Sight in range

[Five Seasons]

What about it?

 

if my rifle is sited in at 100 yards, it will adjust my scope based on my rifle and load to shoot out to 300+. should I not take that 300 yard shot knowing I can easily hit that pie plate, because i've never actually taken it?

[Buckmaster7600]

if my rifle is sited in at 100 yards, it will adjust my scope based on my rifle and load to shoot out to 300+. should I not take that 300 yard shot knowing I can easily hit that pie plate, because i've never actually taken it?

That's up to you, I wouldn't but as I said earlier that's just me. I like taking all doubts out way before i'm in the woods with a deer I want to kill in my scope. If you can "know" you can hit a pie plate at a distance you have never shot than have at it.

[cdmckane]

The OP sighted in at 47 and is thinking his max shot is 75. He'll be just fine

 

Unless he has shot at 75 yds, he has no idea what his round is going to do at that range.  I know where I hunt is a max shot of 228 yds, and yes I've set up targets at that very spot so that I know exactly how my round will impact at that range, so I know how much to hold over the vitals to get a clean kill.  I do this with both of my MLs, my 220F, my .30-06, and my .308.  Preparation is part of hunting.  If you're not gong to be prepared, don't hunt.

[Jaeger]

Comparing a sight in of 47 yards and a possible long shot of 75 yards with a modern muzzleloader to a 228 yard shot with a centerfire is foolish.  Yes, shooting at long ranges requires more preparation with the firearm and load combination.

 

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS POST WAS ABOUT.  75 yards max, not 200+ were every 10 yards makes a big difference in drop.

 

At 75 yards the bullet will be only  a few inches, 3 or less, drop from the 47 yd sight in range.  Well within a 9-12 inch kill zone of an average whitetail.

 

Maybe some of you have, but I've never experiance any short range shooting where a bullet suddenly goes a foot off target when sighted in  slightly closer.  With arrows maybe, but bullets, haven't had that happen.

 

If you want to post about 228 yard muzzleloader shots, multi-drop range estimations, etc. fine, but start your own thread.

 

This one was about short range muzzleloader shots, not long hail marys you all seem so fond of.

[chas0218]

Comparing a sight in of 47 yards and a possible long shot of 75 yards with a modern muzzleloader to a 228 yard shot with a centerfire is foolish.  Yes, shooting at long ranges requires more preparation with the firearm and load combination.

 

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS POST WAS ABOUT.  75 yards max, not 200+ were every 10 yards makes a big difference in drop.

 

At 75 yards the bullet will be only  a few inches, 3 or less, drop from the 47 yd sight in range.  Well within a 9-12 inch kill zone of an average whitetail.

 

Maybe some of you have, but I've never experiance any short range shooting where a bullet suddenly goes a foot off target when sighted in  slightly closer.  With arrows maybe, but bullets, haven't had that happen.

 

If you want to post about 228 yard muzzleloader shots, multi-drop range estimations, etc. fine, but start your own thread.

 

This one was about short range muzzleloader shots, not long hail marys you all seem so fond of.

I have seen a muzzleloader hit 6" low from 35 yard sight in and a 100 yard shot. It was a 348gr. powerbelt with 100 grs of 777. so with that being said holding on dead kill (lungs) would allow that particular hunter and muzzleloader to completely miss the deer. 

 

I do have to ask why did you ask the question if you aren't concerned about it?

Edited December 17, 2015 by chas0218

[Buckmaster7600]

What I want to know is how since last season you only had time to take a couple 47yd shots? and Chas has a great ? Also?

[phade]

I have seen a muzzleloader hit 6" low from 35 yard sight in and a 100 yard shot. It was a 348gr. powerbelt with 100 grs of 777. so with that being said holding on dead kill (lungs) would allow that particular hunter and muzzleloader to completely miss the deer. 

 

I do have to ask why did you ask the question if you aren't concerned about it?

 

 

Big difference between 35 and 100, and 47 and 75. The former being nearly 3x the sight in distance.

 

With a basic load of a 250 gr selection and two 50 gr pellets or similar loose ragging holes at 47 yds an inch high isn't going to result in an unethical shot at 75 yds according to my convictions. Others here seem to believe that this guy needs to be drawn and quartered.

 

Everyone wants to be ethical (most normal people), but sometimes you just need to play within the rules/situational context. Everyone can say they should have done this or that before hand. I haven't yet met a hunter who can't come up with something he or she wished she would have done better or different before/during the season to get better results. It's really easy to Monday morning quarterback other people, but the guy has a 47 yd target to hit. Let's get him the best possible answer - other than you shouldn't hunt you unethical bastard (so to speak).

[phade]

What I want to know is how since last season you only had time to take a couple 47yd shots? and Chas has a great ? Also?

 

This is not productive. I am sure he is well aware of the benefits of shooting earlier in the calendar year and will do so next season.

 

You obviously are an expert in ballistics and shooting given your past. Can you provide him with some guidance if he supplies the data inputs needed?

[Buckmaster7600]

This is not productive. I am sure he is well aware of the benefits of shooting earlier in the calendar year and will do so next season.

You obviously are an expert in ballistics and shooting given your past. Can you provide him with some guidance if he supplies the data inputs needed?

I already did. But with what's available it's very difficult, 1 poi is far from ideal.

[moog5050]

His max range is 28yds beyond his sight in range (all under 75yds).  I guarantee (money back) that he will be just fine if zeros at 47 or 1" high there for a 75yd shot.  We all know it would be better to sight in farther, but lets be serious here.

[Buckmaster7600]

His max range is 28yds beyond his sight in range (all under 75yds). I guarantee (money back) that he will be just fine if zeros at 47 or 1" high there for a 75yd shot. We all know it would be better to sight in farther, but lets be serious here.

I as others have said this already. My thing is why risk it? Is it worth it? If he isn't actually perfectly zeroed and say his zero is 2" off at 47 that's nearly 3.5" off at 75 and let's say that there is 1.5" +or- between 47 and 75 we are up to 5" now getting close to a wounded deer as that leaves veryittle room for human error. As I said the other day most likely fine, would I do it no not a chance.

Edited December 17, 2015 by Buckmaster7600

[dbHunterNY]

if my rifle is sited in at 100 yards, it will adjust my scope based on my rifle and load to shoot out to 300+. should I not take that 300 yard shot knowing I can easily hit that pie plate, because i've never actually taken it?

 

I've used that type of stuff.  problem is some just base it off caliber and load with some velocity printed on a box.  it gets you close probably enough to shoot out to 300 yards with anything close to 30-06 trajectory but not close enough in my opinion.  I've done this both ways with success.  first being to use a chrono'd velocity for them to make the CDS, reticle, or for you to put into software.  the other is not having access to a chrono and using at least 2 points of impact.  further the better for at least one of them.  if you did either of these you're good in my book... on a calm day.

[moog5050]

I as others have said this already. My thing is why risk it? Is it worth it? If he isn't actually perfectly zeroed and say his zero is 2" off at 47 that's nearly 3.5" off at 75 and let's say that there is 1.5" +or- between 47 and 75 we are up to 5" now getting close to a wounded deer as that leaves veryittle room for human error. As I said the other day most likely fine, would I do it no not a chance.

 

I understand, but even stretching it like you have (who is going to be off 2" on a 47yd zero?), he could kill a deer at 75yds.  I see little risk in zeroing at 47yds and taking a shot at 75yds.  The first year I bought my encore, I zeroed 1" high at 50 and killed a doe around 90yds with a heart shot.  I really don't think it was unethical at all to take that shot.  Before the next season I sighted it again at 100yd and didn't have to move it.  Would it have been better if I had the time to zero at 100 before season 1 - YES.  Was it critical knowing that my shots would be inside of 100yds.  Nope.  To each his own, but you would really have to stretch the limits of error to demonstrate how a 47yd zero with any gun is going to be more than 4-5" off at 75yds.  Your scenario suggest he can't properly sight the gun at zero.  That's a big assumption.

[Buckmaster7600]

I understand, but even stretching it like you have (who is going to be off 2" on a 47yd zero?), he could kill a deer at 75yds. I see little risk in zeroing at 47yds and taking a shot at 75yds. The first year I bought my encore, I zeroed 1" high at 50 and killed a doe around 90yds with a heart shot. I really don't think it was unethical at all to take that shot. Before the next season I sighted it again at 100yd and didn't have to move it. Would it have been better if I had the time to zero at 100 before season 1 - YES. Was it critical knowing that my shots would be inside of 100yds. Nope. To each his own, but you would really have to stretch the limits of error to demonstrate how a 47yd zero with any gun is going to be more than 4-5" off at 75yds. Your scenario suggest he can't properly sight the gun at zero. That's a big assumption.

Not at all trying to argue I'm just speaking on the facts at hand. The op stated he shot "3 times and was satisfied." I don't get dead on by that statement so if in the event that the op shot 3 shots triangulated the center of the group and made the proper adjustments and shot another 3 shot group to confirm then I would agree with you but once again the op stated that he didn't "want to take more shots or make more adjustments" so I get the idea that the op went with good enough is good enough for the op within 2 inches, Maybe. I may be wrong that is just my assessment of the ops post.

[moog5050]

Not arguing either.  You could be right.  I can't speak to how well the gun was sighted in.  My only point was that any gun sighted in properly at 47 will kill a deer at 75yds - all assuming good shots. 

[Buckmaster7600]

Not arguing either. You could be right. I can't speak to how well the gun was sighted in. My only point was that any gun sighted in properly at 47 will kill a deer at 75yds - all assuming good shots.

.

I agree and I would put money on it but as I have said it is FAR from ideal and nothing I would ever do.

[Buckmaster7600]

Hey moog would you take a rifle that was bore sighted only and hunt with it if your max range was 75 yds? I will say that I have laser bore sighted a lot of rifles and I would put a lot of money on the fact that a rifle that was properly bore sighted with a quality laser bore sight will kill a deer at 75 yds but I would never try it. To me there is no difference in bore sighting to what the op did.

Edited December 17, 2015 by Buckmaster7600

[moog5050]

My bore sighting consists of removing the bolt and lining up the barrel with a target at 25 yds and then putting the crosshairs in the middle.  I then head to the range to get sighted in at 50 and then usually 100.  Trust me, I would not want to hunt with any gun I just bore sighted and I do not agree at all that it is similar to actually sighting in a gun at 50yds.  Of course, I don't have a special tool for bore sighting. My bore sighting never yields great accuracy at 50 but it is usually on paper.  Maybe if you bore sighted it would be fine.

 

I am not claiming to be the world's greatest rifleman (and that's not a shot at you as I am sure you are very good at it and appreciate your service), but I know enough to know that any gun properly sighted in at 47 yds will kill a deer at 75.  Heck, the farthest shot I have ever taken to kill a deer was around 240 and that seemed like a long shot for me, especially with a fixed 4x scope.  I am no sniper, that's for sure.

Edited December 17, 2015 by moog5050

[Buckmaster7600]

My bore sighting consists of removing the bolt and lining up the barrel with a target at 25 yds and then putting the crosshairs in the middle. I then head to the range to get sighted in at 50 and then usually 100. Trust me, I would not want to hunt with any gun I just bore sighted and I do not agree at all that it is similar to actually sighting in a gun at 50yds. Of course, I don't have a special tool for bore sighting. My bore sighting never yields great accuracy at 50 but it is usually on paper. Maybe if you bore sighted it would be fine.

I am not claiming to be the world's greatest rifleman (and that's not a shot at you as I am sure you are very good at it and appreciate your service), but I know enough to know that any gun properly sighted in at 47 yds will kill a deer at 75. Heck, the farthest shot I have ever taken to kill a deer was around 240 and that seemed like a long shot for me, especially with a fixed 4x scope. I am no sniper, that's for sure.

The technique you mentioned is great for what you are talking about but I was referring to laser bore sighting.