Sighting in 30-30 Marlin 336y, question.....

capercanuck

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Hi,

Ive sighted in many rifles before, always zero at 100 yards. I purchased a new 336y in 30-30 and sighted it in at 50yds this time. I was always under the impression if its dead centre at 50yds, it should pass back through centre at 200yds. I checked out an online ballistics calculator which tells me the bullet is approximately 7" low at 200yds. Can someone give me accurate info on the trajectory of a 150gr, HP, Winchester Power Max bullet if zeroed at 50yds?

Much appreciated!

Michael
 
Not sure where you heard that one but the zeroing distance to put you on at 200 is going to vary greatly depending on velocity of the bullet, length of barrel, BC of the bullet and height and height of rings to name a few. For 30-06ish trajectory with low rings it would be more like 25 yds ime. fwiw I zero my 30-30 at about 150 yds
 
Unfortunately we only have a 100yd range here. I wish we had a 200yd range to use. So according to the numbers above, sighted in at 50yds, im still within 4" out to 150yds. Thats good enough for me. Thanks guys.
 
If you assume that the diameter of the kill zone is 6", your ammo has a MPBR(maximum point blank range) of 217 yards. Your optimal zero in is at 187 yards. If you extrapolate that into a 50 yard range, you should be at 1.61" high at 50 yards. This means that if you continue to use your 50 yard range, ensure you are 1.61" high and you will hit anything within a 6" kill zone within 217 yards by just aiming dead centre.

If you keep zeroing at 50 yards, rather than being 1.61" high, your 6" kill zone is only achievable to 154 yards, so your selling yourself short. Comparatively, at 217 yards, your bullet will drop ~8" rather than just 3.
 
The 50/200 yard zero is very common for ar15 rifles as a "battle zero" all my hunting rifles I usually sight in at 1 or 2" high at 100 yards then I know I'm in the kill zone for 2-300 yards without holding over (depending on caliber)
 
If you assume that the diameter of the kill zone is 6", your ammo has a MPBR(maximum point blank range) of 217 yards. Your optimal zero in is at 187 yards. If you extrapolate that into a 50 yard range, you should be at 1.61" high at 50 yards. This means that if you continue to use your 50 yard range, ensure you are 1.61" high and you will hit anything within a 6" kill zone within 217 yards by just aiming dead centre.

If you keep zeroing at 50 yards, rather than being 1.61" high, your 6" kill zone is only achievable to 154 yards, so your selling yourself short. Comparatively, at 217 yards, your bullet will drop ~8" rather than just 3.

:sok2 wow , I had to read that twice, and I still don't get it!
 
He means you'll be no more than 3 inches high or 3 inches low all the way to 217 yards. But forget that its too far for what you're up to. Sight it in about two and a half inches high at 100 and go hunting. You'll be on at 150 and from what thinking that's as far as you should shoot with your 30-30 :)
 
:sok2 wow , I had to read that twice, and I still don't get it!

Sorry, it's getting past my bedtime. For those of you that haven't heard of sighting in for MPBR, there is a great explanation on chuckhawks.com http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm

The short of it is that if you want to maximize your range and be able hit a 6" kill zone within 217 yards by just aiming dead centre, sight in your rifle using the same 50 yard range, but ensure you are hitting 1.6" high.
 
The only way to know the point of impact at 200 yards, is to shoot the load out of your gun at 200 yards. If you only have access to a 100 yard range, then I would sight in at 100 yards , rather than 50 yards. Trajectory calculations can vary considerably from the real world trajectory, but the closer to 200 yards that you sight in at, the better your odds of being close to the calculated 200 yard point of impact.
 
Sorry, it's getting past my bedtime. For those of you that haven't heard of sighting in for MPBR, there is a great explanation on chuckhawks.com http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm

The short of it is that if you want to maximize your range and be able hit a 6" kill zone within 217 yards by just aiming dead centre, sight in your rifle using the same 50 yard range, but ensure you are hitting 1.6" high.

A 30 30 cant do that
 
I should add that I've tested the LeverEvolution at 200 yards with my Marlin (20" barrel), and it performs exactly as predicted by Hornady's charts. Groups 1.5" or better, if I'm on my game.

From Hornady's ballistic calculator: 160 gr FTX, BC .330

Muzzle 2400 ft /sec and 2046 ft. lbs.
50 2273 1836 +1.6
100 2151 1643 +3
150 2032 1467 +2.6
200 1917 1305 0
250 1806 1159 -4.9
300 1700 1027 -12.5

That's an MPBR of at least 250 yards. And check out the energy still left at 300 yards.

http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator
 
Last edited:
My Marlin sighted with a 175y zero shoots 1.5" high at 50y and 2.5" low at 200y

I bet its highest point is higher than 3.5 inches meaning it doesnt have a 6 inch mpbrange at 200 and the other guy said mpbr at 217 substantially farther for a 30 30. i didnt do any looking into it its just my first reaction as a 30 30 shooter. Plus if you try to extropolate from close range any mistake is multiplied. I tried it several times results would have been closer if i had just guessed.
 
I bet its highest point is higher than 3.5 inches meaning it doesnt have a 6 inch mpbrange at 200 and the other guy said mpbr at 217 substantially farther for a 30 30. i didnt do any looking into it its just my first reaction as a 30 30 shooter. Plus if you try to extropolate from close range any mistake is multiplied. I tried it several times results would have been closer if i had just guessed.

I've put about 400 rounds through it at ranges from 20y to 200y. The highest point is 2.5" @ around 100y. I've never shot it past 200y (2.5" low) but at 217y I would estimate another 1" down.
So with a 2.5" high and a 3.5" low, 6" is correct.

Cheers.
 
Using Hornady's ballistic calculator, and a sample of their conventional 30.30 ammo that's typical of traditional loads...

170 gr Interlock, BC .189, 200 yd zero

Muzzle 2200 ft / sec - 1827 ft lbs
50 1992 1497 +2.7
100 1796 1218 +4.7
150 1616 985 +4
200 1451 795 0
250 1306 644 -8.2
300 1186 531 -21.4

Comparison to the LeverEvolution is pretty stark. This round is dying at 200 yds, particularly if one holds to the rule that 1000 ft lbs is ideal for taking deer sized game.
 
I highly recommend the Fusion 170gr 30-30 ammo. It's got great downrange energy (over 1000ft/lbs out to 240y) and is very accurate
 
Using Hornady's ballistic calculator, and a sample of their conventional 30.30 ammo that's typical of traditional loads...

170 gr Interlock, BC .189, 200 yd zero

Muzzle 2200 ft / sec - 1827 ft lbs
50 1992 1497 +2.7
100 1796 1218 +4.7
150 1616 985 +4
200 1451 795 0
250 1306 644 -8.2
300 1186 531 -21.4

Comparison to the LeverEvolution is pretty stark. This round is dying at 200 yds, particularly if one holds to the rule that 1000 ft lbs is ideal for taking deer sized game.

Assuming these numbers are correct mpbr does appear to be arround 200 yards or a little more. As far as i can tell with my open sights if i zero at 100 my drop is about 8 inches at 200 metres giving me an area of about 9.5 inches instead of six if you include the + 1.5 or so on the way to 100. My mistake i was not taking the higher sight plane of the scope into account.
 
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