Author Topic: Sighting in yardages (Read 845 times)

Spencer · « **on:** July 12, 2004, 04:06:43 AM »

I use red dot and scoped handguns for specific quarry while hunting. I sight them in for a certain range and practice at that and other distances for practice at all distances. I also have a revolver without a scope, just iron sights. I take it with as a closer shot when rifle hunting for coyotes or more power when hunting bunnies with a shotgun if I come across a fox or coyote. Same reason when running my trap line. The question I have is what range do most of you sight your iron sighted handguns for. I know it would be kind of senseless to have it sighted for 100 yards. Difficult as well, but do you go for 25-50 feet? 25, 35, 50 yards? It is not a primary hunting handgun, more like a take advantage of an opportunity type firearm. Also what kind of groups do you look for as acceptable at this range. remember, I am not benching this for the tightest groups. I am practicing at field positions, standing, resting on a tree, sitting on the ground.

Your thoughts on the subject are appreciated

Thanks
Spencer

CASE · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2004, 05:37:03 AM »

I ALWAYS S IGHT IN MY 5.5 INCH REDHAWK , IRON SIGHTS AT . 2 INCHES HIG AT 25 YARDS... THIS WILL GIVE YOU A 75 YD ZERO . AN AND AT 100 YARDS ,, WILL BE ABOUT 4 TO 6 INCHES LOW ,,,,, IVE USED THIS FOR 2O YEARS NOW AND BELEAVE ME IT WORKS CAUSE THATS AKK I CARRY FOR DEER HUNTING ..THE FIGURES ARE DROM LYMANS Handgun reloading manual .... they give ballistic charts for iron sighted hand guns (case)

44 Man · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2004, 07:08:45 AM »

Most of my open sight pistols are about an inch high at 40 yards (distance to my backstop). That seems to put them on at 75 yards and I'm happy with that. The scoped revolvers are set at 100 yds and that works very well. The TCs with scopes are set at varing distances depending on caliber. 375 is 100 yds. 7x30 waters 125 yds. 223 at 150 yds. 44 Man

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2004, 11:39:05 AM »

For revolvers I prefer a 50 yard zero. That's going to give me a good point of impact for most reasonable shots, and will be about three inches low at 100 yards-- still good. Beyond that I don't shoot.

It's worth spending some time practicing very close shots because some tree stand shots can be right under the tree and you want to know where your gun hits at this range.

After your gun is sighted in for 50 yards, concentrate on practicing from field positions. That's more important that where the bullet hits when fired from a bench.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2004, 12:13:01 PM »

50 yard zero for a close shot with open sights.

140orbetter · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2004, 01:55:37 PM »

I shoot a 5.5" 45 LC Black Hawk with a 2X scope on it for all my hunting, whether a groundhog or a black bear. Both of which I have killed with it more than once, I sight in for 2" high @ 25 yds. On a whitetail deer that keeps me in the boiler room out to 100yds with a dead on hold.

TScottO · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2004, 02:17:30 PM »

I sight in my iron sighted revolvers in for 25 yards. When shooting offhand I think you should be able to put a cylinder full into 4-5 inches at 25 yards consistently. In my opinion, keeping it in a pie plate is not an acceptable rule of thumb for a handgun.

Be Safe,
Scott

WD45 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2004, 01:39:33 AM »

Well,
I like dead on at 70 and then shoot the tar out of it until I know where it hits from 10 to 100 yards. I havent seen any critters with a pie plate pinned on them lately so I started using plain brown boxes about the size of the critters I may run across. Most shoe boxes are about the size of a bunny or ground hog. Take one and pitch it out in the field and see how many times at different angles and distances that you can kill it. ( just make sure they are in season

) Most grocerey stores have boxes that are about the size of a deer body and with a couple of sticks for legs you can get them up off the ground a little and they are 3D. It is good cheap practice on something about the same size and color of what you are after . :grin:

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2004, 03:53:35 AM »

I still like to think of midrange trajectory when doing this. My Worst Case example would be my .45 blk-powder T\C Patriot.
Although it is very accurate when sighted at 100yds, the ball will strike a whopping eleven inches high back at the 50yd mark. This pretty much guarantee's a (kill-zone) miss on a 40 to 60yd shot.

Is far better to sight this piece in a couple inches high @ 50yd's with the zero being around 80yds.
Keeping the limitations in mind, we can now shoot (kill-zone) shots anywhere from 10 to 80yds.

What Is An Acceptable Midrange Trajectory For Deer?
I would say no more than 4" above line of sight. Your own caliber & loadings will determine the max range.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2004, 08:14:09 AM »

Fellow Pistoleros
I find that it is easyer to hold up on a game shot, There fore I sight in at around 25 to 30 yds. with most of my hand guns, If the game is out to 75yds
or so, I just hold up to where i think the point of impact is at the right spot.
Its obvious that what works for one will not work for all, So you do what works for you as an indvidual. Have a good and safe day........Joe........

TScottO · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2004, 06:11:07 PM »

I practice shooting 100 yards off hand with my revolvers but if I were setting up a deer stand for handgun hunting I would set up to have shots 50 yards or less. For me one of the biggest parts of handgun hunting is to get close to the animal. If I were planning on 75-100 yard shots I would carry a rifle. With some regularity I can place a cylinder full in a 10 inch target at 100 yards offhanded but I dont feel that 10 inches is good enough. You dont have to be off by much to really botch up a kill with a handgun. Much like oso45-70 I do find it easier to sight in at closer range and use a high hold for shooting longer distances.

Be Safe and good luck in the woods this coming season.
Scott