Where will .30-06 and .243 hit at 100yds if sighted at 50yds??

[stiab]

I've got my .243 and .30-06 deer rifles sighted to hit dead on at 50 yards, because the longest shooting lane is 60 yards. I'm opening up a new lane that will be 100 yards. With 100 grain .243 factory loads and 150 grain 30-06 loads, where can I expect them to hit at 100 yards if sighted in at 50? I think it will hit higher, but wanted to check with you guys, thanks!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

According to my Oelher Ballistic Explorer program, a .30-06 with a 180 grain bullet at 2700 fps with a scope mounted and sighted cross the line of sight at 50 yards will be 2.4 inches high at 100 yards, and will fall back and recross the line of sight at 118 yards.

A .243 with a 100 grain bullet at 2960 fps will be 0.38 inches high at 100 yards and will cross the line of sight again at 135 yards.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

With all due respect there are too many variables for Oelher Ballistic Explorer program to accurately predict where a bullet will actually hit at any given range. The best way to find out is to shoot it at whatever range you're looking for. I don't have time to go into the details of the many variables, but rest assured they are there.

 

[springer7676]

Both will be approximately 0.5 inches high at 100 yards. The 150 grain 30-06 is flatter than the 180 grain bullet. This from the Remington ballistics chart.

 

[Shawnee]

Hey Vern...

Something doesn't sound right with your numbers. You're saying the '06 will fall 2.4" in 18yds. (100 to 118) ??????

 

[TIMC]

Possibly higher but there are too many variables that you did not give information on to say for sure, scope height or iron sights, ballistics coefficient, muzzle velocity and barrel length all will make a big difference in bullet impact. Depending on manufacturer of your ammunition muzzle velocities could vary a lot.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Something doesn't sound right with your numbers. You're saying the '06 will fall 2.4" in 18yds. (100 to 118) ??????

I must of misread it -- it's about 0.4" at 100 yards.

Thanks for catching it.

 

[bensdad]

Something doesn't sound right with your numbers. You're saying the '06 will fall 2.4" in 18yds. (100 to 118) ??????

Yeah Shawnee, I noticed that too. I think if it were 218 yds, rather than 118, it would make sense.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

With all due respect there are too many variables for Oelher Ballistic Explorer program to accurately predict where a bullet will actually hit at any given range.

It's dark outside. Can't see the target.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

To answer that, even remotely accurately, I would need to know the measurement from the centerline of the scope to the centerline of the bore.

 

[stiab]

About 1/2" high at 100, thanks, that is what I needed to know!

 

[Bitswap]

Going from 50 to 100 yards should be within an inch. Now if your going from 25 to 50 or 100, that's another story.

 

[Sunray]

Depends on what brand of factory, but a Remington 100 grain .243 should be a half inch high at 100, on at 150, 2" low at 200 and 10.3" low at 300.
A 150 grain .30-06 will be .7 high at 100, on at 150, 2" low at 200 and 10.2" low at 300.
"...that is what I needed to know..." Yep. When you get your 100 yard range, sight 'em both in 3.5 to 4" high at 100 and you'll be close enough for deer out to about 300 yards with no hold over.
You will find that the .30-06 prefers a 165 grain hunting bullet though.

 

[stiab]

When you get your 100 yard range, sight 'em both in 3.5 to 4" high at 100

Thanks Sunray and all you other guys, all my hunting is done in the woods, and no shot will be longer than 100 yards. Sounds like I can just leave them set for 50 yards and still be OK at 100. All of these were shot within 65 yards with a .243...

 

[rangerruck]

nicely done; and most peeps don't think a 243 is up to the job...

 

[jfdavis58]

Ahhh, Internet ballistics discussions...

...very much like the 'brag' session at the end of the gun counter in the local bubba shop---worthless as teats on a boar pig. Fun to listen in, though!

Didn't need to be: a quick download from www.HuntingNut.com something called PointBlank. Free. A couple quick searches for BCs and muzzle velocities from the maker of the rounds you'll be using and a couple of clicks. Also free.

Why bother, you say, it's all 'rule of thumb' and 'fly-by-by-the-seat-of-your-pants' anyway?!?!?

The fellow with the LOS/LOD (sight height) hint is key: that 243 in 100gr zeroed at 50yd can strike the 100yd target anywhere from about 1/3 inch high to 1+ inches below point of aim--depending on sight height!

I'd like to see the face of the OP when the bullet strike isn't at 1/2 inch above POA. Gonna need an adjustment for sure....

 

[stiab]

that 243 in 100gr zeroed at 50yd can strike the 100yd target anywhere from about 1/3 inch high to 1+ inches below point of aim

That's no problem, it's well within "minute of deer" and worthy of no concern for hunting at 100 yards.

and most peeps don't think a 243 is up to the job

I had a problem with a .243 hit directly in the shoulder on a 170 lb. deer last year, so am going to try the .30-06 some next year. I still have full faith in the .243 Savage bolt action that I can shoot Hornady Light Magnums in, but the BAR and 742 .243s cannot use that ammo. If you have the option of shooting them in the neck it doesn't matter.

 

[Shawnee]

Back before deer hunters all caught Magnum-itis there was a fellow named Larry Koller who wrote a book called "Shots at Whitetails" and it was THE standard work on the topic for a long time.... mostly because he knew what he was talking about from long experience.

In the book he has the little diagram (below) which shows in deceptively simple fashion, exactly how to shoot deer if you want to drop them in their tracks or nearly so, with nearly any caliber. This shot placement is infinitely superior to the "through the lungs" shot preached by the gun pundits of later years.



One of the beauties of this shot placement philosophy is that it works like a charm from any elevation, from any direction, whether or not the deer's body is skewed and from all angles except directly in front or directly behind. And it works just fine on hogs and larger game too.

If you study the diagram, you will see why it works so well. If your bullet passes into/through your quarry on either of those lines, it's "Game Over".

 

[stiab]

I agree that many calibers will kill a deer if hit correctly, but I can find no fault with the hit pictured below, which resulted in the deer running 90 yards and not being found until the next morning. Since starting deer hunting again 3 years ago I had 12 consecutive one shot kills with a BAR .243. Then the gun started acting up (fte) and I moved to a 742 .243. This deer (170 lb. 8 pointer) was hit broadside at 65 yards at the point in the shoulder you can see in the pic. It did not angle up or down or side to side, and did not exit the deer. There were 5 deer in a group that all ran in different directions, so it was impossible to tell the direction this one went.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Stiab...

Not trying to resurrect your deer, Stiab, and I am a devotee of the .243.
And 12 one-shot kills is a fine string.

But I've come across a lot of "hunters" who couldn't track a deer 90 yds. across a frozen lake, and quite a few who would not have bothered going the next morning to look for a wounded deer but would have just gone looking for another deer to blaze away at instead.

If you don't like the info I offered, fine, ignore it.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

If that was a straight through shot...its about 5 inches too far forward. Just an observation.

I like liver shots on all large game...its a big target, that will cause MASSIVE blood loss nearly instantly even with small calibers. But you must take the time to learn the anatomy of the game you're hunting. And I like the 243 myself...for that matter, any round thats based on a 308 case (260 Rem., 7mm-08, 308...all good rounds).

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I always say it's impossible to make every shot perfect in the field. A miss of a six inches or so at 100 yards is quiite normal -- Finn Aagard, who was one heck of an experienced hunter, used to say he could hit a 12" circle at that range under field conditions, and considered it good shooting.

But given that hit, I would expect to break bones and have an exit hole -- which should leave the deer unable to go far, and with a good blood trail to follow. That's why I don't feel overgunned with a .30-06.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I'm a bit anal about accuracy myself but if 12" is considered good enough...I'm better than I thought.
Theres nothing wrong with a 30-06, but the 243 is just as capable on deer if the shooter can do their part. I wont brag on my shooting ability...but I will say that in 25 years of deer hunting, I have taken the legal limit with gun, bow, and muzzleloader NEARLY every year...and I've never had a deer go more than 30 yards after being shot. But I have passed up several shots because I didn't like the situation...thats the key to caliber selection...your ability, your common sense, and your choice of hunting terrain.

To take those deer mentioned above I used about every popular caliber from 22 mag (landowners can do this for problem deer) to 45 acp to 350 Rem.Mag.. just pick your shots CAREFULLY...no matter the caliber of your gun.

 

[stiab]

If you don't like the info I offered, fine, ignore it.

No, I thought your info was good, thanks for sharing it.

If that was a straight through shot...its about 5 inches too far forward. Just an observation.

I do not disagree at all. With 5 deer and the woods, I took the best shot I had, and I though it would have done better.

But I've come across a lot of "hunters" who couldn't track a deer 90 yds. across a frozen lake,

One interesting thing about this deer with the .243 hit in the shoulder is there was no blood in the woods. None at the site of hit, no blood trail, and no blood where the deer was found. I think the .243 is a great round, but in this particular case was disappointed in the performance. I can't see the same deer hit in the same spot with a 150 grain .30-06 slug going 90 yards with no blood trail, but I guess anything is possible.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

What bullet did you use...I use ONLY Hornady 100 grain Boattail Spire Point bullets in 243 loaded to no less than 2650 fps in a 20 inch barrel. (and yes...it takes a healthy dose of Reloder 19 to do that)