sight in distance

[Caribouriver]

Is there a concurrence for a reasonable sighting in distance for a .22LR? After waiting 240 hrs, I finally picked up my M&P 15-22 today and plan to sight in the irons (plastics?) soon. I usually try to sight in both irons and optics at 100 yds but was wondering if that was such a good idea.

[G-forceJunkie]

50 yards is typical for .22's. This also gives you about a 20 yard zero as the bullet passes the lineof site on the way up.

[BayouBullets]

It really makes little difference if you can do the math. 25 yards, then calculate ballistics. Try 50, It will hit where the chart says, try 100, it will still be hitting where the chart says. If you shoot from a serious rest and can calculate, it doesn't matter at all. Now, for hunting, you probably want to zero for 50 yds. Power loss past 75 yds. with the .22 long rifle makes it decidedly unforgiving for kills at longer ranges.

[Izzy43]

Here is a ballistics table for Federal bulk HV HP and scope mounted 1.5" above the bore.

[Caribouriver]

Great information and tables. Thank you gentleman. I must say, for me, taking a new rifle to the range for the first time is not unlike going on a first date with a pretty girl.

[wjc]

I initially zero all my guns at 50 yards the move to 100 yards.

Starting out at 50 helps me see the results better...as well as being able to see the target.


Congrats on the new M&P...I'm having a blast with mine!

[IPSICK]

15 yards unless you can make good groups at 25 or 50. Although, the ballistic tables I've seen with non-HV .22lr show that a 15 yard zero is equivalent to 100 yard zero. I will be testing this very soon.

The shorter distance does make it easier to correct for windage and elevation without your limitations as the shooter affecting the zeroing procedure.

[dangerranger]

I zero my open sighted rimfires at 25 yds. But without glass 25 yds is the farthest I can reasonably see a 1" bull. Now with apiture open sights I can shoot quite a bit farther. DR

[Mail Clerk]

Is there a concurrence for a reasonable sighting in distance for a .22LR? After waiting 240 hrs, I finally picked up my M&P 15-22 today and plan to sight in the irons (plastics?) soon. I usually try to sight in both irons and optics at 100 yds but was wondering if that was such a good idea.

Caribouriver,

All my 22LR rifles are sighted in at 50 yards. If your hunting small pests the 22LR high velocity has no real hitting punch after about 75 yards. For that type of shooting you need at least a hyper velocity round to get you to 100 yards. Better still the 22 magnum is your best bet BUT it cost twice the price of the long rifle. For your rifle it's best at 50 yards.

Mail Clerk

[Caribouriver]

50 yds seems to be the consensus. FWIW, with irons from a rest at 50 yds I got a fist sized group off a rest. That opened up to about an 8" circle at 100 yds using the 50 yd setting and was 3" below POA.