Thread: Sighting in your hunting rifle

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

they say a picture is worth a thousand words..... that .270 load is slow and blunt projectile.... but as shown, it does not drop below 4" off point Xhairs are looking at (black line) till 250 yards its zeroed dead on at 200 yards and also as aluded to earlier...pretty darn close to half way between 0 and 50 yards..... so,if you are sighted in for 100 yards on the button...at 30 yards you will still be low/lower as bullet is still rising...not by much but it will be rising.


thats a really old chart...from really old book,way before slippery ELDX type projectiles were around...and rangefinders were no more than a wet dream...... dialing up...yeah right....sight in at range and fire to confirm it....
things have come a LONG WAY since then..but if you were to use this as a basis for sighting in and easy no fluffing around HUNTING rifle ,life just is more simple.....

Bullets don't 'rise', it's the peddling of such mumbo-jumbo that makes new shooters confused due to all the poor info out there. And proves that many 'experts' who write in hunting mags don't have a clue and prepetuate bad info because it is generally accepted.

Your methods involve a guesstimate of where the bullet will impact. I've seen front legs blown off due to such 'guesstimates', as if the deer is significantly smaller, the whole 'maximum point blank range' method is in the bin.

Personally range most clearings so I have a good idea already of the general range for when deer appear there. The quality of rangefinders has increased exponentially as price and size has decreased.

People should be encouraged to improve and try new methods, as you can revert back if things don't work.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Bullets don't 'rise', it's the peddling of such mumbo-jumbo that makes new shooters confused due to all the poor info out there. And proves that many 'experts' who write in hunting mags don't have a clue and prepetuate bad info because it is generally accepted.

Your methods involve a guesstimate of where the bullet will impact. I've seen front legs blown off due to such 'guesstimates', as if the deer is significantly smaller, the whole 'maximum point blank range' method is in the bin.

Personally range most clearings so I have a good idea already of the general range for when deer appear there. The quality of rangefinders has increased exponentially as price and size has decreased.

People should be encouraged to improve and try new methods, as you can revert back if things don't work.

I reckon what you are describing here is lack of shooting skills.

If one doesn't understand what "rising" means in this context it indicates further lack of important basics.

Many new "hunters" have not grown up on a paddock shooting rabbits with a 22 from the age of "just barely able to walk"

And sadly the availability of institutions that help beginners to learn to properly shoot so they can hunt in a safe manner is very limited. Although that would be the only way forward to ensure hunting and shooting does not get banned eventually.

Originally Posted by STC

I reckon what you are describing here is lack of shooting skills.

If one doesn't understand what "rising" means in this context it indicates further lack of important basics.

Many new "hunters" have not grown up on a paddock shooting rabbits with a 22 from the age of "just barely able to walk"

And sadly the availability of institutions that help beginners to learn to properly shoot so they can hunt in a safe manner is very limited. Although that would be the only way forward to ensure hunting and shooting does not get banned eventually.

The NZDA HUNTS course cover all this stuff for beginners.

Originally Posted by Tahr

The NZDA HUNTS course cover all this stuff for beginners.

One range day, mostly used for sighting in rifles, does not make a proficient shooter out of a beginner.

The HUNTS course is great, but it can only do so much.

Originally Posted by STC

One range day, mostly used for sighting in rifles, does not make a proficient shooter out of a beginner.

The HUNTS course is great, but it can only do so much.

And this is why all new firearms users should be encouraged to join a relevant club and get first hand knowledge rather than some of the BS from the internet. There is a lot of good stuff on the internet but also a lot of dangerous tripe. The novice will not know the difference.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

And this is why all new firearms users should be encouraged to join a relevant club and get first hand knowledge rather than some of the BS from the internet. There is a lot of good stuff on the internet but also a lot of dangerous tripe. The novice will not know the difference.
GPM.

100% agreed!

Joining clubs and organizations also helps to strengthen these institutions and push back against nonsensical legislation. so its a win-win.

I don't own a rangefinder but are proficient in using a topo map or topo app to best guess range.and because I simply do not shoot deer at ranges I judge are more than 350 yards and will only shoot past 250 yards if conditions are great and using the .270.... It's irrelevant.i point n shoot and stuff dies,I clean miss at close range more often than out past 150....

Originally Posted by STC

One range day, mostly used for sighting in rifles, does not make a proficient shooter out of a beginner.

The HUNTS course is great, but it can only do so much.

The HUNTS instructors can't hold the student's hand forever so it is up to them to make an effort to practice, join in club range shoots & hunts to become more familiar with their rifle. I believe most NZDA clubs require the student to be a member to do the course.

Originally Posted by STC

One range day, mostly used for sighting in rifles, does not make a proficient shooter out of a beginner.

The HUNTS course is great, but it can only do so much.

Here, I ran an evening on ballistics and caliber choices and there was a range day too.

From then on its up to the participants to help them selves and for the club members to mentor and support them as they can.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Bullets don't 'rise', it's the peddling of such mumbo-jumbo that makes new shooters confused due to all the poor info out there. And proves that many 'experts' who write in hunting mags don't have a clue and prepetuate bad info because it is generally accepted.

Your methods involve a guesstimate of where the bullet will impact. I've seen front legs blown off due to such 'guesstimates', as if the deer is significantly smaller, the whole 'maximum point blank range' method is in the bin.

Personally range most clearings so I have a good idea already of the general range for when deer appear there. The quality of rangefinders has increased exponentially as price and size has decreased.

People should be encouraged to improve and try new methods, as you can revert back if things don't work.

If your line of sight IS perfectly horizontal your bullet gains altitude by 2-4" on way to its trajectory peak.....is that better???ffs

Originally Posted by caberslash

Bullets don't 'rise', it's the peddling of such mumbo-jumbo that makes new shooters confused due to all the poor info out there. And proves that many 'experts' who write in hunting mags don't have a clue and prepetuate bad info because it is generally accepted.

Your methods involve a guesstimate of where the bullet will impact. I've seen front legs blown off due to such 'guesstimates', as if the deer is significantly smaller, the whole 'maximum point blank range' method is in the bin.

Personally range most clearings so I have a good idea already of the general range for when deer appear there. The quality of rangefinders has increased exponentially as price and size has decreased.

People should be encouraged to improve and try new methods, as you can revert back if things don't work.

True, projectiles are falling from the moment they leave the muzzle, but they do rise in relation to line of sight. I think anyone with a passing relationship with ballistics understands this. There’s plenty of info out there such as in reloading manuals and from ammo manufacturers. As to using ‘point blank range’ method of sighting in, it’s worked well for many years ffs. If you’re not sure about range estimation either don’t take the shot or fecking get closer. It’s not as if hunting isn’t the easiest it’s been for years now due to animal numbers.

Originally Posted by woods223

True, projectiles are falling from the moment they leave the muzzle, but they do rise in relation to line of sight. I think anyone with a passing relationship with ballistics understands this. There’s plenty of info out there such as in reloading manuals and from ammo manufacturers. As to using ‘point blank range’ method of sighting in, it’s worked well for many years ffs. If you’re not sure about range estimation either don’t take the shot or fecking get closer. It’s not as if hunting isn’t the easiest it’s been for years now due to animal numbers.

Ha ha I always laugh when journalists refer to someone shot at "point blank range" with the journo having absolutely no idea what point blank range actually is. Sounds good to the readers/viewers though so that's all that matters I guess.

Originally Posted by zimmer

Ha ha I always laugh when journalists refer to someone shot at "point blank range" with the journo having absolutely no idea what point blank range actually is. Sounds good to the readers/viewers though so that's all that matters I guess.

PBR, MRD as in StrelokPro, maximum rise or fall from line of sight. All the same thing, system has been used successfully for years. Other people use drop charts/rangefinders for ranges past 300 yds/m these days. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by woods223

PBR, MRD as in StrelokPro, maximum rise or fall from line of sight. All the same thing, system has been used successfully for years. Other people use drop charts/rangefinders for ranges past 300 yds/m these days. Different strokes for different folks.

Yeh, I know all that but I don't think journos are familiar with Strelok of ballistic tables. When they use the expression "point plank range" on TV or whatever, their interpretation is someone/something was shot at zero range ie very close or face to face. It has a dramatic sound to it. Yet again not bothering to use correct terminology or understand the terminology. Same as their ridiculous "high calibre assault rifle" statement.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Your methods involve a guesstimate of where the bullet will impact. I've seen front legs blown off due to such 'guesstimates', as if the deer is significantly smaller, the whole 'maximum point blank range' method is in the bin.

.

now lets stop for a minute....have a cup of chamomille tea and rethink this statement with less emotion and a bit of logical thinking...
IF we ASSUME the deer is say a mature red hind and it is infact a yearling.... we will UNDERESTIMATE range so would at worst shoot over top..if we broke golden rule of never aim off the meat....
if we were other way around...yes possibility of under estimating range BUT ONLY if we were relying on size of animal in say crosshairs (the tasco 30-30 reticle method) on its own to guage range...and ONLY if we were still pushing out past the 250 yard range bit...because we dont rely on only one thing...its not a happening thing

and that is the beauty of being able to aim for middle of shoulder and know you have wiggle room of at least 4" in all directions and still have a good quick clean kill...ideally you wil lhave broadside on deer and can break both shoulders,but if you can take out boiler room and at least one of them,the animal wont be going far at all.

as for the last bit you wrote.....try new methods..... if its not broken dont fuck around with it...has been used for many things for many years.its still good advice.

having to stop and dial scope to shoot an animal at 200 yards-250 yards is plain old bonkers .