Guest Squirrelbuster Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 I went out and shot my .22 today to see if it is still sighted in for this squirrel season. I was shooting both the 40 grain Remington Thunderbolts and the 36 grain Remington Cyclones. The Thunderbolts are a solid round nose bullet, and the Cyclones are a hollow point bullet. I have always shot the round nose bullets but I figured I would try the hollow points to see how they did, and I am glad I did. The hollow points shot much better than the round nose. All of the shots were taken at about 25 yards, and when I shot the round nose they a little scattered every time I shot a group. They still grouped well enough to shoot a squirrel in the head, but I was able to put the hollow points right on top of another and create one big hole, so I figured I will be using these this year. I still have to tweek the scope to get exactly on target, but I still have 42 days until Squirrel season to do that. After the shooting session I thought about going and trying to find some chipmunks and red squirrels to shoot since they are unprotected, but I was ready to go back home, so maybe I will do that some other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Re: Target practice. Cool. I've found the Thunderbolts pattern the best in my Marlin 60. Once I shot 3 bullets in nearly the same hole at 50 yards (off the bench) using the Thunderbolts. The pattern looked like a clover. I might have to try the Cyclones one of these days. The solids tend to go through the varmints I shoot with my .22. I don't hunt squirrel anymore, so the my .22 is relegated to varmints, and sometimes them boogers are too close to buildings. Thanks for the review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Re: Target practice. very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_218 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Re: Target practice. I like either CCI Mini-Mag H.P. or Super-X H.P. for hunting Squirrels. You might give these a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Re: Target practice. Me and my dad were out shootin the other day. With his rem. 597, and simmons mag-mini scope, we were shooting at, and usually hitting, the empty cases from his 22. At 25 yards, we'd put 'em on top of our target stand, then shoot off a benchrest, with shootin bags, and knock 'em down. It was crazy. i think the round we were using was CCI Mini-Mag's. Good luck squirrel huntin this season. I'm still using my trusty 20 gauge, but will have a 22 before long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Re: Target practice. A couple weeks ago i was shooting pennies at 50 yards with my .17hmr, and that was too easy, so i turned them on edge and shot them that way. Then i got real brave and sat a empty .22mag shell facing me and shot down it and took out the back of it! I am telling you, those Marlins are crazy accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Squirrelbuster Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] I like either CCI Mini-Mag H.P. or Super-X H.P. for hunting Squirrels. You might give these a try. [/ QUOTE ] I have thought about using them, and might jusat try them this year too to see how they shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Squirrelbuster Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] Me and my dad were out shootin the other day. With his rem. 597, and simmons mag-mini scope, we were shooting at, and usually hitting, the empty cases from his 22. At 25 yards, we'd put 'em on top of our target stand, then shoot off a benchrest, with shootin bags, and knock 'em down. It was crazy. i think the round we were using was CCI Mini-Mag's. Good luck squirrel huntin this season. I'm still using my trusty 20 gauge, but will have a 22 before long. [/ QUOTE ] I have done that before too. I have also taken spent shotgun shells and plinked them of target stands from verying distances. Usually around 25 yards but I have tried them out to about 50. Also, I have set clay birds out to 100 yards and tried breaking them with the .22, now that is fun, especially when you try it with open sights. By the way, I am thinking about eventually getting another .22, and since I already have a bolt action I want a semi-auto. I have looked at the Rem. 597 and they look like good guns. Are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Squirrelbuster Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] A couple weeks ago i was shooting pennies at 50 yards with my .17hmr, and that was too easy, so i turned them on edge and shot them that way. Then i got real brave and sat a empty .22mag shell facing me and shot down it and took out the back of it! I am telling you, those Marlins are crazy accurate. [/ QUOTE ] My brother has a Marlin .17 HMR with the bull barrel on it and a 3X-9X-40 scope on it. I can't remember the model of the Marlin, I know it is 90 something but I am not completely sure. Them things are extremely accurate, the only problem I have with them is that with the varmint bullets they destroy the squirrel too much. I told my brother to check out the Gamepoint bullets by CCI to see what they do since they mushroom instead of fragment. I fhe does, I'll see how well they work this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. It is the Marlin 917v if it is wood/blued or 917vs if it is liminate/stainless. Yes, the ballistic tip bullets do tend to blow things up, so you gotta make head shots(which isn't too hard), or use the gamepoints, which don't tear them up so bad. Last season i sat in a treestand and shot 4 squirrels in a row on a cornpile at 105 yards in the head. That was so awesome! It is almost cheating to use a gun that accurate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. squirrelbuster, the 597 is a nice gun, but it tends to jam some. very very rarely can we shoot a full clip of ammo, without it jamming. It could just be that it's a new gun, and hasn't really been broken in though. I have been lookin at the Savage Mark II, that will def. be the one i buy if i ever get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Squirrelbuster Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] It is the Marlin 917v if it is wood/blued or 917vs if it is liminate/stainless. Yes, the ballistic tip bullets do tend to blow things up, so you gotta make head shots(which isn't too hard), or use the gamepoints, which don't tear them up so bad. Last season i sat in a treestand and shot 4 squirrels in a row on a cornpile at 105 yards in the head. That was so awesome! It is almost cheating to use a gun that accurate! [/ QUOTE ] It would have to be the 917v then. There is also one problem with shooting the squirrels in the head. My brother shot a red squirrel with the .17 not knowing how much damage it would do, well that squirrel came falling out of the tree with no head left. It shot it completely off. Then when he shot a Gray through the head it didn't quite blow the head of, but it did leave one nasty hole. Those don't make for good pictures afterward. Also, thanks for the review on the Rem. lil hunter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] There is also one problem with shooting the squirrels in the head. My brother shot a red squirrel with the .17 not knowing how much damage it would do, well that squirrel came falling out of the tree with no head left. It shot it completely off. [/ QUOTE ] makes 'em easier to clean Yeah, the first time i shot one in the head with the ballistic tips it rained red mist for a few seconds and he was completely decapitated. You don't have nearly that expllosive of an effect with the gamepoint though. That is about all i hunt with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_218 Posted July 24, 2005 Report Share Posted July 24, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] Me and my dad were out shootin the other day. With his rem. 597, and simmons mag-mini scope, we were shooting at, and usually hitting, the empty cases from his 22. At 25 yards, we'd put 'em on top of our target stand, then shoot off a benchrest, with shootin bags, and knock 'em down. It was crazy. i think the round we were using was CCI Mini-Mag's. Good luck squirrel huntin this season. I'm still using my trusty 20 gauge, but will have a 22 before long. [/ QUOTE ] I don't consider my .22 Rifle sighted in until I can hit a thumb tack dead on @ 50 yards. Have to do this atleast 5 times too. Same for my Kimber M-82 .22 Hornet & Winchester M-43 .25-20 Win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilcrackshot Posted July 24, 2005 Report Share Posted July 24, 2005 Re: Target practice. [ QUOTE ] A couple weeks ago i was shooting pennies at 50 yards with my .17hmr, and that was too easy, so i turned them on edge and shot them that way. Then i got real brave and sat a empty .22mag shell facing me and shot down it and took out the back of it! I am telling you, those Marlins are crazy accurate. [/ QUOTE ] Yep, the 22 mag marlins are great guns and incredibely accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 Re: Target practice. Well, i was shooting a .17hmr, but i have heard that the .22mag Marlins shoot great too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.