thomis
Member
I'm gearing up to do some mid to long range target shooting with my two hunting rifles (.243 Win and .308 Win), and testing some different handloads. I've been playing a lot with one of the ballistics calculators. I really like a 25 yard zero for both guns/calibers. It boils down to this: at the "highest" part of the arc, there is only 3 or 4" to account for (above the arc, that is). The return to "zero" is probably at the extent of what I'll be shooting at. If I did have to shoot at a deer at 300 or 400, there is less holdover than if I had it zeroed at 100. For instance, look at load "L" in the .243 table. Load L has a 25 yard zero and comes back to zero at about 220 yards. At 300 yards, there is a 6.7" holdover.
If the same load was zeroed at 100 yards, the trajectory is closer to the line of sight out to about 175 yards, but at 300 the holdover is twice as much. I guess its just a personal preference and depends on what distance you shoot most. I'm interested in seeing where you hunters zero your rifles.
If the same load was zeroed at 100 yards, the trajectory is closer to the line of sight out to about 175 yards, but at 300 the holdover is twice as much. I guess its just a personal preference and depends on what distance you shoot most. I'm interested in seeing where you hunters zero your rifles.