So is 150 yards the perfect zero for the ML II?

[passthrough]

I posted an earlier question and appreciate the replies
With the likely ballistics of an average savage recommended load of 42 grains of V N110 and a 250 grain XTP, would 150 be a good zero if I want the gun to be useful at 200 yards. Most shots will be less than 100 yards but would like to be effective with a standard reticle and reasonable hold over on a whitetail out to 200. Seems as though 100 yd zero would leave you with a 12" hold over at 200
Pros, cons?
Thanks

[dans]

I am shooting a load very close to that one and I like my 100 yard poi 3 inches high. Puts me about 3 inches low at 200. No hold over. My ballistics calculator says that I am zeroed at 175 yards.

[wilmsmeyer]

The short answer to your question is yes. You will be able to aim at the mid line of the deer at 200 yds and hit vitals with that load and zero range

[pposey]

Yes that would be fine. I have all my centerfires and ml ML's 1 inch high at 100 yards, most of my shots are well within 100, most within 75 and through the woods at ground level,,,I like for the bullet to ride the crosshairs in so to speak,, out at 200 yards you will have a slight holdover.

[Deleted]

It will work,but if you bumped your load n110 to 45gns you will achieve a 2400fps velocity. With that , a 175yd zero, you will be 3.0 inches high at 100yds and 2.8 inches low at 200yds. Anyway, something to think about.
Greenhorn

[Billy]

I prefer 3" high at 100 yards as well, especially if you think you might take a 200 yard shot. If you KNOW your shots will be limited to 150 or less, then 1" or 2" high at 100 will be fine. If you anticipate a 200 yard shot, you really need to shoot it at that distance to confirm poi regardless of which zero you choose. They don't all shoot the same.

[nic58]

May 9, 2011 17:17:06 GMT -5 Billy said:

I prefer 3" high at 100 yards as well, especially if you think you might take a 200 yard shot.

Ditto for me also!

[ET]

Passthrough

I personally believe there is no perfect zero point and a shooter needs to find a zero point that is ideal to him for the range of shooting he does.

I agree with Billy that you need to practice at the ranges you expect to shoot to have the proficiency needed to make those shots accurately.

My preference is the 150yd zero so that out to 175yds no POA is adjusted. Even when I move to a 200yd shot with a 4.5” drop the crosshairs never leaves a deer’s body. This is my ideal setup for me.

I have yet to take a shot at deer over 100yds but am ready should that opportunity present itself.


Ed

[whyohe]

IMO if most of your shots will be 100 yards or less, then sight in your gun for that. if you can shot out to 200 yards then know your drop and hold acordingly. i use to be of the sigt in 2" high but as a member here pointed out to me if you only shoot to 200 yards once in a while of what bennifit is it to sight in high. i still havent shot that far. figure it this way too, if you hold on the back @ 200 yards and sighted in for 100 you would be fine if your drop is only12 inches.

[Billy]

LOL. I don't know if we have been any help at all. You've received advice of zero at 100 yards to 3" high at 100. I guess you'll have to sort through it and decide for yourself. The key decision you have to make is if you want to be able to hold dead on all the way out to 200 yards, or have to hold over for a 200 yard shot. I personally prefer to zero 3" high so that I can hold dead on out to 200 yards with the .50 or out to 250 yards with the .45. Good luck and have fun playing with it.
Billy

[Deleted]

I bought my savage AFTER going through 3 different inlines . I bought it TO shoot 200yds and farther. I hunt public land that on occasion the woods have been prescribe burned. After doing the ballistic homework on your answer I will be 3 inches high at 100yds,because I POSSIBLY will have a 200yd shot.
Passthrough you've got to decide what possible shot you may have AND how far YOU feel comfortable shooting a fatal shot.
I think that is what were all trying to say. The gun can reach out but if you're hunting in tight woods the gun has massive knockdown power also.
Good luck and show us those EASTERN deer your talking about,lol.
Greenhorn

[foxgrape]

...a good conversation, but I think a related and equally important factor is being able to accurately determining the range to the target. In the 100 or less range we can all be pretty close at "guestimating" the range, and a 25 yard miscalculation has little impact on accuracy.

However, in the 150 yard and beyond range, it is a lot harder to get the number right without some known landmarks or a range finder. 150 plus yards in an open field is tough. At longer ranges a 25 yard (or more) range miscalculation can change the "results" from a boiler room explosion to a puff of white brisket hair real quick. Zero at 150 narrows the "good hit" window at the longer ranges. And of course faster & flatter shooting improves the odds too (like archery hunting on steroids). I know my whole "where do I zero this thing" attitude changed when I got my rangefinder.

Foxgrape

[cuda]

You can use your scope to get a idea of the range. The cross hairs of the scope from right to left will help you judge the distance set a deer size target at 100yds. The target should just touch both insides lines fine to course at 100yds larger is closer smaller is farther. Most scope are that way and you are looking threw the scope anyway. You can check your scope and see if yours is that way.

[killahog]

If most of your shots are less than 100 yards I would suggest sighing in at 100. Most of my shooting is also under 100 and out of the last 8 deer I have shot 6 have been head shots and 1 260 yard shot that was a one shot kill after dialing the shot in the scope.

[Deleted]

So true Foxgrape,
When you get on an open field it is very hard to tell how far is too far,justlike bowhunting. There is nothing to gauge by. Also, 60 yds. and out without electronics or reference points you are guessing.
Greenhorn

[edge]

I aim for the heart with a rifle.
If I assume 2300 fps, a BC of 0.150 and a 1.5 scope height and my longest shot being 200 yards I would zero at 200 and never worry about the range!

The bullet will hit 5 inches above POA at 115 yards which is a high shoulder shot and should result in a bang flop.
Anywhere longer or shorter out to 200yds. results in a hit to the heart or the arteries leading to it or the lungs if I hit back a bit.

If you normally go for the high shoulder then this would not be a good trajectory for you.

edge.

[Deleted]

Edge,That makes sense...!!!
Greenhorn

[pposey]

It all depends on your hunting style,,, I would not want a 5 inch high at 115 yards poi because I spend most of my time stalking through the woods and often take shots on moving critters, almost always inside of 100 yards, add a couple inches of variance from group size when shooting from a standing position, a couple of inches from shooter error and or deer movement, and a 5 inch high poi could be from 5-9 inches high easy. hunting over a bean field or large food plot, or power line from a stand though I can see it being a good thing.

If I taking a long shot, 150+ yards it will be at a very slow moving or stationary target and I will have a good rest and time, then I can worry about holdover windage and such, have holdovers written on the stock right in front of the bolt just for that from 200-300 yards, shorter shots that could be fast and unplanned I like to ride the cross hairs with the bullet.

[edge]

IMO, you don't aim for the heart so my way would not work for you

If you are great at judging distances then your way is probably better. My way...well suits me because I aim low whether it is moving or not so who cares. My bullet is always above the POA out to 200 yards which is very close to the max with that bullet/powder combo.

Now if I have time to range the deer then I have two aimpoints:
0-200 low in the chest;
200-250 aim at the spine where it is -9 inches at 250 still within the vitals.

At 250 the bullet is in the transonic range and energy is down to 800 ft/lbs
A 5mph wind will move the bullet 2 feet at 250 yards so it better be dead calm anyway

edge.

[dans]

windage is harder to judge than elevation for me.

[pposey]

your right I tend to aim to whatever point will get the bullet through the center of the chest on a quick shot and either the heart or the upper shoulder on a slow shot depending on if the animal running can create a carry-out mess by going down a steep ridge or off a cliff.

and I can judge distance really well out to 150 or so,,, over that I will have time for the rangfinder or will already have ranged the shots if stand hunting...

[bigmoose]

I always shoot for the shoulder, in hopes of breaking down the animal, for no real reason, I put a 200 yard limit on game, since I don't have access to a 200 yard range I'm not sure of where the bullet is hitting.
The shoulder shot is the reason I only use all cooper bullets, I would think both the 300 and 350 gr Barnes bullets, driven by 70 & 67grs of H4198 have lots of energy left at 200 yards, and while not a varmint load I'm would guess the 400 Buster which starts out at 4000Lbs of energy, stiil has a bit of bite at 200, let least I hope to find out.