June has rolled past and the easy-to-write, Regional recap blogs are finished. The quiz blogs are by far the hardest for me and I’ve try my best to avoid them. But Miss Beth said it’s time, and usually it’s in my best interest to do what she tells me, so here we go…

The Total Outdoorsman Challenge’s .22 Rifle discipline is a simulated prairie dog hunt with targets that rise and fall every 7 to 10 seconds.

Target stations are spread over a pasture with one side has a steep downhill grade; the other has a moderate uphill grade. Targets can be anywhere in the 10 to 100 yard range from the shooter, so needless to say understanding the ballistics of the .22 LR is pretty important. The weapon of choice is the sweet-shooting Thompson Center R-55 .22 LR.

Over the years, the crew has shot the course many, many times trying to provide competitors with a challenging, yet practical, “real hunting” scenario. And only after four years of these little fun shoots, that steel trap I carry above my shoulders has figured out that I’m not going to shoot a live animal any further out than about 75 yards.

Sure, it can be done…competitive shooters consistently shoot accurately well beyond that range. And everyone has an “I saw Big Jimmy shoot a sasquatch at some unbelievable range” story. Not what I’m looking for in the answer.

Question: Pretty simple, really, so let’s make a three-part Q&A. If you look on almost any box of .22 LR ammo it states a range somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 to 1 ½ miles. I said I wouldn’t feel comfortable shooting a live animal beyond about 75 yards.

Why would I find an effective range so far less than what is stated on the manufacturer’s warning label?

At what angle would one have to shoot to fling a piece of lead that far?

What little piece of important info did I leave out that you really need to know to be exact?

Prize: A Gorilla Glue gift pack. This stuff has a ton of uses indoors and out. (I honestly used Gorilla Glue this morning to fix a cabinet in the bathroom right before I sat down to write this deal. Tickled me a little when I saw what the swag was on the prize list.)

Comments (15)

from sparky5959 wrote 43 weeks 3 days ago

would need to know ft/sec for cartdrige load

-2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 5Cent wrote 43 weeks 3 days ago

1. Effective range is determined by a lot of variables. KE for a clean kill, enviromental conditions, and shooter experience.

2. Roughly 35*.

3. FPS for the specific bullet weight.

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from mxrider450 wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

the energy behind the 22lr is not effective enough to make a clean kill

about 45degrees

bullet grain and fps

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from Catskinner wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

1. You have to consider the energy the bullet has at a given distance for a clean kill given proper shot placement. In addition the balistic coefficient and the velocity of a .22 makes it difficult to account for wind drift and bullet drop at extreme ranges.
2. 45 degrees will give maximum distance.
3. feet per second and ballistic coefficient

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Flyfish_fox wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

The distances stated on a box are part realistic and part legal CYA statements. Actual effective ranges are less but the manufacturer has to allow the greatest maximum range possible and then some.

The optimal angle for distance 45 degrees.

Effective range is determined by the energy delivered at the point of impact, mass (bullet weight) times felocity. The game being targeted is also part of the effective range equation. What might kill a smaller animal would just rile a bear.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Davis wrote 43 weeks 5 hours ago

Some really good answers so far. New one should be up soon, so whom ever doesn't win this one, stick around and win the next one.
I'll announce a winner when the new one comes up.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Hurbainc wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

Because the Manufactures warning on the box which if I rember right is 1 Mile it's that distance they claim is dangerus for libility against them thats why your efective range is less. and 45 Degeres is about right.

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from VAWhiteTailHunt... wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

Because at extended ranges, the bullet's kinetic energy will drop dramatically (energy delivered to the target) and the effect of wind on the trajectory will be must greater due to the extended flight time

Approximately 30 degrees

You need to know the ammo's weight in grains, muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient of the bullet

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from VAWhiteTailHunt... wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

To clarify my previous post....

@ 1-1/4 miles = 2200 yds with scope zeroed at 50 yds and
40 grain bullet with BC=.13 and MV = 1250 FPS

Hold gun @ 30 deg angle

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from JoeGeurts wrote 42 weeks 5 days ago

You need to take into account your ability to make a clean kill.
45 degrees
FPS and weight of the bullet

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Davis wrote 42 weeks 2 days ago

5cent, send your info to john@blueproductions.com and we'll get that prize out to ya.

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from Geno229 wrote 41 weeks 1 day ago

(1)hit probability, atmospheric conditions, properties and velocity of the bullet, properties of the target and the desired terminal effect. (2)ignoring atmosphere conditions 45 degrees. (3)velocity of bullet out of the barrel.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from EdPorter wrote 11 weeks 6 days ago

Geno 229 covers most of the conditions to making a clean shot. Some factors missing from most comments I,ve read so far are: Ammunition and rifle barrels alike have different characteristics, and you must find out what workes best for your rifle at all the distances you intend to shoot. Practice is the most important factor!!!Place your targets on old telephone books, at different yardages,if you are interested in penetration (Its cheaper and less messy than balistic gel). I hope my comments help. thanks ED...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Terry L. Freeman wrote 7 weeks 23 hours ago

While the box may state that the "Range" is +/- 1 Mile, the "Affective Range" is much less, due to the fact that it such a small projectile, being propelled by a relatively small amount of powder, that the knock down power and accuracy from that distance is greatly reduced. An angle of +/- 45 degrees would need to be held to be able to reach that distance. You would also need to know the speed of the round, and it's weight.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Davidkingsbury wrote 6 weeks 4 days ago

Because the bullet may travel that far and at the height it is falling from may still have enough energy to cause some injury and the muzzle velocity and the m.o.a and the bullet drop coefficient

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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from Flyfish_fox wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

The distances stated on a box are part realistic and part legal CYA statements. Actual effective ranges are less but the manufacturer has to allow the greatest maximum range possible and then some.

The optimal angle for distance 45 degrees.

Effective range is determined by the energy delivered at the point of impact, mass (bullet weight) times felocity. The game being targeted is also part of the effective range equation. What might kill a smaller animal would just rile a bear.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from VAWhiteTailHunt... wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

Because at extended ranges, the bullet's kinetic energy will drop dramatically (energy delivered to the target) and the effect of wind on the trajectory will be must greater due to the extended flight time

Approximately 30 degrees

You need to know the ammo's weight in grains, muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient of the bullet

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from JoeGeurts wrote 42 weeks 5 days ago

You need to take into account your ability to make a clean kill.
45 degrees
FPS and weight of the bullet

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Geno229 wrote 41 weeks 1 day ago

(1)hit probability, atmospheric conditions, properties and velocity of the bullet, properties of the target and the desired terminal effect. (2)ignoring atmosphere conditions 45 degrees. (3)velocity of bullet out of the barrel.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 5Cent wrote 43 weeks 3 days ago

1. Effective range is determined by a lot of variables. KE for a clean kill, enviromental conditions, and shooter experience.

2. Roughly 35*.

3. FPS for the specific bullet weight.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mxrider450 wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

the energy behind the 22lr is not effective enough to make a clean kill

about 45degrees

bullet grain and fps

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Davis wrote 43 weeks 5 hours ago

Some really good answers so far. New one should be up soon, so whom ever doesn't win this one, stick around and win the next one.
I'll announce a winner when the new one comes up.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Hurbainc wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

Because the Manufactures warning on the box which if I rember right is 1 Mile it's that distance they claim is dangerus for libility against them thats why your efective range is less. and 45 Degeres is about right.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from VAWhiteTailHunt... wrote 42 weeks 6 days ago

To clarify my previous post....

@ 1-1/4 miles = 2200 yds with scope zeroed at 50 yds and
40 grain bullet with BC=.13 and MV = 1250 FPS

Hold gun @ 30 deg angle

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from John Davis wrote 42 weeks 2 days ago

5cent, send your info to john@blueproductions.com and we'll get that prize out to ya.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from EdPorter wrote 11 weeks 6 days ago

Geno 229 covers most of the conditions to making a clean shot. Some factors missing from most comments I,ve read so far are: Ammunition and rifle barrels alike have different characteristics, and you must find out what workes best for your rifle at all the distances you intend to shoot. Practice is the most important factor!!!Place your targets on old telephone books, at different yardages,if you are interested in penetration (Its cheaper and less messy than balistic gel). I hope my comments help. thanks ED...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Terry L. Freeman wrote 7 weeks 23 hours ago

While the box may state that the "Range" is +/- 1 Mile, the "Affective Range" is much less, due to the fact that it such a small projectile, being propelled by a relatively small amount of powder, that the knock down power and accuracy from that distance is greatly reduced. An angle of +/- 45 degrees would need to be held to be able to reach that distance. You would also need to know the speed of the round, and it's weight.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Davidkingsbury wrote 6 weeks 4 days ago

Because the bullet may travel that far and at the height it is falling from may still have enough energy to cause some injury and the muzzle velocity and the m.o.a and the bullet drop coefficient

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Catskinner wrote 43 weeks 1 day ago

1. You have to consider the energy the bullet has at a given distance for a clean kill given proper shot placement. In addition the balistic coefficient and the velocity of a .22 makes it difficult to account for wind drift and bullet drop at extreme ranges.
2. 45 degrees will give maximum distance.
3. feet per second and ballistic coefficient

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from sparky5959 wrote 43 weeks 3 days ago

would need to know ft/sec for cartdrige load

-2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.