Hello I'm going on a hunt this year in an area around 7,500 feet in elevation. The problem is that there is no way for me to sight in my rifle up there and I live around 400 feet. Any suggestions on how I might solve this problem. I want my rifle sighted in at 100yds. I'm shooting an old ruger m77 .270 150 grain. Thanks
Rifle hunt sight in help!
- Thread starter Father&son_outdoorsman
- Start date
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Sight it in where you live and go hunting. There won't be enough difference that you'll be able to tell under normal hunting conditions. I have no idea what your maximum shot distance will be, but most that hunt out west will zero their rifle at 200 yards, which means 2-3 inches high at 100 yards. That way you can hold dead on the vitals of an animal from close up to 300 yards or so and not worry about missing high or low. Just remember to hold a little lower on the vitals on a steep shot uphill or downhill if the shot is of any real distance.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Same answer...sight it in where you live and go hunting. You won't see any difference at most of the ranges you will be shooting. Don't overthink it, if you were shooting at extreme ranges (700+ yards), then you need to know.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Yep! You're putting way too much thought into things that might cause a problem, but really won't! However, I guess it's good to ask questions if you have anything you aren't sure of because you don't want to be worrying about it when it's time to shoot that trophy. Again, temperature won't have much of anything to do with trajectory in a hunting situation. However, if you reload ammo, there are pressure variations that can get you into trouble with accuracy, as well as safety issues, if you try to get close to max at lower temperatures and then go shoot that load at high temperatures. Normally there will be a pressure spike at higher temperatures and it could cause a real problem if it's way over the max suggested for the load. When you use factory ammo all of that is taken into consideration by the manufacturers and the powder is cut down enough so there is no problem when shooting in any rifle out there whether it's at 100 or 20 degrees.
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Shooter
Active Member
If you are hunting the west without a turret on your scope, I would suggest sighting your rifle dead on at 200 yards for the reasons that topgun stated. And I wouldn't worry about elevation or temp unless shooting long range.
ithunter
Member
I asked this same question to a gal who has had the opportunity to shoot with some of the best shooters our country has to offer...her answer was this.."for you it ain't going to matter." LOL enjoy your hunt.
First I agree with all the above, sight in and enjoy your hunt. If the differences in bullets and loads interst you, try picking up a copy of the Sitelite Ballistic Sight-In Program on-line. For us non-competition hunters it'll open your eyes to the difference things like Ballistic Coefficient , bullet shape and scope height. I won't claim it to be the end all for supreme accuracy, but I shoot fo 300WSM with 150 grain PSP Remington bullets and the program has proven to be more accurate than I tend to be. Just be sure to chose the Plot Full Zero Range option.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I agree with most of the above responses and say that it won't matter. However I do feel you deserve a response that may help you learn a little. Temperature has an impact on bullet trajectory just like elevation does. If you sight in on a warm day at 400 feet in elevation, your gun will shoot very close to the same as it will on a cold day at high elevation. If you have the time, log on to Hornady's ballistics calculator and "play" with the numbers to see how different things affect trajectory. Other factors like humidity will have a very small impact as well. I would also recommend learning about maximum point blank range. This concept has you sight your rifle in at a distance that maximizes the range at which you can hold exactly on an animal and still hit the vitals. For instance, some rifles may be zeroed at 250 yards to allow the hunter to hold dead on for any range from zero to 300 yards. Sighting in in this way gives you as the hunter a real advantage when hunting out west. As others have mentioned, read about the effect that angle has on point of impact as well. A steep angle up or down will make your bullet impact higher than it would on a flat ground shot of the same distance. Feel free to send me a PM if you need assistance- would love to help.
okielite
Banned
Jump on one of the bullet drop programs and enter your information (BC, elecation, temp, humidity, etc) where you live. Then change the elevation and temp and it will give you an idea of how different the bullet will fly where you will be hunting. As has been said earlier if you are shooing up to 200-300 yards it probably won't make a big difference.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
You guys are going to get him thinking too much again, LOL!!! Just sight the gun dead on at 200 yards where you live and go hunting!!! Then hold dead on the vitals for anything inside 300+ yards.
Manualman
Active Member
I've put a few animals in the freezer that wished I overthought shooting at them. I live in NJ and shoot here all the time and never worried about it. I shoot a Remington 7mm SAUM sighted 3 1/2 inches high at 100yds. I put it on them and shoot. My farthest shot was a doe antelope I took at 330yds
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
I agree with these folks, just get it sighted in and go hunting. Absolutely nothing wrong with being sighted in for 200 yards, but for me personally I like to have my rifles sighted in at 250 yards. I've always done it that way and I know my drop figures for up to 500 yards. Either way much success to you.