sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
08-23-2004, 08:44 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 29
sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
New to deer hunting. When i sight my rifle in, I start at 25 yards and am right in the bulls eye. However, when I go to the 100 yards I'm not on the target I aim at dead center for both distances. what am I doing wrong. My shots will range from 20 yards out to about 100 yards. Also, what is the best bullet for the .308. 
08-25-2004, 07:49 AM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Easley, SC
Posts: 201
RE: sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
4u,
Try it at 50 yards before you move out to 100. The problem doesn't sound like it's with the rifle... unless the scope mounts are loose. I would put a box or 2 through the rifle and get comfortable with it. Recoil shouldn't be a problem with the .308, a lot of the time it's just form. First, make sure you have a clean barrel...run a bore brush (I prefer the Boresnake) down it to loosen up the crud and then let it soak a few minutes with solvent or foaming bore cleaner. Run a few patches (or the Boresnake) through until they come out clean. Once the barrel is clean, fire 4-5 rounds through with at least a minute between shots (since it is summer) and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Brush it out again and repeat the sequence. You should see your groups tighten up significantly. Again, the choice of ammo is of utmost importance. Once you sight in with a certain brand of ammo, if you shoot another brand or even different bullet weight, you will have to resight for that certain brand...most are not interchangeable. For instance, I went from Remington Core-lokt 150s to Winchester Balistic silvertip 150s and the point of impact at 100 yards shifted almost 3" high and 4" to the right. As far as bullet choice, I use a 150gr Winchester Ballistic Silvertip (around $20-25 per box)with excellent results on deer, although almost all manufacturers put out a good choice these days. Winchester Failsafes are also excellent bullets but they will cost you apr $30 per box. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Try it at 50 yards before you move out to 100. The problem doesn't sound like it's with the rifle... unless the scope mounts are loose. I would put a box or 2 through the rifle and get comfortable with it. Recoil shouldn't be a problem with the .308, a lot of the time it's just form. First, make sure you have a clean barrel...run a bore brush (I prefer the Boresnake) down it to loosen up the crud and then let it soak a few minutes with solvent or foaming bore cleaner. Run a few patches (or the Boresnake) through until they come out clean. Once the barrel is clean, fire 4-5 rounds through with at least a minute between shots (since it is summer) and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Brush it out again and repeat the sequence. You should see your groups tighten up significantly. Again, the choice of ammo is of utmost importance. Once you sight in with a certain brand of ammo, if you shoot another brand or even different bullet weight, you will have to resight for that certain brand...most are not interchangeable. For instance, I went from Remington Core-lokt 150s to Winchester Balistic silvertip 150s and the point of impact at 100 yards shifted almost 3" high and 4" to the right. As far as bullet choice, I use a 150gr Winchester Ballistic Silvertip (around $20-25 per box)with excellent results on deer, although almost all manufacturers put out a good choice these days. Winchester Failsafes are also excellent bullets but they will cost you apr $30 per box. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
08-25-2004, 08:38 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
sight in your rifle for 40 yards using either 150 or 165 grain bullets and the bullet tradjectory will bring the bullet to point of aim again at about 200-250 yards. This sighting will kill alomost anything from 20 yards to 300 yards.
08-25-2004, 11:38 AM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
Goiod advive from Above posters. There is always a debate over the best all around bullet for the 308 and 30-06. I quess going that route the 180 would get my vote. However I am not an all around bullet fan and tend to customize my loads for the game I am hunting. For deer I use the 150 grain bullets. I like the Nosler Ballistic tip and the Hornady spire point. I also use a lot of Sierra Pro-hunter bullets for deer in the 280 and 308. Anyway you are well armed with a 308 as its about the perfect rifle for deer hunting.
08-25-2004, 01:50 PM
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location:
Posts: 93
RE: sighting in rifle/best bullet for .308
Find your middle distance, so from 20 -100 yards it would average to 60 yards.
Sight for 60 yards and either print you shots near and far or work out the trajectory on a PC.
The other option is to find, using your ammo what your maximum point blank range is for you distance of 20-100 yards. I would say your point blank target area would be about 4 inches so plus or minus 2 inches. SO whatever zero that will keep it plus or minus two inches between 20-100 yards is where you will want to be.
All the technique on how many shots and how to clean it and all of that is nice but means nothing to the trajecoty and the actual practical accuracy of your rifle.
Sight for 60 yards and either print you shots near and far or work out the trajectory on a PC.
The other option is to find, using your ammo what your maximum point blank range is for you distance of 20-100 yards. I would say your point blank target area would be about 4 inches so plus or minus 2 inches. SO whatever zero that will keep it plus or minus two inches between 20-100 yards is where you will want to be.
All the technique on how many shots and how to clean it and all of that is nice but means nothing to the trajecoty and the actual practical accuracy of your rifle.
