I am trying to decide what elevation to use on my custom turret from Leupold

what is the bullet drop difference from 1000 ft to 4000 ft of elevation? (eld x 178 gr 30-06)

Is it negligible or is it significant? 0 to 1 inch or possibly several inches? just curious as I try to decide

Depends on how far you are taking a shot. Because you're having a custom turret made (which is a mistake IMO) I assume you're staying inside 600 yards. Run the numbers for 70°F and a DA of 2000' and it'll be fine.

That turret is a 1/4 MOA which would work even better. More than once I've had a customer with a custom Leupold turret, and we took it off and used the 1/4 MOA version, because the custom one was not correct.

I appreciate the advice

I was thinking 50 degrees since I always hunt in winter and I was contemplating between 1500 and 2500 so I think you hit the mark with 2000

Until I come and get some training on long distance I dont see myself shooting past 250 yards. Might push 300 but that would be pushing it past my comfort level.

We will see how much better I shoot at 200 on this higher magnification scope. 200 is the most at the range I go to

Still curious as to bullet drop at elevation. Is their a formula like 1 inch per 2000 ft or anything like that to be aware of?

You don’t need a custom turret to shoot 200 yards.

It is free so why not

Again, it depends on distance, temperature and air density. But all that comes into play beyond 500 yards. Zero at 100 and a .30-06 with a 178 gr will have the same corrections to 500 yards, in all weather. From very hot to very cold you may have a .1 Mil or 1/2 MOA variance beginning at 400 yards. That is so small, you can still hit minute of coyote vitals.

If you kept the 1/4 MOA turret you already have, dial to 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 MOA, and you're now zeroed for 200 yards. 2 1/2 MOA for 300 yards. But the best process is to shoot it, and document your findings. What if your MV is off, that you gave Leupold? What if the scope does not track completely true? Then what the custom turret says is 200 and 300 yards, is now not correct.

An S.T.D. is free, that doesn't mean I want one.

Hey Bigfoot, I have two leupold custom dial on two different rifles. As I recall Leupold says to choose +/- 2000 feet in elevation of where you hunt. I did my regular rifle at 2500 feet and 50 degrees F. My mountain rifle I did at 5k feet and 40 F. I forget the humidity I choose. Both rifles are zeroed at 200 yards.

I have tested both out to 450 yards and they will hit a two liter soda bottle at that distance no problem. I seldom
Shoot past 350 yards when hunting but it is nice to know that the turrets are on. In the past I just used hold over when hunting but I really enjoy my custom dial now.

Dang, Im trying so hard to learn all this shooting lingo I almost asked yall what "STD" meant. Assuming its "not" rifle lingo then I figured it out:)

What he said will work.

But, everything else you give Leupold make it as accurate as you can. I have three, and have tested two of them pretty hard. I've posted all the results on live targets shot on pre-ranged hunting set ups. I stacked up three coyotes one morning on ranges from 100 to about 400 yards. Search my post for this to see exactly how it was used. I've also tested them, shooting one at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards to confirm, another set up I shot it at 100 and 300 yards. On this one, two shots were same hole holding dead on after dialing. On my 100-400 yard test elevation didn't vary more than 2". Point is, for me when I have given Leupold good data the dials all work great for my hunting conditions.

I do have my first Mil scope and am really liking this concept as well. Different hunts, different tactics to put em' on the ground.

No experience with those but Elk camp I hunted outofin Montana was one mile exactly at the range. 7mmSTW, 264 Win Mag, 257 WBY, 300 RuM and 7mm Mag were all right at one inch higher at 100 yards than at our range at about 600 where they were sighted in at 100 yards. Hold at 500 yards was If I remember correctly 6 inches lower at 500 yards. Still managed to hit a 1lb coffee can at 500 with 3 shots at 500 yards. Good enough for elk hunting

I have set up quite a few CDS Leupold turrets for folks and none unhappy with results.
All were hunters who occasionally get 400-500 maybe an occasional 600 yard at large game animals and when I started talking to them about dialing and MOA/ Mil their eyes glaze over and they of course have no clue.
It has its limitations but it can work and is better than Kentucky elevation

I guess we will have to test it out one day fireman. Thanks guys I like what I am hearing.

Give me an STD anytime. That means I got lucky with something skanky!!

Just purchased the Nightforce ultralight rings so should be getting her zeroed in the first week of June when they arrive. I am hoping the extra magnification will tighten up my groups at 200 yards. Boy this scope (VX6HD) is heavy and large compared to my trijicon accupoint.

There is no standard amount of deviation, as others have said. The reason some folks don't like custom turrets is because the deviations from reality become really significant at longer ranges. At 300 and in and for hunting purposes only, it won't matter. Once you get to 400 and out, significant changes in elevation, pressure, humidity, temp all play a role in drop. At 600 and out, even small changes in environment become a problem. Of course, changes in your load, moving from one lot of ammo to another, etc. could render your turret incorrect as well.

How I calculate drop at altitude is with the barometric pressure at that altitude. There’s 2 things you have to account for. 1- calculate your drop in the given environment at the altitude with the pressure commonly found at that altitude. You can calculate it more precisely once you have the exact conditions there. 2- verify your zero once there. Sometimes your actual zero will shift due to the environment.

For example, if you shoot at sea level with a standard pressure of 29.9, and then you want to run the numbers for 6000 feet, use 24.0 for pressure. This will account for the difference in altitude.

You will need to enter in the velocity of the round, BC, and other exact parameters. But inside of about 250 yards, there won’t be much difference.

Drop calculator: http://www.mega.nu/traj.html


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amp/air-altitude-pressure-d_462.html

Thanks chad and patriot