Early Anniversary present..... Question about Zeroing in Rifle?

Hey everyone as many of us do I hunt low fence here in Texas and have for well over a decade! It’s what I was taught and always believed in I never imagined hunting a farm/fenced property. Today is my 9 year wedding anniversary and my wife decided to give me 5 boxes of ammo and inform me that next Late November/early December we are going to The legends ranch in Bitely Michigan. I get to hunt the Michigan rut and she gets to spoil herself with massages and etc.
Not sure what I did to deserve this however if this is her idea of a 10 year anniversary I’m game.
The wife bought Ammo for my 7mm Rem Mag. A rifle that I purchased last year as one day I HOPE to be able to go out west on a free range spot and stalk mule deer hunt. Since she figured it’s time to use this gun I have a question????

I have never hunted anything other than Texas! I’ve always shot flat shooting round calibers and zeroed my rifles in at 100 yards as thats what I was taught and it always Took care of the job in the places that I hunted. I know I’m only hunting Whitetail however I’m new to 7mm and hunting in the great north woods of Michigan.
After looking at the Ballistics on the Box I’m questioning what should I Zero my rifle in at ?
100?
150?
200?
I personally just got off the phone with a gentleman up at legends and he said when we get there I will of course visit there shooting range to ensure that my rifle is zeroed in. He said The average shot is between 100 and 150 yards.

For those of you who have shot a 7mm and now see what my ammunition is what would you zero your rifle in at?


Thanks



nosler 7mm remington mag by nicole clark, on Flickr

I would zero at 200, not take any shots over 250, and simply put the crosshairs where you want to hit. Keep it simple.

This is what I do for all my rifles. Keep it simple, and if they're all standardized you don't have to remember what the particulars are for each rifle. Just stick with same ammunition for that rifle.

That is basically what I’m wanting stick the crosshairs on the shoulder Or vitals whichever I get a better shot at and pull the trigger. I don’t care where the animal is standing I want to be able and do my part and hey it done.
I’m not into this whole the crosshairs about an inch above a certain spot kind of guy.
I get it in Texas we can zero in at 100 yards and pretty much pull the trigger and land animal ou I get it in Texas we can zero in at 100 yards and pretty much pull the trigger and lay an animal out.
I have Shot a 7mm however I’ve never really learned how stable it is in the field as I have with other calibers.

Thanks for your response

For your purpose, zero it at 200 yards, and anything inside of 250 you are good.

I zero my 7mm (My Go To) at 200 with HSM 168gr Berger VLDs. It covers you at anything shorter, and a little distance past given good optics, conditions, and practice.

Thanks chad I was waiting for your response!

yep, exactly what I do with my 7mm RM. I dial in to be about 1.3 high at 100 and spot on at 200 with the ammo I shoot for the past 39 years (how long I've had my 7mm). My gun really likes the Federal Premium Sierra Game King BTSP 150 grain with the 165 grain a close second for factory loads, as it breaks paper on a 5 shot group at 200 yards about the size of a quarter or a dime at 100 off a bench. Should be good easily out to 250 with 1.3 high at 100 and 2.4 low at 250.

Does your wife have a single sister?

FIFY

No haha

Yes she’s a keeper

The distance from my deer blind to my farthest feeder is 150 yards. I also have a feeder at 100 yard, but most of the shots are closer to the farther feeder. I have a target set up next to that feeder that we use to zero in and make sure that our rifles are accurate. When checking my rifle, I put the most emphasis on the first shot. When hunting, my rifle barrel is cold, so that first shot at the target needs to as close to hunting conditions as possible. I know that after 3 to five shots, my barrel gets hot, and then it shoots differently, so my second shot is ten minutes after my first shot, and the third is ten minutes after my second. If I'm not hitting where I'm supposed to be, I might take two more shots every ten minutes, but that's it. I will come back tomorrow and do it again.

I learned from a pretty good competitive shooter how much a hot barrel is different then a cold barrel. I also saw first hand at the rifle range where people would discount their first couple of shots because their rifle became more accurate when it warmed up. It was true. First couple of shots where off, but by the time he got to the end of the box, he had some really nice groups.

In my opinion, if your shooting gets better with a warm barrel, you have the wrong ammo. I tried just about every brand, and every weight until I found what worked best with my rifle We are still fine tuning that with my wife's rifle, but she is pretty close right now. Not quite an inch, but well under 2 inches.

IMO, I would zero the rifle 3" high at 100 yards. Where exactly are you going to find a 200 yard range?? 5 boxes of 7 Mag ammo is enough to permanently dislocate your shoulder. Bore sight the rifle and get it sighted in with as few rounds as possible. Verify the sight in again when you arrive.
Save the plinking for a different, more comfortable caliber/rifle.

200 yard zero would be good for your stated ranges. 150 would be even better. 2.25" high 100 yard zero will get you to 300 yards with the bullet plus or minus 3" of the point of Aim. Put it on the shoulder and let it eat out to 300 yards. No fuss no muss. Sight in depends on how far you want to stretch what you can do with no hold over or dialing. On whitetail I would want to stay plus or minus 3" of your line of sight. 2.25" high at 100 is going to be barely shy of maxing out a point and shoot setup for that 7RM with 140 Accubonds.

I grew up in MI. In that area end of November early December the rut is pretty much over. Also, Firearms is only from November 15-30. It is a beautiful area and will have some big deer. Plan to pack a lunch and stay in the blind all day. Never know when a big one will show up. Good luck!