Need some help in sighting my Sharps

[Sandy50]

First, let me say I am new to black powder shooting, but loving every minute I'm shooting, cleaning, or reading about black powder shooting. I recently purchased a Cimarron "Pride of the Plains" 45-70 and went out this past weekend to do some sighting. Whether I was using the ladder sight or the vernier I was shooting VERY high at 50 yards, probably 6"-12". After about 35 shots I was getting a little sore, so I decided to come home and ask the experts.

So my question is: if I'm shooting and 6" high at 50 yards with a 405 gr round, should I be closer to dead center at 100 yards. I know I've got a lot of work (fun) ahead learning to shoot this rifle, but I have no experience with vernier sights and I just need to get smarter. I hope to head out to the Colorado Rifle Club this weekend for some bench rest shooting. It would be great if I had more information about sighting-in with the vernier.

I would appreciate your help gentlemen, and ladies.

 

[Jim Watson]

A description of how to read a vernier sight is on the MVA site at:
http://www.montanavintagearms.com/soule_instructions.html

Note that the usual vernier tang sight is graduated in hundredths of an inch, which is close to 1 m.o.a. over the sight radius of the typical single shot.

If you are 6" high at 50 yards, you are probably on for about 150 and still about 6" high at 100. Very approximately since I do not know the BC or velocity of your bullets. Come down to about 3" high at 50 yards for a 100 yard zero. Shoot at the largest targets you can set up so as to be on paper.

 

[Sandy50]

As always, thank you for your quick and informative response Jim.