Zeroing distance

frumpy

frumpy

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Probably a newb question but I'll ask anyway.

I'm going to be taking out my new Stevens 200 .223 with bushnell 3x9 soon and need to zero it. Plan is to use it for coyotes as I'm doing my hunting course next weekend.

What distance should I zero it at? 100m? I plan on getting comfortable with it at my range out to 600m (hopefully anyway).
 
200 is the most common, lets you hold dead on out to 240ish.

Once you get more experienced you will learn hold overs and maybe get into difference scope options.

If you find your shots are almost always longer than 200.Then re-zero as you see fit.

For coyotes, I would use a 1L milk jug to practice and get confident shooting dog sized targets.

If you can hit that out to 300 you will be doing well.
 
frumpy said:
Probably a newb question but I'll ask anyway.

I'm going to be taking out my new Stevens 200 .223 with bushnell 3x9 soon and need to zero it. Plan is to use it for coyotes as I'm doing my hunting course next weekend.

What distance should I zero it at? 100m? I plan on getting comfortable with it at my range out to 600m (hopefully anyway).
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Depends a lot on the load your shooting... Figure out what your gun likes for ammo and let us know, I can pull the ballistic data for most factory loads giving you a fairly decent ballpark on drops out and past 600M... Or do it the old fashion way and zero +3" at 100M then shoot groups @ 25m 200m 300m out to any practical distance you intend to shoot at...

Most bullets start dropping like stones past 350M so haveing some basic ballistic data is a big help but it varys wildly between a 50gr varmint bullet and a 70+gr match bullet... If you have a iPhone or iPod touch I highly reccomend the program "iSnipe".
 
Thanks for the info. I guess first things first, I need to figure out what to shoot. I grabbed a couple boxes of the cheap Winchester fmj (not for hunting). I'll grab a few different varmint rounds to try out before I go to the range. any recommendations?

I have an 8" gong that I was planning on using, I figure if I can hit that coyotes should be about the same size target area.

I'll grab isnipe for my phone for sure, thanks
 
frumpy said:
Thanks for the info. I guess first things first, I need to figure out what to shoot. I grabbed a couple boxes of the cheap Winchester fmj (not for hunting). I'll grab a few different varmint rounds to try out before I go to the range. any recommendations?

I have an 8" gong that I was planning on using, I figure if I can hit that coyotes should be about the same size target area.

I'll grab isnipe for my phone for sure, thanks
Click to expand...

Zero it using clay birds at 200 meters, they are about 4" and perfect for what you want your .223 to do.
After zeroing, check it at 100 and 300 and you're good to go!:D
Cat
 
Of all the cheap bullets on the market the WWB 45 gr at 3600 fps is pretty good in all of my 223, one inch or so at 100 metres ... JP.
 
I'll second the iSnipe, but before you buy it check out the free ballistic calculators available. You get very few options but maybe all you need. I think BulletDrop is free, also Mil-Dot. Then once you've become a calculator whore, like me, you need to get BulletFlight too.
Good luck
 
Thanks for the info. I'm going to grab a few different types to try out. Is hornady worth the extra cash? I was thinking of trying the mfs sp too ($11ish a box so I could shoot lots on the range vs hornady which is pretty much double)
 
223 to hit paper at 600 yards. Didja look at the ballistics? With a 55 gr zero' at 100 yds, the drop is like 59". In laymans terms, that's 5 feet.

Estimating 5 feet at 500 yards is tough man. Unless you really practice, those are going to be some tough a$$ shots, particularly when Mr. Wile. E is moving.
 
I'm going to zero at 200m. That's also why I plan on practicing lots, and I probably wouldn't take a shot on a moving coyote at that distance.
 
catnthehatt said:
Zero it using clay birds at 200 meters, they are about 4" and perfect for what you want your .223 to do.
After zeroing, check it at 100 and 300 and you're good to go!:D
Cat
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^^. This. A coyote does not have an 8" kill zone. If you can hit the clays at 300, then move to 4 and 5 progressively. You should be able to hit the clays at your preferred distance 9 out of 10 times. Once you can, then you are ready for those shots on animals. Also try different shooting positions..
 
gtrussell said:
Remeber, the op is from Ontario.
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^This... the likelyhood of having a shot present itself here at anything avor 3-400 yards isunlikely... and even then you are setting yourself up for that shot....

Frumpy, your plan to site in at 200 is the way to go... then practice out to 400 for ####s an dgrins and you will be set for almost anything around here...
 
caramel said:
Of all the cheap bullets on the market the WWB 45 gr at 3600 fps is pretty good in all of my 223, one inch or so at 100 metres ... JP.
Click to expand...

Yes... very good for the money.... I shot this out of my handi rifle using a lawnchair and a monopod....lol....


IMG-20111127-00138.jpg
 
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