Hello,

I am preparing for my first deer hunt ever. I will have a guided hunt and the guider told me be prepared to shoot between 50 to 200 yards.


Details

I own this rifle https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19691. The scope is 3-9x40mm Nikon® scope

I zero my rifle at 100 yards.

I am using 308 Federal Sierra Gameking 165gr

I need some help please understanding how to use this application http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spoton/spoton.html#:10 I am using this to help me.


Questions:

1. What does it mean when it states "Set Sights To Shoot -0.10 Inches Low at 50 Yards for a 100 Yards Zero"? Does this mean drop the middle of cross hair down by -0.10 inches.

2. What does it mean when it states "Set Sights To Shoot -4.16 Inches Low at 200 Yards for a 100 Yards Zero"?

3. http://prntscr.com/ol4ggz what does the white circles and 192, 279 and means in this picture? Does this mean if my target is 192 yeards away I put the white circle at 192 on the target I am aiming at?

Thank you very much for the help

1. At 50 yards your POI will be .1 " lower than your POA if you are sighted in at 100 yards.
2. If you are sighted in at 100 yards your POA should be 4.16" higher at 2 00 yards.
3. With that ap you enter in your specific ammo and each bubble gives you the holdover at a specific range. For example, if you are sighted in for 100yards and the ap shows the first bubble shows 200, you aim with bubble on the target to hit at 200 yards. These values change with power setting of the scope so be careful with that. BTW, I hate the bubbles instead of stadia marks. You can also use the Expand BDC button on the lower left hand corner to get a finer tuned holdover.

You can get the holdover from the Ballistic Table button if this confuses you. It confuses me sometimes.

Thank you grizzlyman

Did you mean to write 4.16" lower instead of higher? The apps states lower.

I didn't look at any of those links you posted but I feel pretty firm about the advise im about to give you. From previous posts you have admitted to being very inexperienced. With that in mind a strongly suggest you do not aim at any spot on that deer except at the very center of where you want it to hit. Any other words, do not hold high or low. With a tremendous amount of practice prior to hunt then maybe but even then you have zero experience at a live deer. Not for me or others but for YOU I suggest you zero at 100 yards to hit about 1" above bullseye. Then get some help on your particular rifle setup on where you hit at further distances and DO NOT shoot at a deer if it is beyond a certain distance. Even if your rifle is dead on at 200 yards I think you should consider not taking that shot with your lack of experience. You WILL NOT hit exactly where you aim. As your experience broadens then my advice would change. As usual, just my 2cents.

He said point of aim. He stated it correctly. If zeroed at 100, then aim 4.16” higher for a shot at 200 yards.

Thank you grizzlyman,

Just to clarifiy. Please see screencapture. http://prntscr.com/ol5d33



If my rifle is zeroed at 100 yards, and the deer is 300 yards away, my POA is now abit below the 2nd bubble, correct? So now my shot placement (e.g., deer heart) on the deer is used with the 2nd bubble, correct?

Is my understanding correct?

Thank you QuitshootinYoungBucks,

ohhhhhh, I undertsand now. You see the app was stating "Set Sights To Shoot -4.16 Inches Low at 200 Yards for a 100 Yards Zero". So I was thinking drop my POA down by 4.16.

Thanks for the clarification.

If you have access and time to practice, I would suggest a range with 200 yard targets. Zero the rifle at 200 and you should be able to kill anything from 0-200. But as free range posted above, there’s nothing easy or given about a 200 yard shot on a deer when you are new to the sport. Practice, practice, practice, and NEVER be ashamed about passing on a shot you’re not comfortable with.

Yes but as QuitShootinYoungBucks said, if you aren't experienced and confident in that shot don't take it. If you have time to practice the shot using the reticle in this manner do it. Otherwise I wouldn't rely on it.

I have shot rifles a lot but I won't take a shot over 300 yards.

This is from Federals site for your factory load. 1 inch high at 100 will get you 2.2 low at 200. This is what I sight in for when medium to short range hunting with any 308 based case.

https://www.federalpremium.com/ballistics-calculator

Remember... on guided hunts (at least any I have ever heard of), if you draw blood, find it or not, that's your deer. Don't shoot unless you are confident in the shot.

As ntxtrapper stated above, set your zero on your scope for 1" high at 100 yards. By doing so, all you have to concentrate on is squeezing the trigger when your crosshairs are on target at any of the distances the guide told you to prepare for.

I would do exactly as several others have already suggested. sight in to hit 1.0" high at 100 yards. Keep it simple. Forget about all the circles in the reticle; just put the crosshairs on the intended spot. Don't shoot beyond 200 yards.

I agree with the KISS theory. Keep It Simple Stupid. Keep it simple, sight in 1" high, aim at the center of the shoulder crease, and you are good to go to 200. If the bullet drops 2" and you aim center crease, you are still well in the kill zone. You also have to factor in Adrenalin, and excitement. Trust me. On your first buck, you will probably be a basket case out there in the stand. Remove as many variable as you can so you can make a clean shot.

Texas Boy lots of good information here...lots! Let’s try and simplify this for ya. Your job is to be proficient with your rifle. You do that by practice at the range. “Proficient “ is different for everybody. At what range are you confident. Your guide will do the rest. Listen and follow his instructions. He just needs to know what shot you are capable of taking.

Worth mentioning that new hunters, in the excitement of the moment, sometimes shoot ‘at the deer’, rather than a spot on the deer. Take unclebubba’s advice on where specifically, to aim.

Like others have said I think sighted in 1 inch high at 100 yards and just don't worry about it is the way to go for your. Also the deer do not have a floating number above their head that says how far they are, so you will need some means to determine how far away they are/in/out of range.

Like 603Country said you need to pick a spot on the animal and aim specifically at it, not just crosshairs on brown and pull the trigger. I would also follow the advice of a poster above and keep it as simple as possible with the largest target possible and shoot dead middle of the shoulder, gives you the best margin in every direction. I started shooting my deer there and the larger margin for error and the fact that it puts them down in pretty short order had a lot to do with it.

Good luck practice and post pics

Thank you CharlieCTx,

Yes, I understand. This is why I am practicing alot at the shooting range bi-weekly.

Thanks,

Thank you very much Walkabout.

Right now I am comfortable at 100 yards. I only practice at 100 yards at the outdoor range. I am planning to shoot at 50 yards as well. I practice about 20 bullets bi weekly while sitting at the bench with sand bags.

Thank you so much redchevy.

Thank you Pitchfork Predator,

What does "set your zero on your scope for 1" high at 100 yards" means?

Thanks

Thank you all for the response.

Everyone is suggesting to sight in 1 inch high at 100 yards. I do not understand what this means. Right now I am zeroed at 100 yards.

What does sight in 1 inch high at 100 yards means?

Why do i need to sight in 1 inch high at 100 yards?

Thank you kindly.

It reduces your distance from Zero based on POA. if you sight your rifle in to be 1"+ at 100 yards then you will be 3.5"+ at 200 from POA, 1"+ at 100 from POA, and .5"+ at 50 from POA.

You have what we call an MOA scope, meaning inches are divided by 8. Simply unscrew the cap on the top of the middle of your scope. Under the cap is a dial with an arrow showing you which direction to turn the dial to move your point of impact up or down. When you move the dial it will click for each hash mark on the dial, which looks like the face of a clock. Turn the dial the direction the arrow shows to move the POI up. Move it 8 clicks up and put the cap back on. Now when you go to shoot your target at 100 yards the bullet will hit 1" above the center of the target and you will be ready to shoot at deer from 50-200 yards aiming for the middle of the shoulder.

One more thing I would suggest when you practice is to back the power off (5x-6x) on your scope and not have it all way on 9x. It gives you a bigger field of view and a little easier to pick the shot location and not just gray hair like others have said.