Sighting in a 30 30 with Iron Sights

[doubletap213]

hey guys i need some help, im not going to be able to get out to the outdoor range to sight in my 30 30 lever action so im taking it to the indoor range. the range is 25 yards. here is my question... at 25 yards where should the bullet hit my target to give me a rough 150 yard zero. i do realize that the bullet archs in flight so i am looking for educated guesses here. im not using a scope right now just iron sights. no im not going to just wait till i can get to the outdoor range, i want to get this sighted in asap call me OCD but i cant stand having a weapon that hasnt been sighted in.

 

[robhof]

I would sight in about 3" high at 25yds, depending on wt of the bullet that should put you about center at 100yds and 2" low at 150yds, but that's what I get with my 1952 Winchester and results vary depending on the bullet wt and twist of the barrel, mine is with 155gr cast gc bullets.

 

[Haxby]

About 0.5" to 1.0" high at 25, depending on bullet used and muzzle velocity.

Used Sierra's Infinity program to get those numbers.

 

[Abel]

Yeah, I was gonna say 1" high at 25. But you need to shoot it at 100, 125, and 150 once you get a chance. Good luck.

 

[Malamute]

If it were me in that situation, I'd shoot it and see where it is at 25. If real close, I'd leave it alone until you can get to the real range. No sense monkeying with it up close too much, and end up putting it back where it was when you shoot it at longer range. A close range zero is mainly to get close at longer range so you can fine tune it at the proper range.

 

[dirtyjim]

generally with irons if your on a 25, 35 is actually better you should be on or very close at 100 with 30 cal and under bullets.
when i regulate a set of sights i file them to around 1"high at 35 yards then move out to 100 and its always been on or just a hair high.

 

[NCsmitty]

Here's a trajectory, reflective of 160gr Leverevolution ammo. Standard FP ammo will be near 150yd zero with a 25yd initial zero.


160gr Leverevolution

25 yards -- dead on

50 yards -- 1" high

100 yards -- 2" high

150 yards -- 1" high

180 yards -- 1" low



NCsmitty

 

[Haxby]

NCsmitty - Those numbers look like they're based on a scope-sighted gun. Higher line of sight.
In any event, sight it in dead on to an inch high at 25, then go out when you can and see what you got.

 

[littlelefty]

imo dead on at 25 because your bullet will not have reached its mid range trajectory of 75yds (mid range of the desired 150).
NCSmitty's comment, whether using irons or a scope I think proves this out. You used the term arching - same thing as mid range trajectory.

Then control the ocd until you can get to an outdoor range

 

[NCsmitty]

Hornady 150gr RN. Using .8" for iron sights over the bore. These are the numbers generated by Hornady's calculator.

30-30----150 gr., .186 B.C.------www.hornady.com

Range (yards) Muzzle------25-------- 50-----------75----------100---------150--------200

Velocity (fps)----2300-----2190------2084------- 1980-------1879--------1689------1515

Energy (ft.-lb.)--1762-----1598------1446--------1305-------1176--------950-------- 764

Trajectory (150) -0.8-------0.6--------1.6---------2.1-----------2.1----------0.0-------- -5.1




NCsmitty

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I would sight in about 3" high at 25yds

That will put you way high at 100 yards -- generally speaking, most high power rifle cartridges when sighted properly will cross the line of sight somewhere around 25 yards, so dead on or maybe a half inch high will be about right, depending on the ammunition you use.