Sighting in new shotgun scope.

wojtowicza · 12-31-2004, 10:38 AM

I just bought a rifled barrel for my Mossberg 500 and also a 1.5x5 simmons pro diamond scope. I have always been a buckshot guy. What should i sight it in for? 50 yards or 100? i hunt both hardwoods where the shot can be very close and also hunt fields that can have long shots. i did take it out this morning and shot it at 25 yards then 50 yards. i was on at 25 and 50. i then tried out to 100 but was about 10 inches low. i ran out of sabots so i am going back out tomorrow again. Thanks for any info.

BOWHUNTERCOP · 12-31-2004, 12:46 PM

We all sight in our shotguns to be 2" high at 50yds. this should put you about dead center at 100yds. What slugs are you using? We use Lightfields 2-3/4" Hybed EXP, but your shotgun may like a different brand. Look at: www.lightfieldslugs.com They give some great info on sighting in, and why you should sight in your shotgun at 50yds.

UncleNorby · 01-01-2005, 09:55 AM

Sight in at 50. Then check at 100, and also whatever you feel would be the longest shot you want to take. Adjust your 50 yd sight-in as needed to optimize your trajectory for your hunting situation.

Most slugs work out so 2-3" high at 50 is on, or up to 2-3" low at 100, depending on velocity.

If you are shooting newer sabots that run around 2000 fps, you may be able to stretch things a bit.

NHBuck · 01-02-2005, 09:38 AM

I agree with BHC. The lightfield is a nice slug. I bought a new 1300 and put a Bushnell Trophy Series 1.75x4 on top and it is sweet with the lightfields. I haven't shot at 100yds yet. Ran out of light the night I got it sighted in 1 inch high at 50yds. According to lightfield i should be on at 100yds. Didn't get to use it this year as I concentrated with the bow. I tried remington copper's and Federal premiums and the lightfields grouped much tighter. All 3 performed well but the Lightfields gave me a 1/2 inch group of two at 50yds from a bench. The reason it was only 2 is because the third went directly in the hole created by the first slug.

AJ52 · 01-02-2005, 10:04 AM

My only comment would be to make sure you clean barrel after 4-5 rounds - Tops! Its been my experiance shooting sabots in Moosberg 500 and Remington 870, accuracy goes from approx 2" or less at 65 yrds to Pie Plate size or larger groups after 4-5 rounds. Sabot build up really throws off accuracy IMO. The 870 is really finicky about cleaning. It just crys out "Clean Me" after about 4 rounds. Thru the years I've tryed everthing in the 500 and have always gone back to Federal sabots. That barrel seems to love Feds.