Author Topic: Point blank range (Read 755 times)

DanielWGriggs · « **on:** February 10, 2005, 02:14:47 PM »

Looking at the High powered rifle's available in the handi's I noticed that many of the calibers listed could be sighted in 2 1/2" to 2 3/4" high at 100 yards and with a top of the back hold at 300 still be on a deer sized target.
does your real world data bear this out?

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2005, 03:50:18 PM »

For the .308, 30-06 based cartridges or the Mauser family I sight in from 2.5 to 3" high at 100 yards. This will let you shoot without holdover to as far as 95% of hunters have any business shooting at a game animal.
300 yards is a LONG way in most field conditions. My 25-06's PBR is way out at 385 yards but I never shoot that far unless I have an absolutely solid rest like the padded rail of a tower stand. I usually sight in about 3 inches high at 100 yards and I have yet to miss yet in the field from shooting high or low.

stiff neck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2005, 04:07:53 PM »

I like to know exactly where my bullets are going to hit. Familiarize yourself with basic trajectory tables, and then just aim a few inches high if you're trying to hit something that's obviously past 200+ yards. Past 300-400 and most folks shouldn't take the shot anyways. At least not from how I've seen folks perform at the rifle range when they're sighting in for deer season. It's almost scary. :shock:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2005, 04:12:26 PM »

Here's some readin for ya Daniel...

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/game_range_caliber.htm

http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/February02.htm

And a calculator..

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/pbrange/pbrange.html

DanielWGriggs · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:29:10 PM »

ROS,
I agree most shouldn't shoot and don't know how at ranges further than 150yds when they zero at 100 they lose alot of the useful trajectory of modern cartridges.

Stiff I Know what you speak of. Scattered around on a pie plate at 100yds from a solid bench is good enough for some of them.BS. I don't sight in or hunt without knowing where my bullet will hit. I do use a lazer rangefinder with great success out to 300yds. The range I use only has 200yds longest someday I will test on paper out to 300 until then my furthest shot will be 250yds with my .308

Quickd2/wrongtarget
Your information is always welcome and helpful this confirms what I have believed to be correct, with many of the cartridges listed for the handy a sight in of 2.5 to 2.75" will keep you on target to 250 and a top of the back hold on a deer at 300yds will bring home the venison.

RonO777 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:32:17 PM »

Basic trajectory tables will give you a good idea on what a bullet will or should do. What you need to do is get a chronograph and shoot the bullet that you are going to hunt with over it. Then you can plug those numbers in to a ballistic calculator then you will know what that bullet should do in your gun. After you sight in however high you need to at lets say 100 yards. You should shoot it at the range it should be dead on at just to make sure. Otherwise you might miss or just wound whatever you are hunting. I've done this on a few of my guns with mixed results.

Ron

DanielWGriggs · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:48:49 PM »

After I get my most accurate load worked up for the .308 I will head out to Dad's and set up targets out to 300. Maybe even get him to play along with his 30.06 springfield after I get the info I need from targets we will probably shoot up some milk jugs. That should duplicate a deers vitals pretty well and will tell me if I should be shooting that far in the first place.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2005, 07:45:18 PM »

The old rule of thumb has always been site in 3" high at 100 yards...it's always worked for me on any rifle I've owned...

Mac

JPH45 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2005, 11:50:28 AM »

Interestinly, most of the cartridges used for hunting had their origins as battle rifles. Many think that these casrtridges were designed with European battlefields in mind, but I suspect that it was the Boor War that most influenced miltary cartridge design at the turn of the 20th century. Seems that the English set their eyes upon the gold fields of South Africa which was firmly in the hands of their Danish relatives. Of course the Danes who were living in South Africa were not as impressed with the idea of English gold mines as were the English and the took to forming milita groups and shooting at the English at every opportunity. The English were astounded to find themselves being shot to peices at ranges of 400 yards and not to be outdone, set about to upgrade the SMLE there were totin' around, which created some very interesting changes in small arms over the next 20 years.

I don't now recall the complete or perhaps even correct quote of the Boors, but it seems it was something like God, Country and Mauser. Interestingly, in many circles a gentlemans education is still considered incomplete without an indepth and ongoing education in these three subjects......Obviously the Boors understood point blank range, and how to apply it to their Mausers......Just ask the English :grin:

DanielWGriggs · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2005, 08:57:42 PM »

Although I didn't get a lot of real world data I do understand that most of us just don't shoot that far. I also got informed about the boar war, and Quick set me up with even more data to confirm what I already suspected.

I do love this forum and some of the discussions get very lively. I may have to go to another board for long range info which is ok. thanks for the info. :grin:

Longcruise · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:39:36 PM »

Tables are nice and they give you a starting point, but unless you actually test your loads to at least 200 yards, you are probably going into the field misinformed.

If you can determine your velocity and POI at 100 and 200 for any given load and have a fairly accurate BC for your bullet, you can use a ballistic program like Point blank to determine a realistic PBR at longer ranges. Otherwise you are just guessing, IMO. Goes double if using an ammo manufacturers numbers. :shock:

DanielWGriggs · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:06:48 PM »

Yes that is what I will do just getting info now need to get some trigger/reloading time in. Thanks to all.

Sourdough · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2005, 09:39:11 AM »

Like someone else said the charts are just a starting point. I sight in 3" high to start with at 100 yards with my 30-06. My favorite load is a Sierria 165gr SPBT (Spire Point Boat Tail). In front of H-4350 moving at 2840 fps per my Chrony. Then I place my target at 300 yards and sight in to hit dead on center. I then check the location of hits at every 50 yards out to 600 yards. At 150 yards I'm 3 1/2" high, At 400 yards I'm 12" low. At 500 yards I'm 28" low. At 600 I'm 50" low.