Shooting way high need help hunting trip this weekend

[Pitfowl1983]

Ok my rem700 30-06 has just received a choate ultimate sniper stock a tti straight jacket and Harris bipod so I went to sight it in with a nikon prostaff 3-9-40.. And at 25 dead on then 50 2 inches high so I figured dead on at 100 and stopped for about 30 mins and then the wind picked up to about 25mph and I thought I would show off a little and shoot a target at 196 yards (55) gallon drum in a field with a bullseye target taped to it. Well ballistics paper says the rem core lok180gr I was using was gonna be 4 low and I figured a little to the left cause of wind so I aimed at dead center and was gonna adjust from there well first shot 1 inch left which I knew was wind and 8 inches high which seemed weird so I shot 3 more all grouped under 1/2 inch but still 8 high so then my uncle tried and he did the exact same but 5 rounds all 8 high does this make sense anyone my uncle blamed wind but 8 high that seems not right for that distance plus the wind was blowing to the left and in gust not constant..could it be optics, barrel, stock please help me get it straight I got some hogs to kill this weekend..

 

[gathert]

Start with the scope. Boresight at 100 yards. Check for parallax?

 

[hogshead]

Not scientific, But almost all of my 308's will be at least an 1.5 low at 25 yards if 2 inches high at 100 yards. Which should be back on zero at around 235 yards .

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I'm not an expert at this....have my own troubles, but 25 yards or even 50 yards with that rifle / caliber is way to short IMO. Depends what your setting it up for, I suppose. If its 100 yds or more, I would sight it in at 100. Get it on the paper at 25 or 50, but then continue out to 100.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you have 196 yards available, shoot at 196 yards, adjust to zero and go hunting.
Ballistics charts and short range settings are very approximate and only good enough to get you on paper so you can reach a true zero.

 

[GooseGestapo]

2" high at 50yds? Sounds about right to me.

I usually sight a 180gr .30/06 load at zero at 50yds and about 3.0" high at 100yds. With the 180gr Corlokt (one of my favorite bullets) it's dead on at about 250yds.

Your sight in is about right for ~350yds.

 

[bhk]

Close range sight-ins are just a beginning to a complete sight-in and rarely equate to long-range zeros. They are nothing but a good starting point. You can begin at 25 yards, but then need to confirm at 100, and then maybe 200. At each change in range, you will probably have to make some minor scope adjustments. If your want you final zero to be 200, then that is the range you must shoot and it is the range you need to make your final scope adjustments. After that is done, you can go back to 25, 50, and 100 yards and see exactly where your points of impact are.

I like to have my hunting rifles sighted in at 200 yards. I used to try to get by sighting in 1.5 or 2 inches high at 100 (whatever the 'ballistics' charts indicated) counting on those charts to accurately give me my 200 yard zero. I have since found that, in real life, that rarely worked. The 200 yard POI would always be an inch or two off in one direction or another, and now I know to SHOOT at 200 to tweak the scope. By trying to use the charts, sighting in at 25, and hoping to hit in exactly the right spot at 200 yards is dreaming. My experience anyway. Exact scope height, stock pressures, actual velocity vs. published velocity, barrel length, and bullet shape are variables that will totally screw up published charts. You must make your own chart (your rifle, your ammo, etc.) by eventually working backyards from a very precise, long-range zero. My experience, anyway.

 

[Pitfowl1983]

Thanks for all the input.. I normally shoot hogs about 50 to 100 yards so I'm gonna try again starting at 100 zero and then 75 and 50 to see where I impact

 

[gamestalker]

I've tried for years to convince people with sight in problems to work with the ballistics of the cartridge. Sighting in a high powered rifle at 25 yds. or 50 yds. is not an effective sight in if you plan on shooting it at extended distances of 200 yds. and out. Even though the 180 gr. isn't producing velocity exceeding 3000 fps., it still should be zeroed to at least 200 yds. if your expecting to accurately utilize a BDC or run the numbers from a program of sort. If you zero it at 200 yds. you'll be in good shape at closer distances, but also capable of making accurate and predictable compensations out past 200 yds.. Once you've done this, you'll be able to use a ballistic chart or BDC and know with certainty how much elevation adjustment is needed at any given distance.
Last weekend a fellow was trying to sight in his .270 win and was struggling with the same problem your experiencing. He was dead on at 50 yds., but almost off the paper at 200 yds.. I convinced him to zero it at 200 yds. which was actually still a little close for what he was shooting. But long story short once he was zeroed at 200 yds. his groups were about 2" high at 100 yds. and an inch or so low at 50 yds. It seems impossible to think zero at 50 yds. will put you so extremely high at 200 yds., until you study a ballistic chart.

 

[Cemetery21]

A difference of 8" at 196 yards relates to about 2" at 50 yards, so good advice is to zero at the longer ranges, then shoot shorter ranges to see where the rifle will hit.

 

[jmr40]

Never trust ballistics charts to predict where your rifle will hit at various distances. Zero your rifle at an appropriate range then check to see where it impacts at both longer and shorter distances and make notes.

If you start chronographing your ammo you will find that the stated ballistics and real balliatics are often very different. You will also find that different rifles will shoot the exact ammo to very different velocities. Often as much as 100fps difference with ammo out of the same box fired from different guns with equal length barrels.

The ballistic charts are really only a rough guide. If you chronograpy your ammo and know the exact speed you are getting there are several online programs that will then give you a much more accurate idea of your trajectory.

 

[unwise11]

Sight in at 200 yards if possible or 2" high at 100 yards.

 

[Pitfowl1983]

Ok guys I resighted last night zeroed at 130 then was top of the bullseye at 180 and bottom of the bullseye at 75 so that's where I think I need to be.. I'm hunting this weekend in east Texas woods so I think 75 to 180 hitting bullseye should be ok for that environment.. Thanks everyone

 

[Motega]

Good for you for putting the time in. Have confidence in your setup, I'm sure you are right on now. Go make some bacon!

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Yeah, I would say you have it bracketed.

Let us know how you do.

 

[txhoghunter]

That zero is perfect, now get some piggy's and post some pics!