Author Topic: Rifle sighting (Read 642 times)

cbourbeau32 · « **on:** April 11, 2008, 12:18:22 AM »

I am going to take my Handi rifle(s) out and sight in using some hand loads I have loaded up. I have a question. When you sight in your rifles if you are using a variable power scope do you choose a mid range power or use the highest power? I had thought about sighting in with about 6x then after I get a good group go up to 12x and see if the POI is the same. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Charlie

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2008, 01:02:30 AM »

If I have a variable. I develop my load with the highest power because I have a steady rest to use. Once I get the load developed, I then turn the power down to where I am going to use it in the field and re-sight it in, then leave it. I have found that I get slight variances in impact when I change the power ring. I do not use high priced scopes and they do change some. I do not like to use a high powered scope in the field. I find that 10X or 12X is all I need. Here is a picture of a target where I turned the power from 6.5X to 20X with a Simmons White Tail Classic.

You can see the impact changed just a little. These were shot at 100 yards and I was checking zero because my Bother-In-Law said he could not hit any thing with it. Good Luck and good shooting.

petemi · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2008, 02:15:38 AM »

Your brother has got to be suffering from pilot error. Take him out shooting and slip him an empty rifle. I'll wager he's flinching. That's a beautiful target. Great shooting.

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2008, 02:21:16 AM »

I sight in on the highest power, mainly because I can where the bullet struck without having to use the spotting scope. Then, I dial down and check it on 3 or 4X

LONGTOM · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2008, 02:37:38 AM »

I have long been a fan of SIMMONS scopes of which I have more that a dozen mounted on various guns. One of my best is a 6.5 x 20 WHITETAIL CLASSIC. Mine doesn't seem to share the same problem as yours. I agree that some scopes will change POI somewhat at different settings including some of the higher end brands, but not that much. Your target shows a shift of as much as 3"x 2"x almost 4". This is well beyond the norm of most scope variations. If this was my scope I would first remove it and then reinstall it and see if the problem still was there. If so then I would send it back for repair or replacement. The gun shows that it will shoot. Those are fine groups, just not near each other as the power increases. At a hundred yards this may or may not cause a miss. Depends on what you are shooting at. But at longer ranges, say 250 -300 this much POI shift could and probably would cause a complete miss at best and a possible wounded animal at worst. As to the original question of what power to use I always use the highest setting to minimize any errors on my part.
Hope this helps.

LONGTOM

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2008, 02:50:24 AM »

LONGTOM - Thanks, that rifle shoots pretty well. The impact shift was not inches, it was fraction of inches. about 1/2" to 3/4". Each time I moved the power ring, I switched diamonds. There was a shift of about 1/2" to the left when going from 6.5X to 12X and about another 1/2" when going from 12X to 20X. From 6.5X to the 20X jump there is around 3/4" maybe a little more. It holds zero very well, so once I get it where I want it, I just leave it.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2008, 04:22:06 AM »

I agree anytime you can cover three shots with a penny I think your good to go. Kurt

PartsMan · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2008, 04:29:05 AM »

Get a fixed power and worry about something else.

No really though some days I can shoot a better group with my 4-12x40 if I turn it down a little (8 or 10).
Even with bags.
You may just have to spend some time and bullets figuring out for yourself.

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:05:47 AM »

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

jpshaw · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2008, 12:59:54 PM »

I will ditto for the highest power also for the above reasons.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2008, 02:44:41 PM »

Hey:
My mistake. I thought you were useing the same aiming spot for all shots. I thought man this scope is really bad. I should have known better, DA! The shift you are getting is more in line with what mine does. Not really that bad.
Sorry my mistake.

My GRAND DAD always used to say (THE MAN WHO NEVER MAKES MISTAKES NEVER DONE MUCH) If that is the case than I must work my butt off!

LONGTOM

backstrap · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2008, 03:53:04 PM »

i run 3x9s on all my rifles, and sight them in on six power thats what i use in the feild set on 6, so i am good to go when i am sigted in,if a deer comes in real close i lower the power but every 1 has there own way i dont see y u would want to sight in on 9 power and then move it to 5,6,7 power and have to sight in again,sight it in on the power u think u will be useing in the feild thats just my thought ,but like i said before every 1 does things diffrant