Sight in ballistics, drop question.

[Kirk]

I want to sight in my 30-06 so it is capable of making a 300 yard shot accurately. I have looked up the ballistics for hold over and have a general idea of what I need to do but want to get some ideas to avoid any problems. I figure it is just a math problem but need some guidance.

I have an area I can shoot 80 yards. I currently have the rifle dead on at 80 yards.

The listed ballistics for the ammo I am using is as follows:
(Assuming 100 yard dead zero)

200 yds -3.6"
300 yds -11.9"
400 yds -36"
500 yds -59"

So to make a 300 yard shot the rifle would have to be sighted in at +14.28 inches high at 80 yards? (I know this is not where I want it sighted I will have to find a happy medium for closer shots.I sort of arrived at 6" high at 80 yards as a happy medium)

Talk amongst yourselves and let me know what I need to do.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

The only way to know exactly is to go to a 300 yard range. Zero at 100. Then move to 200, hold dead on and see where your bullet hits. Count the number of clicks it takes up from your 100 yd zero to get dead on at 200 and record that number. Then do the same thing from 200 to 300.

Get a piece of paper and write down what you have recorded and put it on your stock or something.
Example

100 yds- zero
200 yds- +12 clicks
300 yds- +25 clicks

Just dont forget what your doing while clicking and remember to click back down to your 100 yd zero after the fact.

In all reality you dont need this level of preciseness to shoot a deer at 300 yards but it does work perfectly with a perfect tracking scope.

 

[megalomaniac]

Just sight in for 200 yards with your '06. It'll be roughly 2" high at 100 (which will kill a deer) and roughly 4-5" low at 300 (which will kill a deer). Aim heart for close shots and high shoulder for long shots.

Don't need anything fancy if 300 is all you plan to do with an '06.

 

[jbhtn]

I agree 2-3 inches high at 100, or in your case 80 yards should be sufficient to make a 300 yard shot on a deer. Making click adjustments on a scope is the most accurate way to make the longer shots but it takes alot range time to figure out the proper elevation adjustments that need to be made. It is also very hard to make the adjustments in hunting scenarios. I tend to get confused when I am excited trying to make a shot on a deer. Before you know it you have lost your zero.

 

[CBU93]

What grain bullet?

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

The only way to know exactly is to go to a 300 yard range. Zero at 100. Then move to 200, hold dead on and see where your bullet hits. Count the number of clicks it takes up from your 100 yd zero to get dead on at 200 and record that number. Then do the same thing from 200 to 300.

Get a piece of paper and write down what you have recorded and put it on your stock or something.
Example

100 yds- zero
200 yds- +12 clicks
300 yds- +25 clicks

Just dont forget what your doing while clicking and remember to click back down to your 100 yd zero after the fact.

In all reality you dont need this level of preciseness to shoot a deer at 300 yards but it does work perfectly with a perfect tracking scope.

I disagree, the bullet drop from 200-300 will be greater than 100-200.

A 30-06, 180gr bullet needs to be @ 5.11" high at 100yds to be @ dead zero at 300.

FDXX75

 

[cdw338]

I agree with Steven. FDXX75, He did not say that the clicks were
the same from 200 to 300. He gave an example and said record the
clicks that was required to go from 200 to 300.

Also your example of 5.11" high at a hundred will not hold true
for all 180 bullets in a 30-06.

But you already know this.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I agree with Steven. FDXX75, He did not say that the clicks were
the same from 200 to 300. He gave an example and said record the
clicks that was required to go from 200 to 300.

Also your example of 5.11" high at a hundred will not hold true
for all 180 bullets in a 30-06.

But you already know this.

Exactly. Sometimes you have to read alittle lol

 

[UTGrad]

Your gonna be taking some long pokes opening day! Must be hunting a large field.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

Yep, and it's all pure guesstimation, including my post if the gun is never fired at a true target at 300 yds.

If you want to know where it is going to hit for sure then do it correctly, otherwise why bother............close enough is close enough.

FDXX75

PS: besides who has the time to sit there and start adj. their scope in the field, yeah I can see it all now............the shooter is all calm and collected as a nice buck is walking across the field, he reaches for his trusty tool kit to retrieve his screw driver and starts 1,2,3,4,5..looks up and see's the buck 7,8,9, O crap how many was that again.

Not a smart way to do it at all. But you all ready know that as well......................LMAO.

 

[rldel]

ballistics_calculator

 

[cdw338]

That was a complement to your knowledge of the subject, not a dig. Laugh all you want to. Last I will say on the subject.

 

[megalomaniac]

PS: besides who has the time to sit there and start adj. their scope in the field, yeah I can see it all now............the shooter is all calm and collected as a nice buck is walking across the field, he reaches for his trusty tool kit to retrieve his screw driver and starts 1,2,3,4,5..looks up and see's the buck 7,8,9, O crap how many was that again.

Not a smart way to do it at all. But you all ready know that as well......................LMAO.

Actually, that's exactly what I do (except for the fumbling for screwdrivers and forgetting how many clicks I've adjusted) when I'm long range hunting.

It's really quite simple. The gun is zeroed at a known distance (in the case of my long range rig, 300 yards). The elevation turret is adjusted to zero at this known sight in distance. A deer walks out, at lets say, 650 yards. If the deer is doing anything other than feeding calmly, he gets a pass. Otherwise, I range the distance 3 times to confirm, look at my drop chart; lets say it's up 32 clicks for that distance... next I rotate my elevation turret (it's elevated and finger adjustable- big knobs on a nightforce) to 8 (don't have to count clicks, just spin the dial to 8- which is 32clicks/ 4 clicks per number on the dial). Next pull the trigger and watch the deer fall 1/2 second later. The whole thing does take a little while, though- around 5 seconds. But again, I wouldn't shoot anyways if the deer was doing anything but feeding calmly, so I've got that time and more.

But again, for the average Joe shooting out to 300, you are better off just sighting in for 200 and you are GTG out to 300 (assuming you and your rifle are capable of holding small groups at 300)

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

PS: besides who has the time to sit there and start adj. their scope in the field, yeah I can see it all now............the shooter is all calm and collected as a nice buck is walking across the field, he reaches for his trusty tool kit to retrieve his screw driver and starts 1,2,3,4,5..looks up and see's the buck 7,8,9, O crap how many was that again.

Not a smart way to do it at all. But you all ready know that as well......................LMAO.

Actually, that's exactly what I do (except for the fumbling for screwdrivers and forgetting how many clicks I've adjusted) when I'm long range hunting.

It's really quite simple. The gun is zeroed at a known distance (in the case of my long range rig, 300 yards). The elevation turret is adjusted to zero at this known sight in distance. A deer walks out, at lets say, 650 yards. If the deer is doing anything other than feeding calmly, he gets a pass. Otherwise, I range the distance 3 times to confirm, look at my drop chart; lets say it's up 32 clicks for that distance... next I rotate my elevation turret (it's elevated and finger adjustable- big knobs on a nightforce) to 8 (don't have to count clicks, just spin the dial to 8- which is 32clicks/ 4 clicks per number on the dial). Next pull the trigger and watch the deer fall 1/2 second later. The whole thing does take a little while, though- around 5 seconds. But again, I wouldn't shoot anyways if the deer was doing anything but feeding calmly, so I've got that time and more.

But again, for the average Joe shooting out to 300, you are better off just sighting in for 200 and you are GTG out to 300 (assuming you and your rifle are capable of holding small groups at 300)

You are not the average Joe, nor is your "set up" average. My point exactly.

Besides the average Joe is not going to spend the beans for that type of scope.

FDXX75

 

[megalomaniac]

I mistook yor point that it was 'not a smart way to do it at all' at face value. I would contend that it is a very smart and effective way to do it IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING (and have of course, practiced at those known distances :)

 

[mr.big]

i`ll try it to 500 setup point blank to 350 just using Ky windage,,after that I would haved to twist something

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

Most off the shelf rifle capable of shooting 300+ yds are fairly flat shooters anyway.

My 7mm Rem Mag is set at 2.5" high at 100yd, I am still good at 300 without having to start aiming high on the animal. I very rarely have the opportunity to shoot that yardage here in NY.

It is more realistic to sight the gun in high at 100 and be a little low at 300. But, that is after one has shot the gun at both distances to be able to tell accurately where it is hitting.

FDXX75

 

[cdw338]

My rifles for hunting whitetail deer are generally one inch high
a a hundred. If I am going out west for elk, my rifles are
generally three inches high at a hundred.

With my 7 mag sighted 3 inches high at a hundred, I was able to
still hold on an elk at 425 yards and collect the animal.
Note: I don't usually shoot that far. I had done all my homework
and was sure I could make the shot.

Getting to old for that high country hunting anymore.

 

[rldel]

i`ll try it to 500 setup point blank to 350 just using Ky windage,,after that I would haved to twist something

:) Totto, maybe we are not in Kansas anymore. I know, in a book depository!

 

[mr.big]

i`ll try it to 500 setup point blank to 350 just using Ky windage,,after that I would haved to twist something

:) Totto, maybe we are not in Kansas anymore. I know, in a book depository!

I figured i would have to explain,,I shoot a 300 RUM lined up at 315 yards and it is never over 3 inches high and falls 3 inches low at about 345,,I can hold point blank to 350 yards,,at 500 he bullet hits where the reticle thickens on the lower post,,

 

[rldel]

No offence Mr. Big.

When you mentioned 500 yard shot on a whitetail (not a moose or elk or something big and African) I thought you were funning. Sorry. I was just joing in.

 

[mr.big]

I wish you`d of got me laid out in them gravels shootin the RUM prone,,,I can`t remember,,was it the first shot hit on the 2 liter Pepsi bottle??



sorry for the highjack,,but 6-7 years ago there was doubters

 

[RUGER]

That is pretty darn cool right there. :D

 

[UTGrad]

Hell yeah!!! That is an awesome video!

 

[rldel]

I wish you`d of got me laid out in them gravels shootin the RUM prone,,,I can`t remember,,was it the first shot hit on the 2 liter Pepsi bottle??



sorry for the highjack,,but 6-7 years ago there was doubters

Now I would have liked to see two or three square-on hits of Pepsi bottles in a row of undedited video. Still, it is excelent target shooting from a table and rest at the distance. The camera shows that as quite a distance and judging from the silhouette sizes and relative sizes of impacted targets it is still an amazing accomplishment. I'l be honest, I was more impressed by DA's three bucks. Thats what I want to shoot.

Mr. Big I would like to ask about the RUM. 300 right. Have you chronographed it? I have a little Encore in Win Mag that when I did the initial setup and verification using Hornady Custom (factory) ammo I averaged a box of 20 at 3345 fps with 150 gr SSTs. Now I don't care for recoil myself so I do manage mine by several means. One of the ways is with long (26") heavy barrels (near bull).

Really good long distance shooting. I only hunt myself and now a days it looks like I'll never again leave the USA, and probably never hunt further than GA. There I might shoot a few hundred yards at the tops down rows of planted pines. Would you mind if I hunt you down in that event for a few pointers? You demonstrated amazing range, and at that range, I totally understand the the earlier post. And I tend to forget, some people to have AG fields and terrain other than what I see every trip to hunt.

You see I was thinking (or maybe not thinking, I don't know) of hunting conditions. You know, often windy, in unfamilier areas, with or without small obstacles that are hard to see in low light, oh yea, varied lighting conditions, cold fingers, thick clothes, sometimes too many clothes, without a rest (sling braced maybe) from a possibly swaying tree or maybe from the ground and at best then standing leaning on a tree or with shooting sticks, alone without spotters or a second chance - something, yea, just something less than ideal. Like I said, I wasn't thinking in the context your video is presented.

I hope you understand.

 

[mr.big]

I understand totally,,just because I see a deer does not mean I have to shoot,,If I can get prone with the bipod out or from one of my shooting house with bags,or somewhere I have setup I will try it,,I never claimed to be able to shoot 500 yards from a treestand offhanded.

but I do have spots setup and pre-ranged that would be usless to hunt without confidance in 500 yards

the 300RUM and RL22 clocks the 150 at 3650+ the 165 goes 3500,the 180`s do 3425 and the 200 goes 3250 with RL25 and Retumbo

 

[mr.big]

and of courseI would rather shoot a 130 inch deer also,,and according to Lades Nikon rangefinder that was 500 yards..

the spots I hunt most have maps drawn kinda like this.

 

[mr.big]

two 20 ounce pepsi bottles at 400 off bipod with no rear rest off the trunk of my car.

 

[mr.big]

back to Kirks question,,,if I only had 80 yards to work with I would zero the 30-06 about 1.5 high and hold on ,,but i wouldn`t shoot past 275,,and would be a nervous wreck,,thats why i play and try and bust jugs in summertime,

 

[Kirk]

I got out today and found a 200 yard shot. Sighted in 3" high at 100 yards. Grouped several shots in 2 inches. Moved back to 200 yards and dropped them in about 1.5" below the bull. Needless to say I was happy.

I will shoot several more times this week before I try the money shot this weekend. :D