Zeroing for different Distances

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Zeroing for different Distances

Post by CharlieHusky » 15 Aug 2020, 6:32 pm

So i recently Bought a Lithgow LA102 in .223 and have Zero'd it to 50m and is great.

Now this is my first "distance" rifle as my other is a 44 mag but i would like to shoot out to 300m. But i would also like to shoot at 50M, 100m and 200m at times. I'm guessing i should zero it to 300m/longest distance i want to shoot which will also allow me to adjust to shoot at the shorter distances without rezeroing. Am i correct or just completely off? Please help

Thanks
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by TassieTiger » 15 Aug 2020, 6:39 pm

Most ppl zero to the middle of their Nominated ranges - in your case 200m. Then work out bullet drop Via chrono/ballistic chart or actual range testing.

You can use either clicks or hold over points on reticle to allow for drop / rise.

There are heaps of good free apps re ballistics.
Depending on cartridge- If you zero at 100m you’ll be looking at 20 inches drop at 300m.
If you zero at 200m you’ll be looking at approx 10 inches drop at 300m and 2.5 high at 100m.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by Jarhead » 15 Aug 2020, 7:33 pm

Hi CharleyHusky,

I would zero an "up to 300m" rilfe at 200m. You will find this is very close to the 50 meter zero due to the external ballistics of a .223. Have a look.....

Aussiehunter-223-Rem-Trajectory.jpg
Aussiehunter-223-Rem-Trajectory.jpg (67.06 KiB) Viewed 9159 times


As Tassie mentioned, a Ballistic app will help you dial in the scope to the other distances from this zero. Hornady's 4DOF calculator is worth a look -it is free. I - made up a backup that is stuck to the inside of my flip up scope cover for when I forget to charge my iPhone......This one is for a long range rifle, which is zeroed at 100m.

Scope Range card sticker.png
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Aug 2020, 8:16 pm

You will need the BC of the bullet that you shoot and the speed that you shoot them. You plug this data into a ballistic calculator and it will give you the amount of MOA you need to dial your scope up or down. This will get you very close to the bull on your target. No need to worry about what distance you are zeroed at, as long as you know how many MOA you need to go to be zeroed to your next target.

Have you selected a bullet you want to shoot? You will find a flat based bullet will work best for you if you are shooting from 50 to 300 metres.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Aug 2020, 8:49 pm

To explain further, if you zeroed at 50 metres and your ballistic data tells you that your bullet would be 12 MOA low at 300. Your scope has 1/4 MOA adjustment graduations then you would have to wind your scope up 48 graduations (clicks) to get on paper.

You then want to shoot at 200, you know that you are shooting 9 MOA high with your 300 zero so you wind down 36 graduations.

Just an example, your actual data will be differant.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by TassieTiger » 15 Aug 2020, 8:55 pm

SCJ429 wrote:You

Have you selected a bullet you want to shoot? You will find a flat based bullet will work best for you if you are shooting from 50 to 300 metres.


I’ve seen you and a few others promote a flat based bullet for lesser ranges - what is the thinking / science behind this? Most ppl (me included) just look at a BT and think must be accurate, but not necessarily true?
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by TassieTiger » 15 Aug 2020, 8:55 pm

Duplicate
Last edited by TassieTiger on 15 Aug 2020, 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by animalpest » 15 Aug 2020, 9:09 pm

Zero your 223 at 200 m and then work out where it hits at 50, 100 and 300.

My rifles shoot 1.25 inches high at 100, which puts them on at 200. Zeroing at 50m is simply wasting the range capabilities of a 223.

Assuming you have a scope that is not able to be dialled in to differing ranges, then hold up or down at the different ranges.
Last edited by animalpest on 15 Aug 2020, 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Aug 2020, 9:23 pm

Flat based bullets have a bigger surface area obviously, to push against making them more consistant and therefore accurate. There is little ballistic advantage shooting boat tails at shorter distances. Go and have a look at what bullets PPC shooters use at 100 or 200 comps.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by Blr243 » 16 Aug 2020, 12:45 am

How easy would hunting be if our lead was within half an inch Of aiming point all the way out to 300 m ......I’m dreaming
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by duddley75 » 16 Aug 2020, 8:08 am

I zeroed at 50m on my Howa.

But using some ballistic calcs and a little trial an error I have now the figures for 300m, 600m and 800m.

I made a note in my notebook for the change in scope elevation for next time I get to those targets.

Given I am now reloading I am going to have to do it all again for the new ammo.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by bigpete » 16 Aug 2020, 8:31 am

I just sight in pretty much everything centrefire and scoped 1" high at 100m and learn the trajectory. Easy enough when 99% of my hunting shots are taken at under 150m.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by straightshooter » 16 Aug 2020, 11:25 am

CharlieHusky wrote:So i recently Bought a Lithgow LA102 in .223 and have Zero'd it to 50m and is great.

Now this is my first "distance" rifle as my other is a 44 mag but i would like to shoot out to 300m. But i would also like to shoot at 50M, 100m and 200m at times. I'm guessing i should zero it to 300m/longest distance i want to shoot which will also allow me to adjust to shoot at the shorter distances without rezeroing. Am i correct or just completely off? Please help

Thanks

It's a little difficult to discern what your actual intentions are.
At the most basic level, what is your perception of "zeroing a rifle"?
If you want a 'set and forget' zero range for general walk about shooting then it is hard to go past 200 meters for a 223. It works equally well for just about all bullet weights.
If want to be able to set zero for each of the ranges you have indicated then you will need a suitable scope that allows readily accessible settings for the various ranges you desire.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by Oldbloke » 16 Aug 2020, 12:40 pm

bigpete wrote:I just sight in pretty much everything centrefire and scoped 1" high at 100m and learn the trajectory. Easy enough when 99% of my hunting shots are taken at under 150m.



Same here
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by bladeracer » 16 Aug 2020, 5:07 pm

Depends on chambering and purpose, .223Rem I zero about 40mm high at 100m.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by snag » 16 Aug 2020, 5:43 pm

Oldbloke wrote:
bigpete wrote:I just sight in pretty much everything centrefire and scoped 1" high at 100m and learn the trajectory. Easy enough when 99% of my hunting shots are taken at under 150m.



Same here


Yep, always worked for me.
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by Ziege » 16 Aug 2020, 5:49 pm

all my 3000+fps rifles are sighted in for 250m zero, except my 300win, thats sighted in at 220m. the best bet is to average it out at the either the end of the first third of its LOS positive curve or end of its second 3rd of its LOS positive curve. this way most shots out to its second zero are more or less point and click. so you will find that sighting the 223 to 50m will serve you as well as sighting it out to 200m depending on whether you have sighted your first or second zero to that 50m. make sense?
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Re: Zeroing for different Distances

Post by Oldbloke » 16 Aug 2020, 11:13 pm

This is what I keep on my mobile. Calculated on the Hornady balistic calculator. But hardly use it.


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