Re: 308 zero?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I do not hold to this for the simple fact that wind will have a greater effect as time of flight increases. </div></div>
I think you misunderstood me LW. My method is geared more towards a more inexperienced shooter which I'm assuming the OP is or he wouldn't have asked the question. I wouldn't tell you how to zero your rifle. The logic behind what I said is this....
We don't zero our reticles to put a single round in a particular spot. We zero our reticles to put numerous rounds as close to POA as possible...We're dialing out variation. Variation from ammo, chamber/case temperature, barrel, and all the little mistakes we make as shooters (trigger, breathing, etc).
When you print a group during zero you dial the reticle to move the center of the group to POA, and as you know...that center may not even have a round through it, yet that is our zero. The size of that group represents variation from all sources mechanical and human.
Most people look at their groups and judge them purely on size but I took the time to examine mine over a period of 2 years. What I found was that I had more variation latterally than I had vertically even during no wind conditions at 100 yards. It was just a guess on my part but I assumed that the reason for better elevation control was due to the rifle being braced. In other words...if you're on a decent bipod and the stock is properly braced on a bag, monopod etc, its harder to shank one vertically than it is to shank one laterally, since lateral control is less dependent on equipment and more affected by shooter movement such a a poor trigger squeeze.
I started zeroing windage at 200 yards to increse the size of the groups and make it easier to see that lateral variation, which can be tough when zeroing at 100 since my rounds are stacked tighter. Remember...I'm zeroing the windage knob at 200...<span style="text-decoration: underline">not</span> correcting for wind. I only do this in zero wind conditions. What I found by doing this is that my windage is more accurate at long range.