Something strange

NHSHOOTER · March 30, 2014, 07:35 AM

I reload for my 7-08 and am always trying different powders and bullet weights, loaded some 120 gr nosler BT on top of 46 grs of CFE223. Took it to the range and shot it at 100 yds, it marked about 4" high which I figured was normal since the rifle was previously sighted for 150 gr match. My problem comes when I took it back to 200 yds. figuring it would shoot just about dead on or just a tad high, WRONG. It shot another 4"to 6" higher at 200..anyone have any ideas why this would happen?

kraigwy · March 30, 2014, 09:27 AM

If you sighted a rifle in at 600 yards, it will be high at 100 and higher yet at 200, and still higher at 300.

Also scope height has something to do with it, if you ever spent time with a M16/AR with iron sights on the carrying handle you'll see this.

Not near enough information to determine you case.

Longshot4 · March 30, 2014, 09:48 AM

Question: You shot at 100 Yds. Did you shoot a group or a single round and same at 200 Yds.
Second Q: Is your scope... secure? Third Q: If you were sighted in at 100Yds.. with a much heavier bullet and without changing your sights you would naturally be shooting much higher with the lighter bullet. I have not found loads for the 120Gr. bullet or with your powder for reference in my older hornady manual. Good luck

Art Eatman · March 30, 2014, 09:52 AM

Somewhere around 2" high at 100 would put you near dead-on at 200 or 225, +/-. 4" high at 100 would still be around that at 200, and close to dead on around 300 or maybe 350.

NHSHOOTER · March 30, 2014, 11:06 AM

I thought just as art says, if i was shooting about 4" high at 100 I should be on or just a bit high at 200 but that was not the case, I did shoot 3 shot groups and my scope and mounts are tight, my scope is also a low mount. I am just perplexed. I think I will just stick with the heavier bullets which it seems to like much better anyways, I can shoot lighter, faster bullets in my 243 and 223..

Unlicensed Dremel · March 31, 2014, 11:41 PM

Well, simple. The bullet is still rising, relative to your line of sight. It hasn't reached it's apex yet, or is right at the apex at 200. Since you are 10" high at 200, *if* it's at its apex, you have a rifle zeroed almost perfectly at about 350-360 yards with that particular load. Probably farther than you want. Light bullets go farther. Just crank point of impact down is all. For a 300 yard zero, you want to be about 6 and 1/4" high at 200, not 10 or 12".

NHSHOOTER · April 1, 2014, 05:40 AM

You make a very good point Dremel, it was pretty much what I was thinking. I had went from shooting a fairly slow 150 gr zeroed at 100 yds to a 120gr fairly hot load, makes perfect sense.
Thanks again to all for the feedback, the more I reload and shoot the more I learn.

March 30, 2014, 07:35 AM	#1
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	Something strange I reload for my 7-08 and am always trying different powders and bullet weights, loaded some 120 gr nosler BT on top of 46 grs of CFE223. Took it to the range and shot it at 100 yds, it marked about 4" high which I figured was normal since the rifle was previously sighted for 150 gr match. My problem comes when I took it back to 200 yds. figuring it would shoot just about dead on or just a tad high, WRONG. It shot another 4"to 6" higher at 200..anyone have any ideas why this would happen?

March 30, 2014, 09:27 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	If you sighted a rifle in at 600 yards, it will be high at 100 and higher yet at 200, and still higher at 300. Also scope height has something to do with it, if you ever spent time with a M16/AR with iron sights on the carrying handle you'll see this. Not near enough information to determine you case. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 30, 2014, 09:48 AM	#3
Longshot4 Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 868	Question: You shot at 100 Yds. Did you shoot a group or a single round and same at 200 Yds. Second Q: Is your scope... secure? Third Q: If you were sighted in at 100Yds.. with a much heavier bullet and without changing your sights you would naturally be shooting much higher with the lighter bullet. I have not found loads for the 120Gr. bullet or with your powder for reference in my older hornady manual. Good luck

March 30, 2014, 09:52 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Somewhere around 2" high at 100 would put you near dead-on at 200 or 225, +/-. 4" high at 100 would still be around that at 200, and close to dead on around 300 or maybe 350.

March 30, 2014, 11:06 AM	#5
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	I thought just as art says, if i was shooting about 4" high at 100 I should be on or just a bit high at 200 but that was not the case, I did shoot 3 shot groups and my scope and mounts are tight, my scope is also a low mount. I am just perplexed. I think I will just stick with the heavier bullets which it seems to like much better anyways, I can shoot lighter, faster bullets in my 243 and 223..

March 31, 2014, 11:41 PM	#6
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	Well, simple. The bullet is still rising, relative to your line of sight. It hasn't reached it's apex yet, or is right at the apex at 200. Since you are 10" high at 200, if it's at its apex, you have a rifle zeroed almost perfectly at about 350-360 yards with that particular load. Probably farther than you want. Light bullets go farther. Just crank point of impact down is all. For a 300 yard zero, you want to be about 6 and 1/4" high at 200, not 10 or 12".

April 1, 2014, 05:40 AM	#7
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	You make a very good point Dremel, it was pretty much what I was thinking. I had went from shooting a fairly slow 150 gr zeroed at 100 yds to a 120gr fairly hot load, makes perfect sense. Thanks again to all for the feedback, the more I reload and shoot the more I learn.