What is the proper distance to sight a 22 rifle?

Question

for example: most 30-06 are sighted (zeroed) at 100 yards. At what distance should I sight my 22 for the best overall use?

Answer 1

50 yards, that should put it close enough to spot on at any range that it's useful.

Answer 2

Everyone here so far seems to agree with 50 yards, and that is probably a good recommendation and what most people do.

However, I am going to suggest you sight your .22 rifle in at 25 yards - the same as I do. If you look at a Trajectory plot for the 22 Long Rifle high velocity load (available online) it looks like if you are dead center at 25 yards you will be hitting inside a 1 inch circle from 10 to 60 yds.

By the way, looking at the ballistics charts, the .22 LR really starts dropping fast beyond 60 yds...

I would like to mention a few related things to improve your accuracy - Mount a 4x32 scope on the rifle (it's more fun to aim using the scope crosshairs than the iron sights) and remember that the shots will be low inside of 10 yards (becaude the sights, and especially the scope, are above the barrell, and the bullet has to first rise to cross the sight plane before coming back down again).

You can practice target shooting a lot with a .22 at 25 yds using a 1" black circle bull's eye.and not feel that it's too easy - just get to where all your shots are inside the black circle. You'll then be able to take out a racoon or other varmit with a head shot every time.

Now if you are going to be shooting squirrels hugging the higher branches up in trees (like they do after the leaves are off the trees), then you will have to sight in at a longer distance, such as 50 yds. But I still think sighting in at 25 yds is good for "best overall use", which I take to mean mostly on or near ground level at reasonably close distances.

Besides, when you shoot a couple of 50 rd boxes (or 500 rd "bricks") of .22 at 25 yds, you'll be good enough and familiar enough with the rifle to know where it is shooting, and if 25 yds is still a good distance for you or if you will be needing to sight the rifle in for a longer distance.

Also you'll find out how many rounds you can shoot before the rifle starts jamming on you and you have to clean it with CLP - Cleaner-Lubricant-Protectant spray and a toothbrush (shooting .22s are fun but they sure seem to get dirty fast).

As a side note, even for self defense against the average thug with a handgun, I wouldn't feel unarmed with a scoped .22 rifle with 10 rds in the magazine.

Answer 3

It depends on what you are shooting and at what distances. If you are target shooting obviously the distance you are shooting but for say rabbits 50 yards is probably good, gophers 25 yards maybe.
If you have a place where you can practice at various ranges get used to telling how far it looks and how much adjustment from you sighted aim. Make sure you are using the ammo that you will use the day you are hunting because I have changed ammo and seen it change my hit point by 3 or 4" at 50 yards, change back the ammo and right no bullseye!

P.S. The 30-06 could be sighted out farther to maybe 200 yards easily check the drops for the ammo you are using!

Answer 4

50 yards is a good distance for sighting in a .22 rifle. The accuray of a .22 is not great enough to shoot much farther than 50 yards. If you look at the trajectory of a .22, you will see that it begins to drop like a rock after about 100 yards. They are great little guns when used within their limits but they are not long range guns. if you want something that shoots a flatter and farther, you might try something like a .17 HMR.

Answer 5

I also agree with the 25yd zero for rifles.
As for the comment about defensive use of a .22 rifle with 10 rounds: I once sat on a jury that convicted and sentenced a murderer for killing with a "Saturday night special" (as it was called at that time): 1 1/2" barrel revolver firing a single .22 short. Shot placement is everything. Police often fire many shots with high power pistols that miss the critical stop shot. I might add: .22 LR pistols and rifles have historically be the weapon of choice of assassins.

Answer 6

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On the .308 my chart shows 3/4" high at 50 yards will get you close to dead on at 100, BUT, I sight it 2" high at 100 so that I have the same point of aim on a deer sized animal from 50 yards out to 350 yards. SO, I'd make it 2 and 3/4" high at 50. Then, just place the cross hair right behind tha animals shoulder 1/2 way up the torso and you have a good solid "kill" shot from 50 to 350 yards. On the .22 site it dead on at 50 yards, you will quickly learn the proper "hold over" for shots out to 100 yards. Shoot safe

Answer 7

22 Long Rifle Scope

Answer 8

50 Yards is an optimal range for .22. Most things like targets, or small game are going to be within that range. If you ever target shoot at 100 yards, you can easily make the necessary corrections, but you should still be on the target if sighted at 50 anyway.

Answer 9

I have usually sighted my .22 rimfires in at 50 yards, as other people do, I see. I sighted one in for 100 yards, but the trajectory was rather high at 50 yards, and I do much more shooting at 50 than at 100 yards with a .22 rimfire. If one considers .22 centerfires, I sighted my .22-250 in for 200 yards, since it has a very flat tajectory and most shooting was done with it at about 200 yards.

Answer 10

50 yds should be more than adequate for most of your shooting. If you elect to sight in at 100 yds(as mine are) then you will be about 3 inch’s high at 50 yds.

Answer 11

Sight in at 50 yds, then try it at 100 yds & see where its hitting on the target there.*