Author Topic: Sighting in a 30-06 (Read 1336 times)

goose7856 · « **on:** July 12, 2004, 11:52:53 AM »

Hi,

I have always sighted in my gun at 100 yards, but I am now thinking about having it dead on at 200. I shoot 150 grain, at 2900 fps. If I have it sighted in for 200 yards and shoot at a 100 yard target.....about how high will the shot be on the target. I am thinking about doing this because I will be taking longer shots, probably about 200 yards, but some may be as close as 70 yards. Why I am questioning this is because if I try to shoot a deer at 100 with a gun sighted in at 200, where exactly should I aim. Im guessing that a bullet drops about 5 inch at 200 yards so I would need to aim five inch, low at 100. I guess another option would be to sight it in at 150?? Most hunting will take place on food plots, if I hunt in the woods I will just change guns. Please give me your input. Thanx

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2004, 12:30:51 PM »

There is a software program that can give you an answer to your question.

However, there is one important thing that you have to tell us.....what kind of bullet are you using? The aerodynamics of a bullet play almost as a significant role as muzzle velocity.

Zachary

greenjeans · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2004, 02:05:37 PM »

Go to the Remington website and fish around in the ballistics section. They have a free download program called Rem-shoot that lets you change bullets, distance, etc. It is set up for their bullets, but will get you in the ballpark.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2004, 02:45:57 PM »

No two rifles are the same so I'd sight in for 200 yds ands then check at 100 and 50 yds to see what my zero was at each. Actually I sight in for 100 and if you hold on hair and not air you will still hit the target.

longwinters · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2004, 02:57:27 PM »

Basically you are looking at 1.5" ballpark. Like Dave said, there is no data that is as good as shooting your own rifle with the cartridges you will be using to see for yourself what your rifle does.

Long

rickt300 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2004, 03:43:23 PM »

If you sight in at 300 yards your bullet will be less than 6 inches high at 150 and around 12 inches low at 400. This menas you can use a center chest hold out to 325 yards and a top of the chest hold at 400. I make every effort not to shoot all the way to 400 yards unless conditions are perfect.

litman252 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2004, 04:51:17 PM »

Here is a decent sight, http://www.norma.cc/htm_files/javapagee.htm

Happy hunting, do you want to barrow my 7mmSTW??? :lol:

Tony

flintlock · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2004, 05:40:27 PM »

goose....I sight in 2 1/2 high at 100...now I am assuming you are not using see through mounts (scope is about 1 1/2 inches above the bore of rifle)...
this puts you roughly dead on at 25 yards....about 1 1/2 high at 50...
and actually dead on again about 225...and only 2 1/2 low at 250...in other words....just fine for deer hunting....I use the same rifle for deer, groundhogs, crows, coyotes etc...and also this same rifle for woods hunting and open field hunting....I just hold dead center of the deer...I'd rather hit above dead center than below...don't trust the drop tables...they will put you in the ballpark...but I've seen bullets that were dead on at 200 drop 10 inches at 300...and the tables claimed 7 1/2...for most people 2 1/2 high works in modern rifles...because 225 to 250 is as far as most need to be shooting at game under field conditions...with this sight-in, I've shot deer 3 steps from the stand out to 225 yards...flintlock

Val · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2004, 05:40:46 PM »

Play with this Ballistic Calculator to get your answer:
http://www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx

goose7856 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2004, 05:59:33 PM »

Zachary, right now I am using Federal Premium Vital Shock, 150 grain, btsp. However, if it would help with longer shots I am willing to pay the extra money and buy the 165 grain Federal Premium High Energy that runs around $30. I do not know how this will change the fps......right now I'm shooting 2910 fps, 150 grain, so I don't know how much better I can do??!!

High Brass · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2004, 08:11:48 AM »

Goose,

With any 30-06 load going approximately 2700-2900fps, you should be good to go. If you sight in dead on at 200 yards, you're POI shouldn't be more than about 2 1/2" high at 100. Like mentioned, you might check this on paper for verification. A two inch variation how high or low your bullet impacts on target should not cost you your deer. I doubt that you'd be able to tell much if any difference at all in the field.

goose7856 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2004, 08:55:02 AM »

High Brass, thanx, I have been doing a little research and found out, when compared to Federal Premium High Energy Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, that the FP Vital Shock is a better longer range shooting bullet. The TBBC starts out at 3000 fps, but because of bullet shape, it slows down very quickly, to where past 200 yds the FP Vital Shock is actually traveling faster, thus less drop. I was really surprised at the info. Another factor may have been because the FP VITAL SHOCK is a 150 grain, while the TBBC is a 165 grain. I wish Federal Made a High Energy round in 150 grain??!! That would be perfect, and I know it would definitely, out do my Vital Shock. I dont care what bullet shape. You could probably shoot a 150 grain, and about 3300 fps, which is alot faster than 2910. Thanx and keep coming with the input. ( I think it does end up being 2 1/2 inches high at 100 if sighted in at 200)

High Brass · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2004, 09:01:29 AM »

I think that on paper that you'll find that there is actually little difference in imact between various loads of the same weight between 100 and 200 yards. One of the things that I'd consider is not only which load is the most accurate at 100, but at 200 as well. Some loads actually don't open up too much at 200 and some do as compared to how they shot at 100 yards. If you do really anticipate alot of shots at 200 or so yards, this may be something to keep in mind. Its a trial and error thing for sure. Good luck with your quest and let us know how things turn out.

Chad

goose7856 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2004, 09:58:06 AM »

actually most shoots will be around 100 yards, but there is a possibility of those longer shots. So if the opportunity presents itself, and a big buck is out at 200 yards, I dont want to HOPE I hold on the right area. I want to KNOW that the deer will fall. But I still want to deer at <100 yards to fall also. Which load would you recommend. I really like Federal, and Hornady. Maybe I should just stick with the same load I have right now, but I want to figure this out b/f I sight in my new scope. Thanx and please continue the input.

High Brass · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2004, 12:42:34 AM »

If you like what you're loads are doing now, keep using them. I understand that the Federal Premium 165 gr. Sierra BTSP load is devastating on deer, though I've never used it myself. I don't think that you'd be in a bad way with pretty much any load out there you chose. Good luck.

goose7856 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2004, 06:34:41 AM »

yea your right on the dot with that! I shoot the 150 grain, but still 4 does dropped and one ran off 75 yards and died, so those seem to do the job. I just want a little more felocity so I can make the longer shots with less bullet drop.

RamJohn · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:30:36 AM »

You want to Know the deer will drop, you want more velocity, longer shots and less drop.......

SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A MAGNUM!! (but thats another can of worms..LOL)

goose7856 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2004, 09:04:57 AM »

I am about as close to a magnum as I can get............a 30-06. I will not be making that many long shots but if the oportunity presents itself, I would like to be accurate (higher velocity, less drop)

just my 2 cents

Old Cane · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2004, 09:27:03 AM »

2004 Interactive Ballistic Catalog

http://www.federalpremium.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=1

goose7856 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2004, 04:41:48 PM »

The TROPHY BONDED BEAR CLAW bullet will travel the fastest, but b/c of the type of bullet, it slows down much faster than the SPBT. That's why I am looking at the Hornady Light magnum, in either the Interbond or spire point. Which would hold up better for shorter shots at around 75 yards, but still does not have much drop at 300??