Checked the Zero of My .30-06

[alsaqr]

Rifle: Remington 700

Case: Winchester
Primer: Winchester large rifle
Powder: 748: Load in excess of recommended maximum.

Distance: 125 yards

Direction: Southwest

Wind: North at 8-10 mph, gusting to 15 mph.

First group with the 150 grain Barnes 150 grain TSX strung horizontally under the 3" inch bullseye.

Second group with the Sierra 150 grain boat tail bullet made aabout a 13/16th inch group in the bullseye. Two bullets made one hole.

Marked lower hole is from a previous shooting session.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Distance?

I sight my ‘06’s (hunting rifles) to hit zero at 200yds. That means about 1.75 high at 100.
My mil surps are battle sighted to shoot center of a NRA SR2 bullseye target at 200yds which means they are +6” at 200yds with a zero at 300yds (poi/poa). (150gr flat base bullet at ~2,775fps).

IMO you are “hobbling a race horse” by sighting an ‘06 zero at 100yds.
I just got back from elk hunting in Utah. My ‘06 w/24” bbl shooting a Nosler Accubond at 2,900fps was sighted for 300yds. +4.1” at 100, +4.8” at 200. -11.8” at 400yds. I passed on 367yd and 400yds shots. Took 150yd shot.

My 7mmRemMag only reduces mid range by 1”, 400yd drop by 1”.
‘06 weighs 7lbs, 7mag 10lbs. Guess which one got carried? (Hint, I’m 65 now).

I’ll return it to a 200yd zero next chance I have to get to range.

 

[alsaqr]

Distance?

125 yards. My range don't have a 100 yard target because a drilling mud disposal pit is located is there. The pit seldom goes dry because of the bentonite in the mud.

 

[Edcnh]

I sight my 30-06 to hit 1.75”- 2” high at 100 yds.

 

[jmr40]

Nosler Accubond at 2,900fps was sighted for 300yds. +4.1” at 100, +4.8” at 200. -11.8” at 400yds. I passed on 367yd and 400yds shots. Took 150yd shot.

Where I hunt being 4-5" higher than point of aim can easily mean I miss high, or hit unseen brush. I zero at 100 yards. Can still get hits in the kill zone out to 300 with no hold over. I ain't likely to shoot at a game animal farther, but if I do the only thing that changes is how far I move the dials on the scope.

 

[IdaD]

I sight my 30-06 to hit 1.75”- 2” high at 100 yds.

Ditto. That's a pretty solid default for most hunting calibers.

 

[Riomouse911]

Looks like that Sierra load is ready to go afield with you . Good luck filling the freezer, let us know how you did when the seasons done .

Stay safe.

 

[alsaqr]

IMO you are “hobbling a race horse” by sighting an ‘06 zero at 100yds.

125 yards.

More than 90 percent of my deer and hog hunting is done using muzzleloaders at ranges of <75 yards.

Tomorrow afternoon i'm invited to hunt with a friend. It's really more like executing deer. i'll be sitting in a tower stand overlooking a section of wheat.

Not really hobbling myself: At that wheat field i've killed deer with that rifle at over 400 yards. i just read the range finder and select the correct line on the BDC. Yep, lines are all checked out.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I don’t normally sight in for 300yds, but for elk hunting out west, I do.
I too use 1.75-2” high But, +4.8” won’t cause you to miss a deer!
Unless you’re head or high neck shooting them. Those are low probability anyhow.

Have you shot the “lines” do you KNOW they accurately correspond to ACTUAL drop.
I’ve found most DON’T.

 

[alsaqr]

Have you shot the “lines” do you KNOW they accurately correspond to ACTUAL drop.

Absolutely.

 

[ms6852]

For me, I have found that my 30-06 rifles shoot 165 grainer better than the 150's. I also noticed that you are loading over maximum loads. In this case you may do better with lower velocities. My rifles all factory shoot sub-moa at 200 yards which is where I zero, with velocities ranging around 2700 to 2800 fps. Only time I exceed those velocities is if I use a longer barrel starting at 26". Good luck in your hunting, and thank your for posting.

 

[d2wing]

I have zeroed at 300 and 200 yards but for me 100 yards is more practical. beside now that is the only range I have. It works fine as I have tested at other ranges and know how to adjust if needed.

 

[alsaqr]

I also noticed that you are loading over maximum loads. In this case you may do better with lower velocities.

No. Not with that rifle, that powder and those bullets. Been there done that.

Never got a minute of angle group from ether the 150 grain or 180 grain TSX bullets. The 150 grain TSX performs well on large hogs, The 180 grain TSX bullets don't expand on 200 pound hogs.

Will have hand loaded and fired 2,000 rounds of .223, .308 and .30-06 in 2021 along with about 2,000 rounds of military.

 

[Thomasss]

The 150 grains Barnes has a much different ogive than the Sierra. The Barnes is all copper. The Sierra has a much different composition. If you want to compare the two or want the two to shoot the same, you must shoot a 168 grain Barnes to have the same POI as a 150 Sierra. You may also have to adjust the seating depth on the Barnes. Barnes is an excellent bullet if you adjust it to meet your expectations.

 

[sarduy]

Good shooting.

When i was younger, the way i used to zero my hunting rifles was to hit poa-poi at whatever max distance i was planning on shooting. Then almost every rifle i own for hunting it’s zeroed at 100 yards and just compensate for the drop with mildots reticle.

A few years back I started running the ACSS reticles and it’s pretty much cheating, zero it at correct distance to the given caliber and just use the drop distance dashes and value for wind.

Combat/Self defense rifles are a different, with ARs set to 50-200 yards and AKs to 25-200

if i have a traditional reticle i will zero it at 100 yards. Same with iron sights

 

[alsaqr]

It's a great varmint load. This large coyote was shot at about 80 yards:

 

[Hugger-4641]

This what I'm getting and typically how I zero at 100yds, load info is in the first pic. Took this doe with it yesterday. Perfect heart shot, nice exit, no meat lost.

 

[hdbiker]

Ball park, sight in an 06 at 2 inches high at 100 yards, you be fine out to 300

 

[lightman]

I sight in at 100 yards and then shoot it at 50, 200, 300 and 400. I either remember the POI or make a range card.

 

[Dibbs]

I knew I forgot to do something this year...

I mark the first holdover point, from my stand, for my 180 grain rounds. The second holdover point is almost moot, probably couldn't hit it, at 265 yards, anyway. Not likely to even try.