Re: establishing dope
Of course field data is the best to have as that is actually what your rifle is doing with the load and also with the scope as some scopes don't track 100% perfect. That said if he has no data but has his velocity a good ballistics program will get him on paper and then he can adjust that little bit to be right on. I use JBM for my match data and out to 500 yards it's always been right on. Even to 1000 it's only been of around .2 mils.
Data, dope, come ups etc are just words for what you need to adjust the scope to hit the target at any certain range.
To the OP, I would recommend a 100 yard zero on a precision rifle and learn your data from there. From a 100 yard zero anything you dial will be up, even when you come in to 50, 25 etc, so no chance of getting lost on the dial.