mistahmojoryan

How high do you sight in your rifle at 100 yards and what cartridge is it? Do some of you use maximum point blank range?

Some years I've sighted in at 2" high (for both 30/06 and 300 Win Mag). The trajectory starts to fall off pretty hard at 250 yards that way but if I know the shots won't be past 200 yards it's ok. Plus, out to 250 the bullet doesn't stray more than 2" above or below the line of sight.

I've also sighted the 300 Win Mag at 3.5" high at 100 yards. That takes the bullet to about 4" high at 150 yards but the downrange trajectory (300, 400, even 500 yards) is quite good. Of course, I can't see myself shooting at anything much beyond 400 yards but when I hunt cut lines, for example, a 400 yard shot isn't unusual at all.

So where/how do you sight in your big game rifle and why? Just curious, as usual.

stubblejumper

I sight both my 7mmstw's and 300ultramags in to be 2-3/4" high at 100 yards.That leaves them no more than 3-1/2" high at 200 yards and about 6" to 8" low at 400 yards depending on the load.

Big Daddy K

Good post.
My problem is I have no place to sight in at 100 much less 200-300.
I sighted in my sons Rossi 243 Thursday with a new scope. I started at about 25 yds. It was about 10" high. Got it to about 1" high. At about 50 yds it was still a little high. I feel like it will be dead on at 100. (Took me 12 rounds.) BTW where we hunt most shots are within bow range on small East TX. Whitetails and pigs. Using this method of sighting in, I have killed a deer at around 180yds once using a 742 Woodmaster in 243.
I know this isnt by the book method but it works for me. I wish I had a place to shoot long range. Also before I get slammed my son is 8 and the 243 is about as much recoil he can stand and shoot accuratly. There are better rounds for short range but not for him at this time.

handloader1

I use MPBR method. Good luck.

ktscontender

Beings that I'm mostly a paper puncher I zero most my guns at a 100.

My .257 Roberts is 2" high at 100 and 1" high at 200, I don't have a elocity on the loads I'm using so I cant figure a trajectory for it but I would feel comfortable shooting a deer out to 300 yds or so if I had to. So far this year I havent had to worry about it.[:@]

mistahmojoryan

I've always been very hesitant to do this cause I feel a little unsure of myself when the bullet travels too high above the line of sight. I guess you just have to know the bullet trajectory well enough and be good at judging distances.

I just got finished testing my new reloads yesterday (180gr Core Lokts). I was +2" at 100, +1.5 at 200 and -10 at 300. Those suckers really drop off; moreso than my ballistics program shows, anyway. That's a good reminder to always test the loads you'll be using at all the ranges you're willing to shoot at. According to my ballistics program I should be +.75 at 200 and -5 at 300. Regardless of the unexpected drop, I was impressed with accuracy at 200 and 300. I've had much more accurate rounds but for hunting this load is a keeper.

RedAllison

mista brings up a GREAT POINT here. You can only use the trajectory tables as a "general guideline" not as the gospel. Barrel length, actually attained velocity and line of sight to bore relationship is different on most guns.

I know some will scuff and most old writers who want to "show their education" poopoo the old "rule of 3" but its works for the most part. Most deersized calibers and bullets doin 3k fps, sighted 3" high @ 100yd will be "killin close" @ 300yds. The only thing to remember is that if you have a propensity to shoot em in the neck at 200yds, you will have to aim low as the bullet will be at its highest point then when sighted so.

I have umpteen rifles and for the calibers that shoot over 2500fps all but one are sighted +3" @ 100yds. The "exception" is an ol 30/06 that I will shoot on one particular trip in the big woods of southern MO in a couple of weeks. It is printing 180 Triple Shocks only +1.5" @ 100yds. But I will have 2 rifles on that trip and if I move to a field edge or anywhere shots are going to be offered over 200yds I will have a different gun.

WHACKEM where they stand,
RA

jjewell

I go 1" high @100 yds.,that puts it dead on @ 200 yds.
I hate those long shots.