Maximum point blank range

[DieJager]

We are very lucky in US to just be able to set a target in a field and shoot. I don’t think I’d ever feel ready for a hunt with the limited practice you can do in Europe.

Yes, we are very limited although it depends on where you live in Europe. I'm living probably in the worst country regarding this. I can go to neighboring Germany but it has to be planned accordingly and takes time.

I luckily been a member from a shooting club before I hunted so practiced a lot and slowly pulling the trigger, breathing etc. But the average hunter that get his license over here has probably fired less than 20 round out of rifle. It mostly is shotgun training.

I'll hope to practice at least one time before my hunt in the Caucasus at a 300 meter range. In my own country or either in Germany to get some confidence at those distances.Otherwise the tasks is clear, stalk closer.

Until 300 meters it is mostly shot placement and bullet drop I think. After that I think more factors are becoming crucial and I'm utterly clueless on those and have no training whatsoever.

 

[coreydb]

Once I get the load I want, I zero for 200 yds at the range. When I don't have the range, I go to a 100 yd range and zero 2" above the center dot. Just as important though, (for me), is to know the ballistics of my load/ammo, so I know how to scope appropriately out to the max distance that my bullet can still dispatch the animal.

 

[NDWoods]

I have a hybrid approach in that my medium game rifles have turrets and are zeroed at 200 yds. I hold the same for zero to 250 and start looking at dialing beyond that.

When I am home in East Texas, dialing never happens I am always shooting so close. I have only dialed on medium game in Africa, Hawaii, Texas Nilgai and Pronghorn.

I do a LOT of dialing on prairie dogs.

 

[nomspc]

I’ll give you the example of my elk rifles. I’m shooting a 300 WM 180 grain Barnes TTSX at 2950 fps, sub MOA, zeroed at 200 yards. I know that the drop at 300 is 6” and 350 is 12”, so from muzzle to 350 I’m not dialing, just adjusting my hold a few inches. On an elk, the vital zone is 15”, so MPBR zero is 362 yards and the MPBR is 427 yards. Personally, I am more comfortable with a vital zone radius of 5”, which limits the MPBR to about 350 yards. So, no advantage. If the shot is over 350, I’ll use a ballistic reticle or dial with a custom elevation turret, depending on which scope (rifle) I’m using. But 90% of my shots (lifetime) have been under 350.

 

[Tex .416]

Zero the rifle for the shot most likely to be taken and adjust from there with either holdover, which is why reticles with scales are so incredibly helpful, or dial.

After zeroing the rifle, shoot paper at increasingly longer distances to see where the bullet is actually hitting. Do not shoot farther than has actually been tested and verified on paper. Also shoot some targets inside of 100 yards to understand point of aim vs point of impact up close.

 

[Deepfork]

I’m not exactly sure the question, but I refuse to use dials. I sight the majority of my rifles +2 at 100 and in some cases +3 depending on the hunt. I then shoot at 200 and 300 to know where the bullet hits and go hunting. My furthest first shot hunting has been 360 yards. Is this not standard practice?

This exactly. That +3 at 100 is usually around a 275yd zero. I do need to know the distance of my shot. I never shoot more than 400, rarely beyond 300. No dial twisting needed.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen Agree and think that’s what most experienced Hunters are doing and have been doing - there’s NO “downside” to your method.
But Bob, you forgot to provide your Sight-In method for the .243….don’t hold out on us !!

@HankBuck
To sight a 243 in I find a paddock with long grass in it that needs mowing.
I hold said 243 by the barrel and swing it around my head then launch it as far into the paddock as possible. A bit like the Olympic hammer throw.
Then tractor and slasher comes along and runs over said 243 stuffing it completely.
Best things to do with a 243 apart from a rebarrel to a better calibre like the 358.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It used to be standard practice but not so much anymore with bullet drop compensators on almost every scope currently made.

@375er
You still have to sight your rifle in, know your projectile and velocities then check the impact at various ranges.
Even the Leupold CDS needs this information to work correctly.
If you change loads you have to go thru the whole process again.
To me if'n I have to hold on air not hair the range is to far.
Bob

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@375er
You still have to sight your rifle in, know your projectile and velocities then check the impact at various ranges.
Even the Leupold CDS needs this information to work correctly.
If you change loads you have to go thru the whole process again.
To me if'n I have to hold on air not hair the range is to far.
Bob

I agree, never hold off hair.

 

[rdog]

I’m not exactly sure the question, but I refuse to use dials. I sight the majority of my rifles +2 at 100 and in some cases +3 depending on the hunt. I then shoot at 200 and 300 to know where the bullet hits and go hunting. My furthest first shot hunting has been 360 yards. Is this not standard practice?

On a recent deer hunt with my son with a Leupold 3x9 CDS scope on my 270 with no turret lock , We were riding in the very cramped back seat of a 4x4 crew cab it was a very cold & wet day, my first shot at a red deer at about 130 meters went right over the top. i had the rifle sighted in 2.5 inch high a 100 meters. i could not believe i missed, after a lot of ribbing from my son i realized what had happened the exposed elevation dial had been dragging on the seat & had wound the elevation right up to max.
NO more dial up scopes for me with no cap or lock. i have all ways used the MPBR method & will continue to do so. the hunt ended well with 4 good deer each & a freezer full of meat. Some times this new technology is not needed.

 

[dchum]

I do think a lot of hunters underestimate bullet drop. My bullets always drop faster than it says they should when I shoot at range. Even with a 300 win I need to holdover slightly for the vitals. I write these up before hunting trips for the bullet I’m using at backyard range.
View attachment 713181View attachment 713182

This is exactly what I do I put them in my notes app,

And then on the hunt I make my phone screen saver that notes app screen shot.

(My phone is always front left pocket) I can quickly glance at it if I need to

 

[dchum]

On a recent deer hunt with my son with a Leupold 3x9 CDS scope on my 270 with no turret lock , We were riding in the very cramped back seat of a 4x4 crew cab it was a very cold & wet day, my first shot at a red deer at about 130 meters went right over the top. i had the rifle sighted in 2.5 inch high a 100 meters. i could not believe i missed, after a lot of ribbing from my son i realized what had happened the exposed elevation dial had been dragging on the seat & had wound the elevation right up to max.
NO more dial up scopes for me with no cap or lock. i have all ways used the MPBR method & will continue to do so. the hunt ended well with 4 good deer each & a freezer full of meat. Some times this new technology is not needed.

The CDS dials lock? How was the button pushed all the way in? CDS - ZL (Zero lock)
Where the previous CDS lacking the locking button?
It’s nearly impossible to engage if not on purpose. Why I don’t mind the CDS scopes

Crazy.

 

[375er]

@375er
You still have to sight your rifle in, know your projectile and velocities then check the impact at various ranges.
Even the Leupold CDS needs this information to work correctly.
If you change loads you have to go thru the whole process again.
To me if'n I have to hold on air not hair the range is to far.
Bob

I feel like I am being misunderstood here. I'm not arguing for or against either method. All I was saying is the trend is growing toward BDC scopes. How many of you have found scopes that do not have dials on them these days? I would like to know.

 

[375Ruger416]

I’m in the minority I guess. I zero at 100 yds, know my holdovers and dial for the exact distance if time allows. With my 300 PRC, I can hold on hair out to 250 or 300 and make a kill shot. Drop at 300 is 3.3 MOA or 10 inches. I can also set my turret to 250 yds and take everything cleanly out to that distance by just holding on vitals.

I want my bullet to hit the exact spot I’m aiming at on the animal. Since I may not make a perfect shot, there may be a gust of wind or the animal may move I want to maximize my chances of making a clean kill by minimizing the error between POA and POI.

Exposed non locking turrets are an error waiting to happen.

 

[375Fox]

I feel like I am being misunderstood here. I'm not arguing for or against either method. All I was saying is the trend is growing toward BDC scopes. How many of you have found scopes that do not have dials on them these days? I would like to know.

I agree with you the trend is going in a direction I don’t like. Leupold only has one higher end non-CDS option the VX5 2-10, Swarovski has a number of options. I think my next scope will be Trijicon if Leupold discontinues that vx5 2-10.

 

[Vintageguy]

The method is old school, I’m old school and that’s how I do it. If I can’t get within that range, the critter wins and I need to try again.

 

[375er]

I agree with you the trend is going in a direction I don’t like. Leupold only has one higher end non-CDS option the VX5 2-10, Swarovski has a number of options. I think my next scope will be Trijicon if Leupold discontinues that vx5 2-10.

Thank you!!!

 

[FlyGuy]

I have scopes in all sizes and flavours, but over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the simple things in life.
For hunting, SFP, nothing bigger than 12X, simple reticle (illuminated is a bonus), and preferably capped turrets.
Calculate MPBR, zero scope accordingly and confirm the drops.

If I anticipate that I’ll need to shoot beyond the MPBR, I make a dope card to my personal maximum distance and tape it to the stock for quick reference.

I’d rather spend more time making a good shot, than fiddling with turrets, parallax adjustments, magnification etc.

 

[spike.t]

Wow...more alphabet stuff here than at one of those lbgtqxyzabc etc parades

 

[spike.t]

And just had to Google one... mpbr as didn't have a clue what it meant....old school 1 to 2 inches high at 100 sorted....irons on at 50 to 60 yards....still OK at 90 or so long paces...from my experience anyway....some animals seemed to concur with this as well...