Just reading this thread while searching on the forum. Can someone clarify what is probably a stupid question!
You're zeroed 1inch high at 100yards. With your chosen bullet (EG: 243 100gr sako gamehead) you're flat out to 150yards. The drop at 200yards is 2.75 inches. Assuming 1/4 moa per click you add 4 clicks (6 clicks - 2 clicks for the 1inch high zero). I think I understand that if you were dead on at 100yards it would be 6 clicks but I'm struggling to be sure of how I account for that initial inch high at 100 in terms of MOA clicks. I'm thinking 2 clicks of 1/4 at 200yards being 1 inch?
For those hitting an inch high at 100 or 1.5” or 2” whatever suits there needs and cartridge trajectory the idea is know it’s hitting an inch high at 100 means no dialling. Aim and squeeze out to 200 and the impact should be in the kill zone.
It’s about keeping it simple and those methods are all rule of thumb. But they all work.
If you are dead on at 100m the trajectory of a given load and projectile path may well go higher past that point before it drops again and after 200 the rate of drop increases .
At point is it flat. So I’m saying it’s not flat at 150. It may be impacting on the mark at 150 but flat does not come into it.
To me up another 1.75 inches at 100 would be 7 clicks. (11 clicks to 2.75”) Now you are 2.75inches high at 100. If 2.75” high at 100 gets you on at 200 great. It will vary between rifles and the actual group size will theoretically the group size will be double the group you are getting at 100. So a 1” group becomes about 2” at 200 and increase again over distance so 300 yards results in a 3” group and that is not taking in environmental factors it is just how the level of accuracy Decreases with distance. That’s why competition targets increase in size or steel plates are larger at distance because even a good rifle and load that shoots less than one inch at 100 will increase the group size over distance. Look into understanding MOA ( minute of angle)
Mil Radians is another angular measurement in target scopes that uses an angular measurement of 1/3600th of a circle It’s by coincidence that it is used in multiples of tenths that make it simple for those who use the metric system and decimals. And some European hunting scopes click adjustment values are 1cm at 100m. That equals 0.1 of a mil radian.
Thaw Answer,
So if you start at 100 and you know a given drop for the load and rifle on a given distance then work from the 100yard zero to make adjustment. In your case it’s dropping 2.75” below the 100 yard zero.
Either physically wind back the 4 clicks and it should be on at 100 and then add the 11 clicks to achieve an increase of 2.75” a 200 zero
Or minus the 4 from 11 in your equation to calculate the 7 clicks required to be on at 200 that is known as to be 2.75” lower than 100.
As a stalker you possibly don’t have time to range, calculate and dial. Most hunters shoot within 200 and dialling is not required and probably most don’t do it.
Enter the age of long range hunting where people are ranging animals past 500 yards with less chance of spooking the animal and time to make calculations and adjustments then it’s a different story and a different scope and rifle combination.
If you are stalking with a hunting rifle and a 3-9 or 4-12 scope designed for “Stalking” then is designed to be zeroed and used.
The rule of thumb rules I know are
.222 or .223 zero at 50 and it’s good to 200.
.222 or .223 an inch high at 100 is good to 200
Both methods work for Kangaroo shooters who harvest daily for a living. Yes, the trajectory is not flat but they make the subtle holdover or hold under as required. Most shots are likely to be under 150 with 200 being a long shot.
Another is an inch and a half to 2” high at 100 works for most hunters. Forget dialling and work out the hold over or under for your purposes.
Or just sight at 150yards for that .243 I expect your group will be over an inch on a calm day but you will be in the kill zone between 100 and 200 for your purposes.
