scope sighting in at short distance equal to being zeroed at long distance

[R.W.Dale]

If you have to drop back to 25yds to ZERO a 30-06, Might I also suggest dropping back to shooting a 22lr and practice practice practice

The ONLY time my centerfire rifles are fired at a 25 yd target is when boresighting a newly mounted scope.

 

[JohnBT]

"Depends on the gun, scope and bases, whether it will be crooked or not."

That's right, and the worst one I've ever seen was a Cooper Custom Classic 57. Thing is, it was sooooo accurate my dad wouldn't let me send it back - it was a gift and it was the proverbial tack driver I hope for everytime I buy a gun.

I wanted it to be perfect, but he said no to returning it and knowing them they would have replaced the receiver or the whole gun and the odds are the new one wouldn't be as accurate (I know, I know, but some guns are more considerably more accurate than others no matter what the little test target says.) Why chance it. I fiddled with a set of Burris Sig Zee rings until I got the Leupold 3x-9EFR on straight and all is well. Great little squirrel gun and plinker.

John

 

[possum]

That is a great idea, to help you in your endeavor I'd recommend that you go to Remington's website and download "Remshoot" which is free. You can use it to figure out the amount of dope you'd need to dial in once you've zeroed at what ever range you wish.

rockstar. esq,
Hey buddy i would like to think you very much for telling about the remington shoot software. i down loaded it this morning and was messing with it for so long that i was late for work this morning. But thats ok because my work consiteted of 18 hols of golf on custer hill. But thank you, that is some sweet software, i appreciate it and think every one could use the heck out of it!

 

[GeoW]

I may be a bit more of an accuracy nut than most people, but seriously, 25yds tells you everything you need to know out to 200?

Anyone in the military zero at 25 meters and go on to record fire and rock the 400 meter targets? 25 meters was the only distance that we shot a paper target. Piece of cake... thirty six years ago..

I get my rifle shooting at 25 yards now, then move out to 100 or farther. The 25 yard zero puts the group about 2 inches high at 100.

This is from my old Weaver chart:
30-06 150 gr

0 ----ZERO ---- 25yd
+1 ------------- 50yd
+2 1/4----------100yd
+2 1/4 ---------150yd
+1 1/4 ---------200yd
-1 1/2 ---------250yd
-6 ------------ 300yd
-13 ----------- 350yd

GeoW

 

[Anthony T.]

I always sight in an inch high at 100yds. Then when I shoot 150 its dead on, also dead on a 50yds. But about 1 1/2 in low at 25. If you're going to try to sight in at 25, be prepaared to hold under out to 200yds at least. I like my rifle to be + or - 1in high or low out to 150-200yds. I don' like to hold way over or way under and if I have to take a 300yd shot with my '06, I'll be glad to hold a foot over his back. Alot of rifles sighted in at 150 these days will be right on at 50 also. That is with a low mounted scope.

 

['Card]

Geez, you guys make such a big deal about this stuff.

streetstang67, what you need to do is mount your scope (or have a gunsmith do it) then boresight it (or have a gunsmith do it) to get yourself in the ballpark. Then you go to the range, put up a target at 25 yards, and dial in a nice tight zero at that distance. Then you do basically the same thing at 100, or 150, or 200, or whatever range you think is appropriate for the terrain and conditions where you hunt.

Zeroing the gun at 25 yards won't make it perfect for hunting purposes - what it will do is get the scope close enough that you can then effectively shoot at those 150 yard targets without just kicking up dust. If you still can't put consistent groups in at 150 yards or more, then there may be something wrong with the way your scope is mounted (or it may just be a bad scope) and it's getting knocked off of zero by the recoil of your gun.

Just remember... when it comes to zeroing scopes, the most common mistake I see newbies make is trying to dial things in the wrong direction. You aren't trying to change where the bullet goes. You can't alter that at all. What you're trying to do is make the crosshairs point at the spot where the bullets are already going.

Also remember that it's not smart asking someone else to zero your gun for you - which is another common mistake. Everyone's eye is different in shape and depth, and because of that, everyone's zero is slightly different. It's something you've really got to do for yourself.

 

[killzone]

Sand bags or better will be your solution. Don't confuse yourself with the ballistics too much. Take your time to secure your rifle tight and make sure it is clean and cold. Use the lowest settings of your scope and don't change it after each shot or re-load.

Using different grain ammo for each shot is a common mistake

 

[ID_shooting]

I use the 25yd approach with my '06, but only when mounting the scope after I do a detail strip and I need to re-zero it. Then I move to 100 and put it 2.5 inches high.

This gives me minute of milk jug accuracy out to about 325 yds (my personal max hunting range) with no hold over or hold under. 165 gr GameKing @ 2950 FPS.

I agree on the use sand bags or sold rest advice, at least for zeroing.

 

[possum]

streetstang67, While you are shooting remember the 4 fundamentals of marksmnship.

Steady Position, use sand bags, bi-pod or a sand sock, but don't get carried away with using support. You won't always have these things in the field. work on your postions, prone unsupported, sitting etc. It may take a while but practice and practice some more. If you can get a nice sling and use that to your advantage as well!

Aimming, get the same sight picture everytime. with a scope cut the circle or target in four sections equal sections.

Breathing, though this is more important at targets farther out, it is important to practice so that way it will be second nature when you do have to take a long shot!

trigger squezze, put constant even pressure on the trigger, until it goes bang, it should be a supreise when the weapon fires. With most riflethe trigger pull is an easy fix, adjust it if need be.

here is a link that might help you out!
http://www.armystudyguide.com/conte..._topics/m16a2/four-fundamentals-of-mark.shtml

 

[Balddragn]

I'm surprised nobody has said anything about the hight of the sight over bore. That will have a lot of effect on the distance between where the bullet first crosses the line of sight on the way up and where it crosses on the way back down.