Good sight in distance for .270 Win

[UKCATSHUNTER]

Just picked up a M77 Hawkeye in a 270 Win. Most threads I have read say to do for 2.5 inches high at 100 for a total hold over near 280 yards. Im shooting Hornandy Custom SST 130 grains. Most shots are under 100 yards but could be more toward the 250 depending if deer come from across bean field. Any other ideas??

 

[Uncle Mike]

Based on the distances you indicate, 200y would be the best range to sight your rifle in at, (1.5" high at 100y)IMHO. At this dope, you'll be approximately 1.5" high at 100y, 6.5" low at 300, 18.5" low at 400 and 37" low at 500, if you decide to drift one out there!

 

[Abel]

1.5" high @ 100 yards is fine.

 

[handle02]

At the range saturday my father and I sighted his gun in at 2'' at 100. We then shot the 300yd range and he was hitting bullseye holding dead on center. I don't know if he was getting lucky or what but it happened 3 times in a row.

 

[Geno]

I zero all of my centerfire rifles at 300 yards.

Geno

 

[Ol` Joe]

If the farthest point across the field is ~ 250 tds why worry about sighting for 300+ yd shots?
A 200 yd zero, or sighting in +1.5" high at 100 should let him hold dead center out to 250+ with no hold over or under to worry about.

 

[roklok]

I shoot a .270 Win using the 130 grain SST. I zero for 285 yards, which is about 2.8 inches high at 100. This allows shooting from muzzle to about 340 yards without worrying about hold under or hold over on an 8 inch vital zone. This zero puts it at 3.5 inches high at 150 yards and about 4.75 inches low at 350 yards. I got a Dall ram at 584 yards this past August using this zero. 600 yard holdover is about 48 inches using this zero with my handload, which is pushing the 130 SST at 3200 FPS.

 

[skiking]

I would zero at 225 yds (2" high at 100yds), that will put you ~5" low at 300 yds.

 

[brettrow]

I too shoot 130 and 140 grain hornadys in my .270 (SSTs, interlocks and BTSP). 1.5 high at 100 yards is perfect, dead on at 200.

 

[bpl]

If the farthest point across the field is ~ 250 tds why worry about sighting for 300+ yd shots?

S'pose he decides to hunt somewhere else where longer shots are a possibility? Why not maximize the MPBR of the 270? It won't handicap him on the shorter shots in any way.

 

[GunTech]

As a general rule, if you hold dead on, your optimum sight in distance will depend on the size of the critical target area. With deer sized game, this is typically given as about 7 inches. If, for example, you are 2 inches high at 100 yards, dead on at 200 and 5 inches low at 300 hundred, then you are zeroed to hit that 7 inch critical zone out to 300 yards.

A 300 yard envelope is typically more than adequate for 90% of all hunting situations. If you are shooting past 300 yards, it's probably time to start thinking about target turrets and knowing your come up, IMO.

There are many software applications, including free ones on the net, that can help you determine your ideal zero.

Just for reference, the range withing which you can strike the vital zone without sight adjustment is called 'point blank range'. In the case above, aiming dead on will result in a strike withing the 7 inch vital zone all the way to 300 yards - hence a 300 yard PBR. The PBR will depend on the cartridge and the size of the vital zone.

 

[MinnMooney]

The 7" kill zone on a deer-sized target is what you're after. So the general thinking is to have a +/- 3.5" from "Line-of-Sight" of the scope (point-of-aim). This is all well and good IF YOU'RE BENCH-REST SHOOTING ! When deer hunting, the best that you can hoipe for is a decent stance and a solid tree or stand railing to rest your gun on. This makes for a good rest but certainly not as good as at a range with ample set-up time and a target that's surely not going to move while you're preparing.

My point : You have to figure for an extra inch or two of error over & above your bench rest accuracy results. I like to sight in for 150 - 175 yards (tops) for flat shooting hunting rifles and much less for deep-woods hunting rifles. If you have a chance for 250 yard shots across a field then KNOW YOUR RIFLE. Have a Mil-Dot or Ballistic-Plex type of reticle and know which dot/line is good for what distance. This only comes from range practice and good note-keeping.