Removing some human error...

[tacklebury]

Ok, so here's my thought.  I do really good with the iron sights, but with load development, sometimes I have to waste quite a few rounds getting things lined up.  I'm thinking the addition of a 3-9 scope temporarily will help me in load development and once I get everything ready, I just remove the scope, shoot a set or two at 50 & 100 yards with the irons and I'm good to go.  I'm hoping to profile my Reloader7 variation .45 Colt rounds using FTX bullets which, if performance is good, will be my deer round for the upcoming season.  I am hoping being able to use the click adjustments of the scope at the various ranges to develop a ballistics profile to 200 yards, since one isn't available with the Reloader7 as the propellent.    It looks a little awkward and feels a little awkward to me being an iron sight shooter, but if it saves me misinformation with the loads, it'll be worth it I think.  I'm going to start off with my current 25 gr. Reloader7 and the 225gr. variety FTX and ladder up to 26 gr. in 0.1 gr. increments.    What do you think?

[trotterlg]

It may help you out some, but remember the scope is attached to the barrel so it will act differently when you take it off, could be a little or a lot.  Unless you have a fairly high priced scope, the click adjustments probably won't be even close to what you need to measure the profile.  Larry

[tacklebury]

Appreciate the inputs   Well, it probably won't be perfect, but if I know I'm 6" high at 50, 0" at 100, -8" at 150 and -24" at 200, it will be better than an eyeball estimate, wouldn't you think?  The scope isn't an expensive one though, so if you think the clicks are that far off, then it might not work.  I don't do much with scopes and the only other one I own is a straight 4x bushnell on my bolt action 22. 

[trotterlg]

Mostly when you click up you will also get some left or right, and if you click left or right you will probably get some up and down.  Larry

[tacklebury]

Ah, so if the groups move horizontally it's because my scope is junk.  lol   I'll have to watch for that.  I'd been looking at a couple different scopes, but with hunting seasons so close decided to use this one I have already.  We'll just have to try her out. 

[bikerbeans]

Gun looks really good to me with or without the optics!

[gcrank1]

That approach was pretty much what I had in mind when I put the rail on my TM38-55.
Durn thing worked so good I left the scope on for the last year or so, and am not inclined to remove it. Of course, Im using an old 2.5X Weaver, which is a lot smaller than your 3-9X, and is less bulky up top. With my aging eyes (yeah, I know, its not just the eyes, but....) even the 2.5X is dandy and my groups are smaller than with irons.

[NFG]

I use a 20x Leupold for load development so I can use a 1/4" dot or square...on ANY/ALL rifles then switch to whatever power fits what I hunt.

I think you are doing more work than required with trying to use the scope adjustments to do a drop chart.  Just sight in "0" at 100 yds, shoot some targets at whatever longer range you want and measure the drop, then use any drop program to calculate the midranges.  "Ibendoon" it this way for about a million years.  It is simple, quick and works for hunting applications.

I have very accurate rifles(or they don't last in my rack) so once sighted at 100 yds, it only takes one or two rounds at 200, 300, 400 etc to find the drops, then input the data into a software program or an online program for the intermediate ranges.  Sometimes I do it the other way around...use chrono and BC data and 100 yrd target, input that data into the drop program, THEN check the drop chart at actual distances to see how close the data actually is.  Most of the time it is pretty close if the bullet BC and chrono data is anywhere true.

And as Larry said, most scopes aren't installed perfectly square and perpendicular to the bore line so unless you have a super accurate rifle, high dollar perfect scope, you won't know how much off the scope is.

Open sights and human eyes are not very good for ranges beyond 100 yds...remember a 0.005" movement off targer is equal to 1" at 100 yds, 2" at 200 yds, etc.

Use a bench and sand bags, or a lead sled if you have one, to eliminate the wiggles.

Luck

[tacklebury]

Thanks for the replies.  I think that I'm going to skip the ballistic chart, but will use the scope just to shoot my ladder's and get a better idea on my groups being less human error.  I do pretty well with my irons still to 100 anyway, but it seems like I get a flier or two often.  I call the fliers normally, but they still irritate me.  lol  I've been making sure there is about 3-5 min between ladder shots to keep heat to a minimum.  Usually, I can tell my sight picture slipped at the last second or I paused too long in my breath cycle and messed something up.  We'll see how she does anyway. 

[gcrank1]

Something I learned a few years ago with a fine target .22LR and 20X was that I had imediate feedback  through the scope of my mistakes. Right there, right now, no need to get off the rifle and on the spotting scope. Use enough scope for the caliber and distance which lets you see the bullet holes and it will serve you well.

[Swampman]

As long as I'm not shooting past 25 yards I don't need a scope.

[Sourdough]

As with most people, once they past the age of 45 they no longer can focus on all three planes needed to use iron sites.  I have to use a scope or a peep site.  All my Handi's except the 45-70 have scopes.  The 45-70 has a peep.

I use the sites I will normally use for all load development.