Doc7
Member
Hello all!
I recently obtained my FIRST firearm, a Marlin Model 60 .22LR, in the Birch stock. It is a very fun rifle through the first 250 rounds I've put through it. I also plan on acquiring a Marlin XT-22 Bolt Action .22LR when my gun money fund is big enough.
As a new shooter, I hope to spend a lot of weekends on the range this summer, working on my accuracy (including visiting an Appleseed course), with both the Model 60 and the XT-22. The XT-22 in particular will be the only gun I can legally hunt with in Pennsylvania, where the lake house is located. I can't use either rifle in NJ.
My goal is to go on my first hunting hike through the woods ever, next fall (I will be 28, a late starter in life as I have no family into firearms or hunting! and squirrel season opens up right around the weekend of my wedding, so it will be a fun post-honeymoon present to myself).
In terms of working on my own marksmanship accuracy, as well as deciding if I would like to make gun modifications such as pillaring the stock, bedding, etc, which I read about on "accurizing" posts and videos, what is my goal for accuracy to humanely and effectively take out the tree rats? 1" grouping at the specified distance? 1/2" , etc?
I have read various posts discussing group sizes people get with their rifles, and then other posts discussing the size of a squirrel brain, and just want to make sure that before I go into the woods with my safety course knowledge, permit, and rifle in hand, that I at least can prove to myself on paper that I have the accuracy skills required for the distance of the shots I may take. If I can only prove that to 25 yards, then that's my distance. If I can prove it to 50, that's possible too then. If I can't prove it at any range...then, I will be calling on the coming-soon Mossberg 500 20 gauge
Thanks for any advice!
I recently obtained my FIRST firearm, a Marlin Model 60 .22LR, in the Birch stock. It is a very fun rifle through the first 250 rounds I've put through it. I also plan on acquiring a Marlin XT-22 Bolt Action .22LR when my gun money fund is big enough.
As a new shooter, I hope to spend a lot of weekends on the range this summer, working on my accuracy (including visiting an Appleseed course), with both the Model 60 and the XT-22. The XT-22 in particular will be the only gun I can legally hunt with in Pennsylvania, where the lake house is located. I can't use either rifle in NJ.
My goal is to go on my first hunting hike through the woods ever, next fall (I will be 28, a late starter in life as I have no family into firearms or hunting! and squirrel season opens up right around the weekend of my wedding, so it will be a fun post-honeymoon present to myself).
In terms of working on my own marksmanship accuracy, as well as deciding if I would like to make gun modifications such as pillaring the stock, bedding, etc, which I read about on "accurizing" posts and videos, what is my goal for accuracy to humanely and effectively take out the tree rats? 1" grouping at the specified distance? 1/2" , etc?
I have read various posts discussing group sizes people get with their rifles, and then other posts discussing the size of a squirrel brain, and just want to make sure that before I go into the woods with my safety course knowledge, permit, and rifle in hand, that I at least can prove to myself on paper that I have the accuracy skills required for the distance of the shots I may take. If I can only prove that to 25 yards, then that's my distance. If I can prove it to 50, that's possible too then. If I can't prove it at any range...then, I will be calling on the coming-soon Mossberg 500 20 gauge
Thanks for any advice!