Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
All of my hunting rifles (except 45-70 & 500 S&W) are sighted in for 200yds. If an animal unexpectedly appears at 100yds it's still a dead on hold.
Zero at 100 Yards and Leave Turret at 200 Yards for Hunting?
- Thread starter General RE LEE
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
clark33
Well-Known Member
If you dial or plan on dialing I would zero at 100yds. You can do everything the 200 yard zero or 3.5" high at 100 yard guys can with a 100yard zero, a ballistic app and good data. First morning of your hunt, check your ballistic solver and dial for 200 or 300 or whatever you feel is necessary for quick shots. Anything past that in most cases you will have time to dial.
If you zero at 200 and then gain 5,000 ft in elevation,most likely you will no longer have your exact 200yd zero. Dial as if it was a true 200 us zero and that change is amplified.
By zeroing at a longer distanceand THEN dialing you are simply introducing more error
If you zero at 200 and then gain 5,000 ft in elevation,most likely you will no longer have your exact 200yd zero. Dial as if it was a true 200 us zero and that change is amplified.
By zeroing at a longer distanceand THEN dialing you are simply introducing more error
I zero at 100 for head shots and ease of computing drops. I've used 100 for so long I have a lot of info in my head.
All my scopes have an MOA based retical which I use out to 300 yards. I dial past that point typically.
All my scopes have an MOA based retical which I use out to 300 yards. I dial past that point typically.
This has no bearing on whether your zeroed at 200 or 100.
The both drop 16" at 1,000 yards from 5,000 down to 0 elevation.
My hunting rifle doesn't have turrets. Just something to snag in thick brush of the coastal range. Besides, a shot past 150 is extremely rare.
Hdy 139gr @ 2600mv, Zero at 25 yards yields ~2.5" high @ 100, ~3" low at 250
I consider that point blank range.
Hdy 139gr @ 2600mv, Zero at 25 yards yields ~2.5" high @ 100, ~3" low at 250
I consider that point blank range.
clark33
Well-Known Member
what I am trying to say is atmospheric conditions will cause a 200 yard zero to shift, unless he wants to rezero every time he goes out. I'd suggest OP talk to any reputable long range shooting instructor and ask them what his zero range will be.
Dialing off of a 200 yard zero in a new hunting location is not generally advised, hence PRS guys and even long range hunters and form USMC scout snipers (Modern Day Sniper) zero at 100
clark33
Well-Known Member
Run these numbers, altitude at 0 asl, 100 yard zero.
Then altitude at 5,000 asl, 100 yard zero. You'll notice the drop at 200 is slightly different, maybe a tenth of an inch. If he zeros at 0 asl and goes up to 5k, his zero is already off, now dial to 1,000, it's gonna be off.
100 yards is the standard for a reason when dialing.
Then altitude at 5,000 asl, 100 yard zero. You'll notice the drop at 200 is slightly different, maybe a tenth of an inch. If he zeros at 0 asl and goes up to 5k, his zero is already off, now dial to 1,000, it's gonna be off.
100 yards is the standard for a reason when dialing.
clark33
Well-Known Member
I'd say ask a professional, they'll be able to explain it better
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
I zero at 300 yards for big game rifles. Then again, I live, hunt, and shoot out in the west open desert. 100 yards leave to much of a variable to begin with. I cant count how many times I've had a 100 yard zero be off 2,3,4 inches at just 300 yards. I'd rather have it be dead set at 300, and be maybe an 1" off at 100, then vice versa, especially as the range increases. It will only continue to be further off.
I did, run my 30-28 at 3100 with a 215 on Bergers calculator,
So your telling me a bullet is gonna drop different from muzzle to 1,000 yards depending on were its zeroed, if it does its a scope problem.
And by who's standards.
