Zeroing for varminting what your preference???

[BIG E]

My work rifle is sighted in at 1" high at 100 yards with a 5 shot group in a 3" aiming mark as specified.

[Plowboy]

What type of rifle is that big E?

[Yowie]

Hi Plowboy,

Lots of good tips here, I have my 223 sighted in 1 1/2" high at 100m, with 50grn Nosler Shots
groups 3/4" 5 shot groups, as a check I shoot a group at 200m.

Mistakes I've made is under estimatimating the wind on 50grn projestiles and adjusting the scope only to find I have over compensated, only zero on a very still day.

With this zero I hold low of centre on 50-115m, straight at 115-180m, 180-230m just under back line of a fox.

Last week we shot 10 foxes all 80-130m, except one at 15m with the shotgun, 10 shots 10 foxes plus 168 rabbits and a cat.

Another point, using a Lightforce 240 it is easy to shoot out of range with 223, you can see foxes at 300-500m, in my opinion 223 is good to 225m after that they start to fall away, for
long shots I use a 243 with 85 HPBT.

Cheers,

[Plowboy]

Yeah the zeroing I did yesterday was in a breeze but was only over 25m so I would think wind effect over that would be minimal.

I intend to start a few threads asking people things like this as it gives people new to shooting some tips on shooting to make the activity more enjoyable straight up. There are some topics here where people get carried away with personal opinions get in the way of genuine advice. I reckon that as a group, we should try to make tips and advice to new shooters easy to get as being able to shoot what you hit at takes a bit of practice and the right technique. If somebody is struggling with these, they may give the sport away. We need as many people shooting as we can get so our numbers have some influence over our future.

We should not hold secrets like the angling community is renoun for. I am not talking about spots to shoot but shooting accurately. For me this was one of the hardest things to do when I first started and would see me crack a hissy fit and stop shooting for a few weeks.(I was quite young)

[220]

about inch high at 100 and point and shoot at most targets

I have to agree with Trevor on this .I have my 222 sighted in 1 " high at 100 and I think it zero`s around 170 m.My 204 is 3/4" and the Swift is 1 1/4 as well .I found when sighted in at longer ranges I was over shooting on the closer ones.

My experience as well sight all my rifles in so that I don't ever have to worry about holding low on the smallest target they will be used on.
For me that is no more than 1 1/2" maximum mid range rise for rabbits and about 3" for pigs/goats/deer.
Nowdays I hold on for the first shot and adjust from there, I've missed a lot more animals from over shooting be it through sight setting or holding over than I ever have from the shot dropping low.

You will find that the majority of shooters over estimate the range a lot more often than underestimate it. Even 250m is a long way when you are shooting at a rabbit from a field position. If you learn the trejectory of your rifle and to accurately estimate range (range finder helps) you can still have good success at longer range by holding over or adjusting your scope for the longer range. It applies to all calibres be it a 22lr or something like a 204 or swift. The secret is knowing your trejectory and accurately estimating range.

[Yowie]

Hi Plowboy,

I agree with you about passing on tips and info, I've shooting with a air rifle since I was
eight(1968) and are still learning, like a good machanic you have to learn to trouble shoot your
rifle, scope, mounts, bedding, reloading etc.

I keep records and targets of every load in a file and diary, being very honest with myself.

I also keep a spread sheet of vermin I've shot ie 70% of foxes are shot 80-160, 20% 160-230,
10% 5-60m. Posters that say they shoot foxes at 300m at night with spotlight, I try to get
close for sure shot, if the fox is standing a cleared paddock( ie seeded) I might try a shot if wind is light using a 243 or swift.

A friend with lots of shooting experience says if you can shoot 3" groups at 150m out of the ute window with average rest within 3-5 seconds of shouldering the rifle your doing OK, I agree. Varminting is not benchrest. Also we always have a 12g in cab to run down any that
wont sit for shot with rifle, very effective.

Cheers,

[MISSED]

about inch high at 100 and point and shoot at most targets

I have to agree with Trevor on this .I have my 222 sighted in 1 " high at 100 and I think it zero`s around 170 m.My 204 is 3/4" and the Swift is 1 1/4 as well .I found when sighted in at longer ranges I was over shooting on the closer ones.

My experience as well sight all my rifles in so that I don't ever have to worry about holding low on the smallest target they will be used on.
For me that is no more than 1 1/2" maximum mid range rise for rabbits and about 3" for pigs/goats/deer.
Nowdays I hold on for the first shot and adjust from there, I've missed a lot more animals from over shooting be it through sight setting or holding over than I ever have from the shot dropping low.

You will find that the majority of shooters over estimate the range a lot more often than underestimate it. Even 250m is a long way when you are shooting at a rabbit from a field position. If you learn the trejectory of your rifle and to accurately estimate range (range finder helps) you can still have good success at longer range by holding over or adjusting your scope for the longer range. It applies to all calibres be it a 22lr or something like a 204 or swift. The secret is knowing your trejectory and accurately estimating range.

Well written 220
In the instructions with my Rangefinder it states Practice,Practice,Practice know your rifle and Trajectory

[BIG E]

What type of rifle is that big E?

using a howa 1500 in 223 barrels prob 3500 rounds through it.Dnt need nothing fancy when ya rifle spends most its life hangn out the ute window.blued barrel syn stok as couldnt c ya 2 get a timber stok and c it end up with dents and scrachtes all over it.

[Plowboy]

What type of rifle is that big E?

using a howa 1500 in 223 barrels prob 3500 rounds through it.Dnt need nothing fancy when ya rifle spends most its life hangn out the ute window.blued barrel syn stok as couldnt c ya 2 get a timber stok and c it end up with dents and scrachtes all over it.

Eggzackery mate that's why I went for s/s rifle. Just came across a Tikka for about the same $ as a Howa. My scope already has scratch marks and so does the stock. on that note my barrel has marks on it and no very happy about that. My Marlin HMR get treated worse and it's barrel looks better than the Tikka. Also found out my barrel was magnetic. Stainless is supposed to be non magnetic.