Another thing I would consider is what ranges you are realistically going to shoot at. I wouldn't set a rifle up to 200 yards because one day you might possibly get a 200 yard shot at a nice buck and you don't want to miss out on the opertunity. When in reality most of your shots will be at 100 yards and in. This means that the majority of the time you will be aiming low and compensating for a bullet that strikes high at your normal hunting distances. I would rather have a bullet that shoots flat at the distances I actually intend to use it at, and then hold over a bit at longer distances if I have to. With a duplex reticle and some practice it really is not that hard. You just use a different part of reticle is all.

I would also suggest if you really want to shoot long ranges to would look at a different bullet. I really like the Precision Rifle bullets. I use the ones cabela's sells. And I would go with a heavier bullet, not lighter. This would give you a bullet that expands better, has a much better BC and will carry more energy down range.

I will use my set up as an example. Where I hunt I could realistically get a 150 yard shot. I hunt over an open meadow and the far corner of the property is 148 yards to the fence post. On the other side of that is a corn field that goes for another 300 yards. However directly in front of me is a tree line for a large wooded area at about 85 yards. So far all of my shots have been at 80 yards and in. But deer do run across the field and jump the fence at the far end of the property. Or one could always hop out of the woods near that corner.

I sighted in at 130 yards because with my load that gives me point blank range out to 150 yards. I don't have to worry about aiming high or low at any shot I would get if I have to make a quick one. Now if I have the time I will compensate and try to put the bullet right where I want it. But if I had to I could just put the cross hairs center of mass and the bullet will hit the lungs from 25 to 150 yards.

I use a 350 grn non jacketed lead QT bullet with around 90 grns of 777. I figure it for around 1600 fps. I am 2.5 inches high at 80 yards and 2.5 inches low at 150. I don't hunt at 200 yards but I did shoot it that far while sighting it in. I was about a foot low and had a 4 inch 4 shot group. That is inline with what the ballistics calculator says, it says 11.2 inches low at 200 yards. And my load carries 1300 ft/lbs of energy at 200 yards. So shooting a deer at 200 yards would not be a big challenge for my set up. If were actually going to hunt that far I would try to get better groups though. Again, knowing the correct range is pretty important once you get out there.

Normally a longer heavier bullet will work better for long ranges becuase it has better flight characteristics and more momentum down range.

These are only my opinions though. Something to think about any way.

Paul