around 34 yards and I'm never more than a half inch high or low from 5 or 10 yards out to around 80.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 2:03 pm to IAmNERD
50 yards is a good distance. You will not shoot longer than that accurately.
Sight it in at 50 and shoot at 75 and 25. You should still be within the head zone.
Sight it in at 50 and shoot at 75 and 25. You should still be within the head zone.
This post was edited on 10/19/21 at 2:05 pm
Posted on 10/19/21 at 2:19 pm to Loup
Thanks, that calculator is helpful.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 2:22 pm to StonewallJack
quote:
50 yards is a good distance. You will not shoot longer than that accurately.
Sight it in at 50 and shoot at 75 and 25. You should still be within the head zone.
That's what I thought would be the way to go about it just wanted some advice from more experienced folks with this. It's been forever since I had to worry about zeroing a scope for hunting and I'm just trying to make it as easy as possible for my son to introduce him to hunting some small game such as squirrels and rabbits.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 3:30 pm to IAmNERD
Loupe has a good calculator. Perhaps sight it in around 40 yards and teach your son to take shorter shots until he is comfortable with the longer range. I love hunting with mine, but it takes a lot of patience and can be VERY frustrating.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 3:31 pm to IAmNERD
quote:
I had my 10/22 stolen a while back and I went to get a new one, but was intrigued by the 17HMR
Just an FYI- the .17 is fricken loud compared to the .22. They're extremely fun to shoot but it's super fast and loud. Shoot the squirrels on the ground and not in the tree.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 3:34 pm to IAmNERD
point blank range
a rifle hunters best friend
a rifle hunters best friend
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:30 pm to IAmNERD
Posted on 10/19/21 at 4:39 pm to Got Blaze
right...17HMR is basically flat 25/50/100
after that it drops off quick
sight the 17 in at 50 and go to town
after that it drops off quick
sight the 17 in at 50 and go to town
Posted on 10/19/21 at 5:18 pm to cgrand
Appreciate all the great info guys.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 6:46 pm to IAmNERD
I sighted mine in at 50, it's still dead on at 100, and at 150 yards I can hold about 3 inches high and flip turtles off of logs in my pond all day long. .17 gr Hornaday ammo.
Posted on 10/19/21 at 6:52 pm to IAmNERD
I will say this, unless your kid can shoot, .17HMR is too big a round for squirrels; gonna mess up a lotta meat.
That said, I have a Savage semi-auto, Cerakoted, with a good scope on it. Tack driver.
That said, I have a Savage semi-auto, Cerakoted, with a good scope on it. Tack driver.
This post was edited on 10/19/21 at 6:54 pm
Posted on 10/19/21 at 7:00 pm to IAmNERD
quote:
gonna mess up a lotta meat.
For sure. I doubt you can find it, but 17 HMR FMJ bullets are less destructive than the others.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:35 am to exiledhogfan
quote:
I will say this, unless your kid can shoot, .17HMR is too big a round for squirrels; gonna mess up a lotta meat.
Yeah, I know. I've eaten plenty of squirrel and love it so I'll tell him to go for the head shots. But if not, it will be a good opportunity to get him learning how to skin. He also mentioned he wants to hang some tails in his room
. But I was lucky enough to find a box of those FMJ (I think they are CCI). The only other stuff I could find was the Hornady Vmax with the red plastic tips. I'll probably take a few so I can have a good dinner if he ruins the ones he does get. I also want to take him rabbit hunting as well. I have a mutual acquaintance that hunts with KJ Britt (former AU LBer) and his dad a couple times a year. They have invited us to go with them when KJ and his dad around Thanksgiving break this year. So that will be an amazing experience for my lil dude to go hunting with a football player from his favorite team.
This post was edited on 10/20/21 at 9:46 am
Posted on 10/20/21 at 9:39 am to IAmNERD
Maybe this thread will finally make me get off my arse and install my new scope on my Mach2.
Posted on 10/20/21 at 12:28 pm to StonewallJack
quote:
50 yards is a good distance. You will not shoot longer than that accurately.
Huh? A decent .17HMR @ 100m is extremely consistent. With well disciplined holds, repeatable groups at 100m can be had with a little practice.
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