We are having a problem with blue herons at our pound. The pond is 95 yards from our rear deck. I have a Henry Lever action with a cheap scope on top. Effective at 50 yards. So my questions are.

1.  Cabela's has a scope calibrated for a 22LR. If I buy one, what kind of groups should I be looking at, at 100 yards?

2.  We are going to Cabela's and Bass Pro shop next weekend. If I was to look at a better shooting 22, what would you recommend?

3.  What rate of twist shouls I be lookin for?

Can not go larger than a .22 LR noise problem

Joe Termite

That Henry should do the job at 100yds. I'd suggest looking for a good 1" scope for your rifle, and a higher quality brand of ammo. 22lr in different wieght of bullet--- heavy bullets carry thier punch better. Unless it's just time for another rifle.

I have found the federal 32 grain bullet you can buy in the 550 round bulk box/pack. what ever you want to call it.  to be very accurate and consistant in every rifle I've seen it shot in.  That's a long shot for a 22.  It can be made.  But, a long shot.  I use a 4 power by 32 mm scope  Bushnell for squirrels.  Works great for head shots out of the top of pine trees. The bigger objective lets you see better than with a 1 inch.

Have you thought about a .17 HMR or .22 mag? Both of these are more than enough to handle your problem at the distance you mentioned. As for a scope, I have to agree with Bigrig. A full size rifle scope in 3-9 x 32 or 40 mm is the way to go when shooting at those distances.

Joe
If you want consistent accuracy out to 100 yards or greater from a .22 cal. rifle, you'll need to find a good target rifle with a match grade chamber, such as something like an Anshutz. Marlin use to market a good target rifle, the Marlin 2000. Kimber had the model 82, which CMP still has some of these. Sometimes you can find a good target rifle on the gun auction sites, such as Gun Broker.
As for a scope, any good 1 inch tube scope should do fine.

I picked up an old Springfield 120, single shot, bolt action, .22 cal rifle, topped it with a Bushnell 4 power scope and was shooting Scaled Quail at my deer feeder at 150 yards pretty consistently.

Beg to pardon. Witih my 10/22 and a cheap $30.oo buck scope i shoot empty shot gun shells at 100 yarrds 3 times a week. Lurne to shoot. Best practice out ther and deadly.






















430.00

Shootin dimes at 110 yrds with my .17 mach 11 and dimes with .17 at 150 yrds.

Joe Here,

Merry Christmas to all.

So I was on a site last night that sells rifles. Several time I saw a Savage that came already for a suppressor.

Has me thinking. Was talking about buying something for my wife to shot at the Range. She will not kill anything but will target shoot.

This opens up the market. So what do I actually want, oh, I ment need?

Accurate, bolt, good 100 yard gun, with suppressor,quite.
 
Have a extra 3x20 down stairs doing nothing.

Inexpensive to reload, and buy.

I am thinking Remington .223  The nearest house is about 75 yards to my right and none to the left. We sit 150' off the road with a house or two across the street.

Sound like a plan, look out Cabela's here I come.

Ok let's here your recommendations for my new rifle. Rate of twist and perfered bullet weight.

Joe Termite

Blue Herons are a Federally protected species might as well shoot a Bald Eagle or Seagull. So you better find Another way to keep them out of the pond.

A Ruger 10-22 for the most part is very good shooter and is easy to customizes with new barrels, stocks and all manner of stuff one friendcan drive nails with his a 100 yards all day long . And a gut pile has said Blue Herons are a
fed. protected brid .

thanks gut! I ws just about to post that and then ran across yours.

As to a 22lr reaching out to 100 yards? Really not much of a problem IF you've done your part and practiced at that range.

that was my thoughts presisly gutpile and steve , you get cought shooting a blue heron your in some trouble ! as for 100 yards being a long shot for a 22 i shoot my remington model 550-i 100 yards with open sights and have no problem, id put a little practice in at the range.

A good quality pellet gun will reach(drop in) 100yrds. I shot a crow at the base of my 100yrd backstop. Did have to aim higher. Took off flying, glided at about yrds and was never seen again. No noise and the heron will leave and/or die somewhere else and not in your pond. If you just pop them and irk them enough they'll start going somewhere else.

Your best bet would be go get some bottle rockets. Personally if I had a pond Blue Herons would be welcome quite a majestic looking bird.

Gutpile made a good point. A .22 long rifle will do wnat your asking, but it make sense for all of us to put some thought about what we're shooting at and make sure of the legality of shooting it. No need to stir or add wood to the fire in this climate of gun grabbing currently moving at break neck pace.We have no idea who is or might be monitoring forums looking for ammo to further their cause or begin some rediculous investigation. Let's all keep our guard up and watch ourselves carefully on the forums.
Just a thought, don't want to see anyone in unnecessary trouble.
Steve Albers, LMNAHC, NRA, Hunter & Bow Hunter Ed. Instructor, U.S. Army Vet, Patriot

Thanks guys. I will NOT be shooting any blue herons. I did not know they were protected. We had one last year that wiped out $200.00 in koi. Went to the local feed store and bought netting to go over the pond. Heron showed up yesterday. Left annoyed.

Joe

Heron's are also the main source of unwanted trash fish and turtles in ponds. They transfer fertilized eggs on their feet.

I have found my next .22WMR rifle while I was looking for another Mauser on which to build ny next project. It is being sold by the same folks that sell the best of the best in military Mausers. Here is the addy http://www.mauser.org. and when you click on the Firearms menu at the top of the page it will show the .22 Black Lighting model which is the one I will be getting as funds permit.

Get a realistic durable blue heron decoy and place it by the pond. They are territorial and it might work. Maybe a coyote too!

glade someone brought that fact up they are protected and they would taste like sheet also

Savage makes tack driving 22's

All wading birds are protected in Florida, as are Raptors. I believe the States are the designated authority and their individual Wildlife agencies that set and enforce the "native" species endangerment and protections, unless it is a critter that moves by flying interstate, (ducks, geese). In the case of Eagles, they were the National Symbol so US Fish and Wildlife Service was given that responsibility. However most mammal and bird protection is regulated and enforced state by state. If in doubt, call your State game and fish commission. I know in Florida we protect our wading and water birds; storks, egrets. herons, moor hens, coots, etc.

I liked the bottle rocket sugestion by gutpile but they are illegal in my state. I have a friend that has a pistol that shoots a projectile similar to a bottle rocket. He uses it to scare unwanted critters out of his garden (this is what it was designed for) form stray dogs, deer, birds, and sometimes the neighbors longhorn cows. He has 2 different cartridges, one is a shrill whistle and the other is a whistle bang. It has a fairly short range somewhere between 100yds to 200 yds.

i like the idea of placing a metal target at the pond and cracking it to scare them away. You would control the time, and number of times. May be worth a try.