An adjustment of 16 clicks right resulted in a 5-inch move. Here the first group (at 100 yards) indicated shifting the reticle 4 inches right and 1-inch up. Rise of the Bulletįor best results, shoot three before adjusting from the center of the group. Since your first shot at game is usually your best shot, zero for cold barrel consistency and impact point. It could still shoot consist and tight groups from a cold barrel. Barrel heating changes stress tensions, causing the barrel to “wander” and scatter shots. High-volume cartridges combined with fairly light, thin barrels can lead to significant point-of-impact shift after just a couple of shots. The exact trajectory curve depends on your bullet mass, shape (B.C.) and muzzle velocity. It crosses the line-of-sight at about 30 yards, strikes high at 100 yards, even higher at 150 to 180 yards, and then begins to drop closer to the line-of-sight until crossing it at about 250 to 300 yards. Why high? Because your barrel is angled upward slightly in relation to the scope. You’re zeroed for 30 yards but also for about 200 to 250 yards. The reticle is now pointed exactly where the barrel is throwing its shots. After the first hole appears on the target, realign your rifle with the crosshair exactly where it was for your first shot (over the bull.) Again watch the reticle while turning the windage and elevation dials to move the crosshair over bullet hole. Do you risk a shot or start closer? I find it generally pays to take that first poke from about 30 yards where you’re sure to hit paper. Sometimes bore-sighting is good enough to put you on paper at 100 yards, sometimes it’s not. But don’t assume every scope’s click adjustment movement will be dead on. Understand what each turret click means when adjusting scope reticle for shifting point-of-impact at your sight-in distance. (A cardboard box with notches on two top edges to hold the rifle works well in a pinch. The trick is to mount the rifle in a vice or cradle so that it doesn’t move easily. Eyeballing might sound rather coarse, but it’s cheap and it works. Use a mechanical or laser bore-sighter or just eyeball it. Bore Sighting Isn’t Boringīefore you fire that first shot, bore-sight the gun. That’s a pity, especially when you can sight-in a scoped rifle with as few as two shots. I’ve seen people burn through 20 rounds, throw up their hands in frustration and go home, no closer to dropping bullets where aimed than when they started. Some poor guy bangs round after round downrange, cussing and twirling his adjustment dials in confusion as shots scatter over a sheet of paper the size of a barn. If your rifle puts subsequent shots an inch or two higher or lower, you’ll probably still be on target with quarry as large as deer inside of 250 yards. Learn More › Your best shot is most often your first shot, so zero for a cold barrel. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
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