What do you consider long distance with .22cal airgun?

[ToddGeddes63]

I was wondering what others are considering long range target distance with a .22 airgun. What size groups are considered decent and acceptable. I have the cayden in .22 and so far have shot out to 100 yards, with a group size of under a quarter. I thought that was decent. I wanted to see what distances others are shooting, and what they consider decent groups. 

I usually shoot field target distances, 10 to 60 yards. This year, I would like to extend my range distance from 10 to 80 & 100 yards. I realize that's not a acceptable range distance for official field target matches, but this year I wanted to make it more challenging. 

TODD 

 

[MScottLeeman]

.22 caliber airgun,eh? Probably gonna get lambasted for this, especially in the internet world where 100+ yd shots are "so common".

I've been an airgunner since the mid 70's and in My humble opinion, I'll say anything over 50 yards.

For the most part,those with a higher internet involvement vs trigger time will surely scoff at this...but I will stand by it.

If That wasn't enough,I also find pellets to be Wonderfully accurate at my typical distances! I can live without slugs. But that's just me.

Mike

 

[Flintsack]

Certainly your 100 yard group that fits under a quarter meets the definition of long range, as well as long range excellence.

That said I’ve shot sub MOA Groups at 200 yards and even further. Using slugs.

I don’t 100% disagree with Mr. Lee, and I would bet I have as much trigger time. Slugs do change the game, and the newer technology rifles.

Going long is a blast when it works.

mike

 

[Brent]

If your getting groups less than a quarter size at 100yrds with 22 air I would call that great for hunting. Are you doing this from sticks or bench? I know there are some out there that claim as good at longer distance but they are bench shooting and that's a different game in my mind. I tell my grandson when he can hit a quarter from ten to thirty yards consistently he's good enough to go squirrel hunting. I hang fender washers in the trees at various heights which are slightly larger than a quarter for him to practice on so he can learn adjusting his hold when shooting at an angle and not just punching paper from a bench. He's getting pretty good . I think I'm going to have to take him this year. My wife thinks it's too tough of a test, but I think if your going to kill an animal you should give it the justice of a clean kill and no suffering. Sorry got off on a tangent. I think ten to sixty is standard range and anything above that is long range for 22 air. Above seventy-five there are a lot of variables that aren't as big an issue inside fifty.

 

[steve123]

With pellets 100Y is plenty far enough for me. The amount pellets blow in the wind past 80Y takes away some of the fun out of it to me to an extent, especially in field conditions where there is little indication to see mirage or grass or leaves moving but especially in switchy winds. I can have one group at 100Y that is 1/2" and the next can be 2.5", that's using flags too. Coming from a firearms background this drives me nuts, LOL. In field conditions not using flags I've had 7" groups in 10-15 mph winds which really infuriates me! Past about 160Y its a waist of time using 25 gr RDM in my gun so I don't bother anymore.

With slugs its much more enjoyable, even out to 300Y. The slugs I use in my 22 cal pcp are custom swaged and have a .142BC so its more like shooting a 22rf than an air rifle in wind drift. I've even got more hits with it out to 300Y compared to my 22rf though that doesn't happen all the time.

My 25 cal pcp using .072 low bc slugs still does well out to 300Y, those blow in the wind quite a bit though. Being this is a repeater the quick follow up shots helps get or stay on target easier sometimes.

You'll just have to experiment, kinda like I and others have, until you find out for yourself what works for you as far as distance and size of target. I know for me when the hit ratio goes below 50% I'm starting to lose interest.

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

For me? anything at or past 75yards is getting out there. I typically hunt wooded areas at 60 yards or so or closer. Shooting pellets even at 50 yards... even heavy pellets moving fast can be tricky if getting decent side winds.

 

[L.Leon]

For me personally? Any shots over 60 yards is long range, even the slightest wind presents quite the hold off challenge with pellets. Haven't tried slugs as the bulk of my shooting is sub 60 yards.

 

[8thman]

In my back yard I can shoot out to 125yrds. But if I walk out to my 50yrd target I can shoot several hundred yards but I would have to take a tripod or a shooting table with me. I have only once did walk out with the tripod and shot @225yrds with my impact mk2 25cal nsa 36.2 slugs and the gun did better than I thought possible. But with age it’s a hassle so shooting my 125yrds swinging target that’s 1.25x1.25” 8-9 times out of ten I’m doing good. But here lately my pulsar hp 177 with slugs do incredible groups even in some windy days. I guess the limitations of the gun is determined by the shooter. Good luck 

 

[dizzums]

guess it depends on the gun .. if i have to compensate more than sighting the top of its head with the point blank zero maximized i consider it long distance .. generally +60y or so with the airguns i have ... i pretty much dont give a rats behind if it can hit a dime at 150y if i have to deviate from the ideal zero, i live in the real world where that means its a foot an half off at 80 ..

 

[corny]

Directly dependent on the ammo. 
18r pellets can be shot out to 120-140y in perfect conditions
I’d say realistically 50-75y in most weather 

now if u find a good shooting slug, that’s changed things. They maintain accuracy for such crazy long ranges. Even in windy conditions 

 

[DonaAna1]

I wish I knew. The wind has been so bad here this year, I haven't done much shooting.

Friday, it was just breezy, I was able to put five shots into a CPD lid at 100 yards. That was satisfying to me!

I was shooting the same CPDs. So I think I can tighten it up with JSBs.

 

[Peashooter]

Well it do take skill to hit a balloon very far away, put i prefer to shoot a bit shorter distances.

When i can see pellet holes, and put another one in the same hole or at least touch that hole, then i am happy, so as i shoot a .177 that is not far beyond 50 M / 54 yd distance, but i do happily take it out to around 100 M / 109 yd but then i need aid in the target to be able to see where my shots land. ( shoot n see targets )

Which remind me i need to get some long distance targets.

If i cant see where the shot land in the scope, but have to rely on the target indicating a hit, like a balloon blowing up, well than it is not real shooting to me, CUZ to me only a bulls eye on a balloon count, and if i can not see i did just that, then i might as well just have graced the balloon, and to me thats like being happy to just touch the black part of a paper target even if you are aiming at the X in the middle.



Same way i dont get the very far shooting, where the target is like a 5 X 5 foot steel plate,,,, IMO a rifle target should be sized between a football ( head size ) and a torso size at least ( 1 X 2 feet ) anything else while it without a doubt still demand skill i still see it as hitting a barn door.

 

[Motorhead]

.22 using pellets ... in any caliber under .30 IMO 100 Y is tough and well earned to do well. .30 with pellets a lot easier maxing @ 125 Y to do equally well.

.22 with Slugs 200 Y or less doable, .30's about the same if not a tad closer IMO

 

[Flintsack]

My best 22 group at really long range - 235 yards. 

 

[ToddGeddes63]

Brent I have been shooting from a tripod, and a bipod. The ammo that I used was nsa 20.2gr slugs, they seemed to group better with the windy conditions, then the JSB 18.1 gr pellets. 

My go to pellet is the crosman 14.3 gr depending on wind conditions, they shoot/group well at the distances (10-60 yards) I normally shoot. past that, it's dependent on wind and not as consistent as the nsa slugs

For hunting, I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting out to 100 yards to deliver a proper kill shot. 60 yards would be what I would consider a proper max distance for my skill set and conditions. But punching paper, or hitting the reactive metal targets, I don't have to worry about humane kill shots, and can stretch the distance. Given my choice in .22 cal my skill set, and the power that my rifle produces, 100 yards is what I thought was an acceptable, and repeatable max distance. It's great to be able to ask others that have more experience, their thoughts and results. THANKS 

TODD

 

[ToddGeddes63]

The group size of under a quarter was my best group size from six targets. My first target group was way bigger! the groups got tighter as I went. I don't think that I could at this point, shoot a quarter size group on my first target group. I didn't want to come off like a target snob, with my best group size, but I was proud of myself. 

TODD

 

[steve123]

Well it do take skill to hit a balloon very far away, put i prefer to shoot a bit shorter distances.

When i can see pellet holes, and put another one in the same hole or at least touch that hole, then i am happy, so as i shoot a .177 that is not far beyond 50 M / 54 yd distance, but i do happily take it out to around 100 M / 109 yd but then i need aid in the target to be able to see where my shots land. ( shoot n see targets )

Which remind me i need to get some long distance targets.

If i cant see where the shot land in the scope, but have to rely on the target indicating a hit, like a balloon blowing up, well than it is not real shooting to me, CUZ to me only a bulls eye on a balloon count, and if i can not see i did just that, then i might as well just have graced the balloon, and to me thats like being happy to just touch the black part of a paper target even if you are aiming at the X in the middle.



Same way i dont get the very far shooting, where the target is like a 5 X 5 foot steel plate,,,, IMO a rifle target should be sized between a football ( head size ) and a torso size at least ( 1 X 2 feet ) anything else while it without a doubt still demand skill i still see it as hitting a barn door.

Use steel painted white if noise isn't a concern. I can see my hits 300 yards away on my steel. You can shoot on a barn door sized steel for precision by painting little spots on it of another color. Most of us are just having fun anyway, right?! No guts, no glory, let the lead fly and observe the outcome. Adjust to ones personal tastes and enjoy.

I don't need to because I use steel but one could also use 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 pieces of wood cut into squares for a reactive target. Mark the top, also any hits, so when you set them back up you know where on them you hit before.

 

[Centercut]

I think you need to better define what you're doing to define "long range". Are you target shooting on a concrete bench or solid table with sturdy bipod and rear bag or are you hunting where you might be leaning on a fence, sitting with your back against a tree with the gun on your knee, or prone in a field? And why say .22, instead of just airgun with a pellet (or slug)? If you're shooting a .22 RD Monster or .25 Heavy, they are going to be better with less drift that a .30 cal Exact, so the caliber doesn't have a whole lot to do with it.

The above paragraph irritated the OP. Sorry, my bad - unintentional. I did answer his question in the OP below however...

I'd say "long range" for hunting is over 75 yards with a pellet and over 100 yards with a high(er) BC slug. I only say this because of shooting EBR where its reasonable to shoot a good card at 75 yards (over 240), but move that target back 25 yards and its darn near impossible to even shoot 230...

 

[JimNM]

Long distance is the distance that I start to doubt my ability to land the shot. Some days it's 50 yards and some days it's over 125 yards.

My point blank range is 25-40 yards with my SFP scopes. My FFP i expect more, so I dial to the nearest 5 yard increments. If I don't have the dope, long range gets a lot closer

 

[ToddGeddes63]

Centercut

I thought the question I asked in the post was pretty straight forward. As to your question why .22cal specifically? well, first off, because that's what I'm shooting, second, I wanted information specific to that caliber. third, to see what others that shoot .22 cal consider long range, and forth I wanted to know! I was hoping to gain some input from others in the ammo choices and shooting technique, by their responses, and asking questions you know this is a forum right? Damn dude if you would have read the title I'm not interested in what other calibers consider long range JUST .22!! SO the caliber has everything do with my question. This kind of flippant half assed responses, to a simple question, reminds me why I don't post much anymore. Thanks to those that did.

TODD