Well guys, I'm not ever going to compete with ronlauglin when it comes to long distance shooting.

Two hundred yards is a l-o-n-g way for me. So here's my promised report shooting Ed Mehlig's 465 grain lead flat nose conicals out of the .45 GM/TC Renegade at 200 yards with a Cabala's 3x10 Powderhorn scope mounted on the gun.

First off, I set a target at 100 yards and took three shots to verify the scope was set for a 100 yard zero. It was. Here's the test target.



I then drew a 2.5" black dot on the back of a big 24" x 36" wall calendar and hung it out at the 200 yard marker. Here's what it looked like from the bench.



Now the guessing began. I wanted to use the BDC feature of the Powderhorn scope, but had no idea where to start so as to get on the paper at 200 yards. I studied the ballistic chart I had for that load, and thought about the drop I got when shooting at 125 and 150 yards, and then made my best guess as to how to use the scope.

Here's what I went with.



I took a very careful shot. Could not see any bullet holes on the target. Walked down 200 yards for a closer look and nearly fainted.



HOOWHEEE!!! Talk about luck.

Now we all know that kind of luck won't last. But I didn't do too badly.

Took five more shots using the same hold on the target and ended up with a 4-1/4" group. I ain't complaining.

Great long range shooting. Looks like you could hunt game as big as you choose, even at 200 yards.

Aint bad at all Semi. Not for one of them Mack Truck looking flat-nosed bullets!

Semi, that is awesome shooting! Great job...I'd be real happy with that!

How much drop do you think you allowed for?

.

Semisane

That there is some mighty fine shooting.

Van, not bad shooting at ALL!! While I know the impact would be lower, I wonder if the groups would have shrunk if you used one of the other points on the crosshair ? All I know is the deer don't stand a chance within 200yds with you this year.

Ed

Excellent shooting.

Great job!

Dead elk.


....

It seems to me you have a good point Ed. Semi, you could have dialed down the power some, and perhaps used the tic just above for the aim. Another option would be to twist the elevation dial up for the 200 yard shot, which is what some of us do regularly. One advantage of 'dialing' the range is one is sighting with the main crosshair which is in the center where the optic is clearest.

Yes, i know, you old timers hate moving scope dials, once you have the rifle sighted in.

Following is a ballistic calculation which should be 'close enough' for the shot at 200 yard, using the main crosshair.












The calculator say, twist the elevation dial up 10 3/4 moa, and you will hit somewhat close to the bull, when sighting with the main crosshair at the center of the view.