Long Distance setup for a .223 X7VH.

[1Hunter]

This looks like a forum that might get me going in the right direction.

I have a Marlin .223 X7VH with 26 in a heavy barrel, with a 1 to 9 twist.
I changed out the plastic stock for a nice maple one.

I have a 10x40-50 Barska scope mounted on it. Scope has
a mil-dot reticule and one eight moa tower and windage.

I am shooting a Sierra 69 grain HPBT Match bullet, pushed by 21.8 grains of
IMR 3031. I get 1 moa groups at 100 yards.

The problem:

I have an abundance of room on the tower. All for short yards
and very little below center. the minus numbers for long distance.
Have I got the scope set too high? It's at 1.8 inches high.

 

[liltank]

It's not too high. You may want to go to a 20MOA base rail that will allow you to use less elevation for a 100yd Zero. You'll want to fine tune that load too. You should really be in the .5MOA range for LRH, or competition. .25MOA to be really competitive.

Tank

 

[1Hunter]

Thanks Tank,

A 20 moa base sounds good. The base I'm using came with the rifle from
the factory. I have no quams at all about replacing it. If I can find one that
will fit. I'm working on loads, but the shortage of powder is a problem.
I have some H4895 25gr pushing Sierra 69gr Btsp Match. I plan to shoot
that monday. Thanks for your input.

 

[liltank]

Yep, no problem.

 

[1Hunter]

Yep, no problem.

I took off the scope and the base. measured the base and it's a 20 moa.

Sooo I shimmed up the back of the base .1875. That looks a whole lot better.
Now I've got 7.5 moa on the top and 30 moa on the bottom. Should have
plenty of window for the long ones.

I thought maybe the scope was haywire, just goes to show that a little push in the right direction sure helps.