changing bullet weights and scope settings?

JCnAR

New member
I may show my ignorance here, but please bear with me.

Since some calibers offer a pretty broad range of bullet weights, do you typically choose one bullet type/weight to sight in for and then stick with that? That's pretty much what I've always done, find a load I like and stay with it, or close to it anyway.

I've never tried it, but I've wondered if its possible to sight in a scope for one bullet, say a 120gr, then sight in for a different bullet, say a 75gr, make note of the setting changes and then, depending on the type of hunting I'm doing, change the scope settings back and forth for the size/type of bullets I plan to hunt with on that day. It would certainly depend on having a scope with reliable settings, that you could trust would be set exactly the same each time you changed to one setting or the other.

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I'd like to find out what others do, or if anyone has ever tried this and what were the results.
 
Lots of guys do that, so I suppose there is nothing wrong with it. Personally, it's too much for me to remember, so I like to keep it simple and use one projectile. But if you don't need Ginko Biloba to remember where your car keys are, it will probably work for you.


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: possum1I do that alot. I keep a handy-dandy notebook with the adjustments wrote down where I can find them.


See, that's what I would do. But I would lose the notebook
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Chupa
 
I record everything on paper. I have CRS (cant remember stuff) & CRAFT (cant remember a friggen thing) real bad. I change my pills often just for fun and to see what works and what works better. So, yes, go for it and have fun.
 
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Interesting, I've never known or heard of anyone doing that. Do you mark the turrets somehow or do you just keep notes on how many clicks?
 
This may show my intelligence level but I'm sittin here looking at my elevation and windage turrets and I'm thinking...how i'n the heck do I mark that?
 
One of the guys I hunt with uses two loads for his 243.
70 Nosler Ballistic tips for predators and varmints and 90 or 95 grain Noslers for deer . He attaches the appropriate range card to the rifle stock for drops depending on which load he's using.
The downside is the rifle has to be re-zeroed when he changes loads as the harmonics of the barrel "can" change ( along with point of impact, think windage )with different bullet wieghts . It works very well for him.
I use the KISS method, use the appropriate bullet for the largest animal you plan to hunt and over kill everthing smaller. Not the best plan if you want to keep hide though.

Mike
 
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Originally Posted By: ChupathingyOriginally Posted By: possum1I do that alot. I keep a handy-dandy notebook with the adjustments wrote down where I can find them.


See, that's what I would do. But I would lose the notebook
grin.gif



Chupa
get you some Rite-in-the-Rain paper and tape it to your buttstock. I hear you about the notebook, that is why my info is written and/or stored in a few different locations...including the computer.

There is no problem with having a different zero for multiple loads of the same caliber, just remember the dope for each or have it on you for quick refrence. you'll be good to go.
 
Originally Posted By: getfoxyThis may show my intelligence level but I'm sittin here looking at my elevation and windage turrets and I'm thinking...how i'n the heck do I mark that?

My scope has mildots and high turrets. After you sight it in you "zero" the knobs by taking them off and indexing them again. For long range work you just dial up, over etc. When you're done just return them to zero. You could use them for different bullets too. Bullet A zero, bullet B three clicks left 2 up, or whatever it takes. If you were shooting long range you would have to remember to add the difference.
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You would almost need a chart printed to tape on your stock for the different bullets. Out to 300 most are pretty clost, past that drop and wind can very a bunch.
 
I know a fair number of people who sight in their rifles for two different loads, and then just keep a note somewhere so if they do want to change they can just adjust their scope.

About the only draw back I can see to that is forgetting which load you have your gun currently sighted in for.

Oh and I should mention that some cheap scopes are not reliable with their clicks. I have seen enough rifles that grouped well, but were a PITA to sight in because the buget scopes on top of them wouldn't make repeatable adjustments. Though its not a common thing to see it does happen.
 
Originally Posted By: spiaailliOriginally Posted By: getfoxyThis may show my intelligence level but I'm sittin here looking at my elevation and windage turrets and I'm thinking...how i'n the heck do I mark that?

My scope has mildots and high turrets. After you sight it in you "zero" the knobs by taking them off and indexing them again. For long range work you just dial up, over etc. When you're done just return them to zero. You could use them for different bullets too. Bullet A zero, bullet B three clicks left 2 up, or whatever it takes. If you were shooting long range you would have to remember to add the difference.
smile.gif


You would almost need a chart printed to tape on your stock for the different bullets. Out to 300 most are pretty clost, past that drop and wind can very a bunch.

+1
 
Originally Posted By: CraigAbout the only draw back I can see to that is forgetting which load you have your gun currently sighted in for.


Good point!
 
Ginko Biloba works, eh? Does it work on glasses, watch, and wallet also?

If it works with cell phones, sign me up, I'll take a case.
 
I use different colored sight paint to mark my turrets for zero with different
loads. I also have targets entered into my shooting software shot with my
main load zero setting. Pulling up the target will always give me the zero
correction needed for that load.
 


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