Possibly a dumb question

[wgaynor]

Finally got out in the woods this past year for some squirrel hunting.

Rifle of choice was my Marlin xt-22ro. I have it sighted in at 75 yards but noticed most of my shots were at 50 yards horizontal and extremely high in the trees.

My question, when shooting in the tops of the trees, how is my point of impact versus point of aim affected?

Should I adjust my aim?

Reason I ask, I had alot of misses. I usually use a tree limb for a rest and practice such conditions at the range with great accuracy. Only difference between practice and real life conditions is when practicing, the target isn't elevated like the squirrels are.

Any advice (other than using my 12 gauge).

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Hard for me to explain from my phone keypad, but you were shooting over your target.

 

[wgaynor]

That's what I thought. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[wgaynor]

Google was my friend.... just found this http://www.chuckhawks.com/shooting_uphill.htm

 

[witchhunter]

I sight in my .22 at 50 yards. 6 inches low at 100 with the ammo it likes. Steep uphill shots, the bullet does not drop as much.

 

[rcmodel]

+1
You are sighted in too far.
75 yards is too far if all your shots are 50 or less!

Sight it in dead on at 50, or 40.
Then hold on the bottom edge of the squirrel in the tall tree.

The Angle of the Dangle at that range does not matter.
(Unless you are sighted in too far in the first place!)

The result will be more squirrel stew, fried squirrel, fricasseed squirrel, squirrel Jerky, and other stuff then you can stand to eat!

Plus enough squirrel hides to make yourself a king-size bed spread.
With tails all around the edge.

rc

 

[1911 guy]

What RC said, but he said it with much more panache than I could.

 

[wgaynor]

Thanks guys!

 

[Blue68f100]

If this is a scoped 22 most sight in at ~25 yrds which will put you on at around 55 yrds too. Just remember if your closer than 25 yrds you will be low and if further you will be shooting high. To figure out what the difference is you need to shot at difference distance. Ammo plays a big part too. Since not all 22 ammo shoots a tight group. Just needs to find what your gun likes.

 

[Fremmer]

Tails all around the edges....now THAT would be a cool blanket!

 

[Laphroaig]

Hopefully, when you talk about shooting in the treetops, you mean where there still are branches thick enough to offer a good backstop behind the critter. A .22 bullet can go a mile when pointed up at the right angle, not a good idea even if you hunt out in the boonies...

Laphroaig

 

[MCgunner]

i sight in for 50. I'm near POA at 25. A .22 drops like a rock after 50.

Angles up or down. no matter, less drop do to the vector of gravity on the bullet (less gravitational acceleration on the bullet). So, yes, at extreme angles, you're going to have to hold low.