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Shooting Downhill

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Old 11-14-2017 | 04:44 PM
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Default Shooting Downhill

Is there a need to adjust when shooting downhill? I hunt NW Missouri and am ground hunting on top of a bluff. I would guess its a 30ish degree slope. I have missed 2 times in a row now, different days. Also, I am able to rest on a fallen tree so I have felt good about both shots. I would say the shot distance is 80 to 100 yards. Should I be aiming differently when shooting downhill like this? Thanks!
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Old 11-14-2017 | 04:51 PM
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At just 100 yards, I highly doubt it.
Bear in mind it's incredibly easy to overestimate how sheer the angle is. I don't know why.
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Old 11-14-2017 | 07:16 PM
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Put simply, at a hundred yards and a 30% slope you are effectively shooting 90 yards (actually 87). The difference in bullet strike is going to be maybe an inch high, not enough to miss a whole Deer.

Depends on velocity and other factors but the 87% is a constant for a 30% slope. Your effectively shooting 90 yards (or 69 yards if it is a 80 yard shoot).
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Old 11-15-2017 | 02:59 AM
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When is the last time you took your rifle to the range to check poi?
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Old 11-15-2017 | 09:07 AM
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With archery, if your shooting up or down hill, your going to hit high. But with a flat shooting rifle, not so much; I've shot up and down hill with my 3006 and still hit the POA.
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Old 11-15-2017 | 11:39 AM
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I shot a week ago and was hitting about 2 inches high, but I was at 60 yds and I am zeroed in a 100 so I figured that's why I was hitting high. I just zeroed in today at a 100 again. I appreciate all the feedback. I guess it comes down to, I just missed. Thanks all
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Old 11-15-2017 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by mikescooling
With archery, if your shooting up or down hill, your going to hit high. But with a flat shooting rifle, not so much; I've shot up and down hill with my 3006 and still hit the POA.
You'll hit high with a rifle too - but usually nobody shoots far enough for the shift to make much difference. It's just too difficult in most states to find a clear line of sight with significant grade far enough to matter. At 100yrds, there is no angle a guy could shoot to completely miss a deer because of the angle.

The true horizontal range is the measured LOS * cosine(angle). So if you're shooting 400yrds down a 25degree grade, that's really only 360yrds, and with a 30-06 (150grn, .446BC, 2950fps), that's a 7" miss over the POA.

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Old 11-16-2017 | 04:31 AM
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At 100 yards with a modern rifle no adjustment in needed. Hold dead center and get the skinning knife ready.
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