Please help a new guy out

strangerdude562

Private
Minuteman
Sep 18, 2010
5
0
36
Long Beach, CA
Setup
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308
Bushnell Elite 3200 Tactical 5-15x40
Base: Badger Ordnance 20 MOA
Rings: TPS 1" Steel rings
Harris Bipod 6-9 non swivel

Ammunition:
Prvi .308 168gr Match
Remington .308 150gr

First of all hello fellow shooters. Okay so I just completed my rifle and am out to the range this Friday. I can't wait to shoot it but am very nervous that I won't be able to properly use my scope. I plan to bore sight and shoot out to 500 yards, maybe 700. I just have a few questions.

With a 20 moa base at what range do I zero my rifle?

What equation do I use to get the bullet drop?

I have a .308 ballistic card, @ 500 yards there is a -11.6 moa drop. How do I dial that?

Honestly whatever info you can pass along that you know would have helped you on your first shoot I would very much appreciate it, thank you!
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

You need to chrono your rounds to get your velocities. From there you can get an accurate drop chart using many ballistic calculators, some of wich are free on the web.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alex_88</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Setup
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308
Bushnell Elite 3200 Tactical 5-15x40
Base: Badger Ordnance 20 MOA
Rings: TPS 1" Steel rings
Harris Bipod 6-9 non swivel

Ammunition:
Prvi .308 168gr Match
Remington .308 150gr

First of all hello fellow shooters. Okay so I just completed my rifle and am out to the range this Friday. I can't wait to shoot it but am very nervous that I won't be able to properly use my scope. I plan to bore sight and shoot out to 500 yards, maybe 700. I just have a few questions.

With a 20 moa base at what range do I zero my rifle?

<span style="color: #CC0000">Zero it as usual, it just allows for more travel in the scope for elevation adjustment. 200 yds should be good.</span>

What equation do I use to get the bullet drop?

<span style="color: #CC0000">http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator</span>

I have a .308 ballistic card, @ 500 yards there is a -11.6 moa drop. How do I dial that?

<span style="color: #990000">On most scopes 1 click = 1/4 inch at 100 yards (check your scope though) so to dial 11.6 moa, you would need 46.6 clicks on the elevation.</span>

Honestly whatever info you can pass along that you know would have helped you on your first shoot I would very much appreciate it, thank you!

<span style="color: #CC0000">I'd tell you, but I'm still saving money for my scope. Got the HK bug a few months ago and now I have a USC to covert to UMP and a MP5 built from demilled MP5. </span>

</div></div>
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

I prefer a 100 yard zero. once you are on target you 'slip the scales' and that is loosening the big honkin set screw holding the turret inplace if you have the model i am thinking it is. The turret pulls up some and can be spun without changing the rifle's point of impact (POI)

Not sure your velocities but from a 100 yard zero my rifle needs another 10.5 moa to go to 500 yards. Sounds like your card is setup to run on a 100 yard zero.

The easiest way to dail adjustments on is to forget clicks and learn to read. they put numbers on the dials. 11.6 moa is 11.5moa to a shooter so halfway between 11 and 12 is where you want to be. If your scopes is less than 15moa per rotation. Say only 10moa per rotation then you count 1 moa past the main scribe mark with the number zero on it and then go halfway to the next number (2).

It becomes easier and apparent once you do it a few times. You will dial the wrong way a few times and dial right wind when you wanted left.

But its called the learning curve for a reason.

You should record the actual MOA readings it took to hit at whatever distance you shoot along with the temp. look into a shooter's logbook.

Good luck, just remember we all started out shakey.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Bore sighted or not, start at 25 and make sure you are on paper and adjust off that. Then go to 100 shoot a group and adjust off that to zero and fine tune. I would recommend a 100 yard zero.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Zeroing at 100 yards is never a bad start. I guess the biggest question is what range will you be shooting at the most? I know you said some 500 and 700 yard shots. If that is going to be your "normal shot" then maybe consider zeroing in at a different range. Good luck and have fun. You will have to let us know how Friday goes for you.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

You might want to read some of the articles on Zak Smith's DemigodLLC website. Good detailed introductory information, particularly about why to zero at 100. It takes a while to get all this together, so don't be in too much of a hurry.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Yeah, Zak is full of good info. the FAQ's in the optics section here would be another good place to spend some time. I will not bore you with reiterating what the other have said... I think they pretty much covered it for you.

Like the one guy said, we all started somewhere. You'll get it brother. Good luck.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">get on paper at 25.
Zero at 100.

Shoot better ammo.

11 moa is 11 moa, does not matter the distance. Dial in 11 moa and shoot.
</div></div>

Yep, what he said. Let us know how it goes.

okie
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Based on other posts using similar equipment in the "Range Report & Exterior Ballistics" forum, I'd guess the 168s will be in the neighborhood of 2600 fps (+/- 50 fps) from your setup. According to JBM Ballistics (link below), that would give you a drop of 12.1 MOA at 500 yd.

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj_simp-5.1.cgi

JBM is an internet-based ballistic calculator site that you can check out if you want to compare numbers with your ballistic card values.

The main point on your first day out is to have fun above all else. Of course, it's always a lot more fun when you're shooting well (LOL). So when you stretch things out to 500 or 700 yd, it would be helpful if you have someone with you that can act as your spotter and assist you in getting on target if your drops are not quite spot on, particularly if you don't have accurate MV data. Alternatively, you can use dirt if available to spot your point of impact if you're really far off on the first shots. Anything that helps you get on target will make your first trip with the new rig that much more enjoyable. Finally, even if you're absolutely positive you've got the elevation correct, don't forget the wind!

Good luck, have a great time, and let us know how it goes!
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

As others have set start around 50 yards, see where you are on paper.

Move your -0- to your impact, then move out. I have my SPS tactical zeroed around 250 yards. Mainly due to where I will be hunting this year I wont see anything closer than that.

If this is your first trip with a LR rifle, dont go jumping out 500-1000 yards, just small, get use to the rifle, see its abilities close to home, then move out.

Most of all, have fun.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Okay, just got back from the range. I was out there a total of five hours, took my AK-47 that needed to be zeroed and the Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308 All in all it took me ten rounds to zero the scope, I'm not sure If that's a good number for a totally new shooter. It's weird, I boresighted and had to adjust elevation by about 10 clicks and windage by about 6. So when I finally got zeroed my turrets were on zero, I never had to readjust my turrets to the zero mark. Here are my groups. I was told by a few to get better ammo, but damn I think this Prvi did a damn good job. I am officially hooked. It's just too bad they cut me to part time and money is tight.
<span style="font-weight: bold">100 Yards Prvi Partizan .308 168gr</span>



<span style="font-weight: bold">25 yards Prvi Partizan .308 168gr</span>
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Looks good.

FYI, the American eagle 168 gr OTM load (not the 150), is usually about the same price or cheaper than P P.

It uses the Speer 168 grain match bullet, far superior to the prvi bullets.
The brass is better also, the primers are crimped in place.

Palmetto State armory had it for about 15 a box.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks good.

FYI, the American eagle 168 gr OTM load (not the 150), is usually about the same price or cheaper than P P.

It uses the Speer 168 grain match bullet, far superior to the prvi bullets.
The brass is better also, the primers are crimped in place.

Palmetto State armory had it for about 15 a box. </div></div>


Gonna order some for sure, just checked them out. Thanks for the info.
 
Re: Please help a new guy out

Personally do what you can to get yourself some reloading equipment. Not only will you save some money but more importantly the ammo you produce will be better and more accurate. In the meanwhile I was looking up some match ammo prices for a buddy of mine, before he decided to listen to me and spring up the money for reloading equipment, and ran into several threads here on Southwest ammunition's match ammo and even a review by Low Light. The stuff seems very good and their pricing compared to Federal Gold Medal (a perenial favorite) is very good. If I were buying ammo I would definately give them a try. Still I can't stress it enough : GET YOURSELF RELOADING !!