200 yard grouping

[SDHNTR]

OP, the mpbr method still works, but if you have a good scope with dials, there is a way better way to do it. Zero spot on at 100 so you can be precise. Then dial up while in the field.

OP, if you really want good answers show us consistent 10 shot groups. With no scope adjustments or other changes.

 

[mww982]

Most likely he's been taught the old way of "zero high at 100 so you'll be good at 300" or in other words max point blank range. You know, the way the old timers do it.

Yes, that's the way that I have been told to zero in the past. Again. I know the 200-yard needs work, I am a beginner shooter with a bolt gun and that was maybe my 5th or 6th time shooting one as well as my first time shooting past 100 yards. I have experience shooting pistols and AR-15's because of work and have been an archery hunter for the past 20 years or so.

I plan on setting the zero on both guns at 200 yards and dialing out past 300 yards, once my shooting improves.

 

[SDHNTR]

I plan on setting the zero on both guns at 200 yards and dialing out past 300 yards, once my shooting improves.

Not it…

 

[WKR]

Yes, that's the way that I have been told to zero in the past. Again. I know the 200-yard needs work, I am a beginner shooter with a bolt gun and that was maybe my 5th or 6th time shooting one as well as my first time shooting past 100 yards. I have experience shooting pistols and AR-15's because of work and have been an archery hunter for the past 20 years or so.

I plan on setting the zero on both guns at 200 yards and dialing out past 300 yards, once my shooting improves.

SDHNTR is correct, since you have a scope with exposed turrets the best method is to have a really precise zero at 100 yards.

 

[Cahunter805]

Yes, that's the way that I have been told to zero in the past. Again. I know the 200-yard needs work, I am a beginner shooter with a bolt gun and that was maybe my 5th or 6th time shooting one as well as my first time shooting past 100 yards. I have experience shooting pistols and AR-15's because of work and have been an archery hunter for the past 20 years or so.

I plan on setting the zero on both guns at 200 yards and dialing out past 300 yards, once my shooting improves.

The 100 yard group doesn’t look bad especially considering a new shooter. The 200 could use some help.
What scopes are on the rifles?
Are you shooting off a bench with bags? Bipod? Prone?
How’s the trigger pull? Been adjusted or factory?

 

[mww982]

OP, the mpbr method still works, but if you have a good scope with dials, there is a way better way to do it. Zero spot on at 100 so you can be precise. Then dial up while in the field.

OP, if you really want good answers show us consistent 10 shot groups. With no scope adjustments or other changes.

The 7mm-08, I don't really have the intention of shooting past 300 yards with it as it is my deer\pig rifle most likely won't have more than a 200 yard shot most of the time anyway. So wanting to keep that as a kind of set it and forget it rifle. It is wearing a Leupold VX-3 2-10x40. Still searching for the ammo it likes, only tried three and have more on the way to test.

The .300 has a Leupold VX-5 3-15x44. I'm comfortable with it at 100 yards and recently found a place where I can go out to 200 yards or more. However, I want to stay at 200 yards until my groups shrink and become more consistent and use that as my zero. Do I have my thinking wrong about that?

 

[Felix40]

Most of these comments are more condescending than helpful.

We don’t know if he has a scope with exposed turrets. With groups like that, there’s really no sense in shooting more than 300 yards anyway. I don’t see any issue with a 200 yard zero for this type of shooter/gun. Dudes have been killing stuff like that for a long time.

As far as the groups go, no I wouldn’t be satisfied with those 200 yd groups. I also wouldn’t worry about it too much. Keep playing around with different ammo and keep getting comfortable with the gun. Also keep in mind that most people don’t actually shoot sub MOA all the time like they claim on the internet.

 

[mww982]

The 100 yard group doesn’t look bad especially considering a new shooter. The 200 could use some help.
What scopes are on the rifles?
Are you shooting off a bench with bags? Bipod? Prone?
How’s the trigger pull? Been adjusted or factory?

7mm-08- VX3 2-10x40
.300 Win Mag- VX5 3-15x44
Shooting off bench with bags
Both rifles trigger pull was about 4.5 lbs or more from the factory. I got both down to about 3 lbs. I may be able to get them sub 3lbs with the factory spring, but most likely need to get a MCARBO spring to get it to 2.5lbs.

 

[bmart2622]

Most of these comments are more condescending than helpful.

We don’t know if he has a scope with exposed turrets. With groups like that, there’s really no sense in shooting more than 300 yards anyway. I don’t see any issue with a 200 yard zero for this type of shooter/gun. Dudes have been killing stuff like that for a long time.

As far as the groups go, no I wouldn’t be satisfied with those 200 yd groups. I also wouldn’t worry about it too much. Keep playing around with different ammo and keep getting comfortable with the gun. Also keep in mind that most people don’t actually shoot sub MOA all the time like they claim on the internet.

Condescension definitely seems like the intent from one for sure

 

[mww982]

Most of these comments are more condescending than helpful.

We don’t know if he has a scope with exposed turrets. With groups like that, there’s really no sense in shooting more than 300 yards anyway. I don’t see any issue with a 200 yard zero for this type of shooter/gun. Dudes have been killing stuff like that for a long time.

As far as the groups go, no I wouldn’t be satisfied with those 200 yd groups. I also wouldn’t worry about it too much. Keep playing around with different ammo and keep getting comfortable with the gun. Also keep in mind that most people don’t actually shoot sub MOA all the time like they claim on the internet.

I'm not satisfied with them in the sense of being ready to go out and kill something at 300 yards or more. But as a new shooter, I'm pretty happy with them and know that there is room for improvement. I don't reload so I'm stuck using factory ammo. I tested out 4-5 different ones that I could get my hands on and these were the ones that grouped the best for me so far at 100 yards both times I tested it, why I chose them. If my 200 shooting doesn't improve then I will try something else.

 

[Fatcamp]

Could just be the OP isn’t a sub moa shooter…that happens more than most want to admit.

Need a proven shooter to find out.

Where you located OP?

 

[mww982]

Need a proven shooter to find out.

Where you located OP?

I'm pretty confident that the 200 yard group is due to the person pulling the trigger, not the gun. But I have a buddy I can go shoot with that is a competent shooter, so I'll have him test it out as well the next time we go shoot.

 

[JPeters218]

I would try different grips on the rifle. my tikkas shoot way better when I have a lot of pressure on the grip pulling it straight back into my shoulder.

 

[Fatcamp]

I'm pretty confident that the 200 yard group is due to the person pulling the trigger, not the gun. But I have a buddy I can go shoot with that is a competent shooter, so I'll have him test it out as well the next time we go shoot.

That's the key. Get a solid 100 yard zero, figure out if the rifle actually shoots, then practice away.

 

[Antares]

Yes, that's the way that I have been told to zero in the past. Again. I know the 200-yard needs work, I am a beginner shooter with a bolt gun and that was maybe my 5th or 6th time shooting one as well as my first time shooting past 100 yards. I have experience shooting pistols and AR-15's because of work and have been an archery hunter for the past 20 years or so.

I plan on setting the zero on both guns at 200 yards and dialing out past 300 yards, once my shooting improves.

It's been said, but I'll reiterate. For the purpose of load selection, I would shoot 10-shot groups at 100. Don't worry about where they land on the target, you're just trying to find a load that makes acceptably tight groups. I'd be looking for 10-shot groups under 1.5 MOA; if you're a new shooter, maybe sub-2 MOA is more realistic.

Once you find a load you like. I would get a very precise 100-yard zero, again using 10-shot groups.

Lots of reasonable arguments to be made for a zero past 100 yards (e.g., 2" high at 100, MPBR, etc.), but for me I just want a rock solid 100-yard zero. I think a lot of the rationale for zeros over 100 yards come from pre-laser rangefinder days. Similar arguments are made for super fast, flat shooting cartridges... it's helpful if you're guessing at your range, but not as important with the advent of laser rangefinders.

Here's some light reading on zero range:
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/100-vs-200-yd-zero.257081/

As far as factory ammo selection goes, I think there's a compromise to be made between precision and affordability. At one end of the spectrum you have super cheap ammo that doesn't shoot very well (e.g., bulk FMJ military surplus stuff) and at the other end you have very expensive, very consistent ammo (e.g., custom match stuff). Try to find something in the middle that shoots acceptably well and is cheap enough to shoot in volume. I would lean towards the cheaper side to be able to shoot more. Don't get balled up trying to find a load that is 1/4 MOA better than another, especially if you're a 2 MOA shooter... it just doesn't matter. If you're a 2+ MOA shooter (most people are whether they want to admit it or not), you've got a lot more gains to be made working on your form than chasing 1/4 MOA differences between loads. For example, I practice (and hunt) a lot with Hornady Frontier BTHP and Hornady Black A-MAX loads not because they're the most precise loads I can find, but because they're a good compromise between precision and affordability.

Here's another worthwhile thread:
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads...ice-posts-and-rifle-practice-shooting.165291/

Cheers

 

[SDHNTR]

The 7mm-08, I don't really have the intention of shooting past 300 yards with it as it is my deer\pig rifle most likely won't have more than a 200 yard shot most of the time anyway. So wanting to keep that as a kind of set it and forget it rifle. It is wearing a Leupold VX-3 2-10x40. Still searching for the ammo it likes, only tried three and have more on the way to test.

The .300 has a Leupold VX-5 3-15x44. I'm comfortable with it at 100 yards and recently found a place where I can go out to 200 yards or more. However, I want to stay at 200 yards until my groups shrink and become more consistent and use that as my zero. Do I have my thinking wrong about that?

Your thinking is not wrong, but your zero is. You have a scope with dials. Zero at 100 and make it precise.

 

[SDHNTR]

I'm pretty confident that the 200 yard group is due to the person pulling the trigger, not the gun. But I have a buddy I can go shoot with that is a competent shooter, so I'll have him test it out as well the next time we go shoot.

Your honesty is refreshing.

 

[sndmn11]

@mww982 your 300win shots are fine. You placed a three shot group that guys would brag about for a decade.

Keep shooting with meaningful intent and stop when you START to lose focus.

 

[Ucsdryder]

@mww982 your 300win shots are fine. You placed a three shot group that guys would brag about for a decade.

Keep shooting with meaningful intent and stop when you START to lose focus.

Did those 200 yard groups remind you of something ?

 

[eaglemountainman]

I don't know what factory loads you've tried, but be sure to try some Barnes 120 TTSX loads and Hornady American Whitetail ammo with 139 Interlocks, if you're able to find them. We all know that each rifle will like a particular load better than others. Having said that, I have four 7-08s that all like those 2 factory loads.
I wish you the best of luck.