Sight-in for 338/378 Wthby

[Sourdough]

Was looking at a book last night that said to sight in a 338/378 Wthby at 400 yards for long range shooting. I currently have it set for 300 yards. Does anyone else agree with 400 yards? I have a Weatherby Accumark in 338/378, with a 3.5X15X50 Night Force scope. So far my longest shot has been a Moose at 787 yards. Ranged and dialed in.

I shoot a 30-06 also and have shot it for years. I have it set for 300 yards, and it works well without having to dial the scope out to 350 yards.

 

[Varminator 911]

Not me

I can see no reason to sight in any rifle for 400 yds. Nothing shoots that flat. The farthest I'd go with your gun is about 300. And that would only be with something the size of elk. If smaller targets were on the agenda, even 300 might be a little long for me.

If you sight in at 400 even something as flat as your 338-378 may shoot over at 200-300 yds. I don't want to have to worry about shooting over at midrange distances.

 

[ol mike]

Yuup 400yds is way too far.

Go the big game info dot com -punch in your bullet diameter -338 -the bullets BC -your elevation and approx. velocity and it will generate your guns 'MPBR' -maximum point blank range- ,meaning your bullet will not travel more than 3" above or below the line of sight.
That way you will be sighted in [just guessing here] 1 1/2" high at 100yds and not have to try to figure out where to aim on closer shots =200-300yds.
Out to 300yds you can hold on the upper shoulder and not have a worry in the world, beyond that it's time for you to -hold over-,dial the yardage or use a mildot.
Longrange sighting in is not for everybody ,-go over and play on biggameinfo dot com it's free...ME

 

[Buffalobob]

It is my experience that you should do what you are comfortable doing and used to doing (as long as it is right).

If you setup all of your hunting rifles the same way then you won't have to try to remember as much stuff at the critical time.

 

[Lightvarmint]

Was looking at a book last night that said to sight in a 338/378 Wthby at 400 yards for long range shooting. I currently have it set for 300 yards. Does anyone else agree with 400 yards? I have a Weatherby Accumark in 338/378, with a 3.5X15X50 Night Force scope. So far my longest shot has been a Moose at 787 yards. Ranged and dialed in.

I shoot a 30-06 also and have shot it for years. I have it set for 300 yards, and it works well without having to dial the scope out to 350 yards.

I guess it all depends on your hunting distances......

I zero all my LR rigs (338 RUM, 30/378, 338/378, 338 Lapua, 338 Lapua improved, 30/338 Lapua, 30/338 Lapua Imp, 6/284, 6.5/284, 22/6mm, 30-06 Ackly Imp, 30 STW) at 400 yards. It works superbly and it allows me to use the NF reticle vice turning knobs all the way out to 1000 yards. I would not even consider a different zero unless my shooting distances and conditions change.

James

 

[Pdvdh]

+400 yd zero

I also zero my rifles at about 450 yds. My 7mm RM and 300 WM don't shoot quite as fast or flat as Lightvarmint's calibers. That way I also can use the reticle of my IOR scope for hold overs out to 1000 yds.

It's not for the faint of heart, as you have to remember to hold under on any shots taken midrange (~100 to ~375 yds). But long range hunting isn't for the faint of heart either...

If you're going to turn turrets, you might as well sight in at 300 yds. That way you can hold dead on out to 350 yds on any large game sized animals. Then you'll have to crank the turrets for the longer yardages.

 

[Boman]

The places I hunt that wouldn't work so great. I'd rather zero for 100-200yds and dial anything farther than that.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I have several 338-378's and they have different zero points for different applications. If you only shoot to 700 or so yards you can easily do that with a 200 grain ballistic tip at 3600 fps and a 400 or so yard zero. I get over 3700 fps in one rifle. If you are setting it up for long range then the 300 grain bullet at 3000 fps is not a good idea to go with a 400 yard zero. For these I zero close and use my clicks for long range. The 200's are excellent bullets in this gun for short range extremely flat shooting in a big gun. If you plan on going beyond 650-700 yards then get a big bullet and use your clicks.