stubblejumper

4" off on point of aim is far too much.You are forgetting that you must add the error in zero to the accuracy of your gun/load combination and then add the aiming error in the field.If your rifle sight in is dead on and your rifle shoots 4" groups at 200 yards and you add 4" or error for shooting under field conditions you will be shooting 8" groups at 200 yards.This will barely keep you in the kill zone but adding 4" more for an incorrect sight in could easily result in a miss or a wounded animal.As far as hitting a 2" target consistantly under field conditions it is really not very difficult for a good shooter with good equipment and a solid rest.I consistantly shoot 1" groups at 200 yards off the bench with my rifles(custom rifles using handloads)and off the bipod or a solid field rest I can consistantly hit a 2" target at 200 yards.Off hand is altogether a different story but many of us stand hunt,use bipods or use any field rest that is handy and do not shoot offhand a great deal while hunting.My own rule for seting my maximum shooting distance is not to shoot at a game animal at any distance I have not practised at on targets.If I had only shot at a 25 yard target I would not even consider shooting at a game animal at 200 yards.

redfish76

Thanks to all who answered. I layed down a doe at about 65 yards yesterday morning. (No, I didn't have a chance to actually shoot my gun again at a longer range.) Anyway, clean kill, right where I aimed. She dropped in her tracks and didn't flinch. So anyway, I guess the gun is at least good to 65 yards. I may take your advice and try to find a longer range before I actually squeeze off a 200 yard shot. (I don't think that I will have to take many shots that long anyway).

Goodguy

redfish76
Congrats on the doe. You don't need a 200 yd range. Find a 100 yd range and sight her in for about 1 1/2 in. high at 100 yds. Your rifle will then be about + 1 in. at 50 yds., zero at 200 yds.,
- 2 1/2 in. at 250 yds. and - 6 or 7 in. at 300yds. This all means that anywhere out to about 250 yds you can hold on your target. From then on you need to compensate a bit. Not too many folks I know hunt from a bench rest. When someone says that under field conditions using their deer or moose gun they can knock the eye out of a squirrel at 200 yrds using shooting sticks or an old stump for a rest I tend to be a bit skeptical. Maybe they can but maybe can't because I've yet to see one of these marksman in real life. I shoot at a range for sighting, to remain accustomed to my rifles and for fun. I'm real happy with 2 in groups at 100 yrds. Conversely I see bench rest shooters perfecting their hand loads with custom target rifles, high pwr scopes and shooting rests resembling engineering masterpieces. If that's your thing that's great and I admire the skill, will and determination required. Me I'm just a hunter and for the next 2 weeks, starting tomorrow, I'll be in the bush hoping for a shot at a nice buck anywhere out to about 150 to 200 yds. gg.

"The instant you start talking about what you'll do if you lose, you have lost."

skeeter 7MM

redfish, I second the congrats on the doe...good eats in your house this year. I also agree with GG, if you can sight it in at 100 then 1 1/2 high should put you where you want to be. I do always suggest practice at your ranges though, but know many who do this and haven't had much of a problem...especially since they are like you and say 200 is pretty slim. You know being a good bench shot doesn't always transfer to the field, can be a different ball game. I do think knowing where and how your gun shoots = confidence but really only part of the equation. I have seen guys put them on otop of each other and hit 10/10 clays....but do a lot of barrel warming in the moment of truth.

Good luck on the rest of your season. Sounds like you got the first and important one under your belt now....the rest is all gravy.

GG, you to...good luck in your 2 week wood spending, hope you find your buck. I leave in a week for my haven....I can't wait. Is suppose to get warm for a couple of days then go back to cold with snow....oh yeah bring me the weather man...pun on pun! Rut is a bute of thing<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>