New to dialing turrets....question

[JMack]

got some range time in yesterday....have new Leupold vx6hd and after testing some loads at 100 I decided to send a few down range at steel. 180gr Sierra pro hunters .308 cal out of my 300win. I'm guessing at the velocity around 2850 based on my powder charge. Anyway I ran the numbers thru a ballistic call that told me I needed to dial 11 clicks for 300 yards if I was zeroed at 100, which I am for now. I dialed 11 and shot high, dialed 9 shot high, 6 high then 4 bingo hit at 300. I could see the hits high in the snow covered backstop. I then shot 400 by dialing to 6, the hit 500 by dialing to 9.

Did I type something wrong into online ballistic calculator, because the numbers it gave me were all way too high?

I'm relatively new at dialing I'm switching from holdover reticles.

Thanks

 

[davsco]

you want to chrono and not guess on your velocities, they make a big difference. also check your sight height over bore (measure from centerline of scope to centerline of barrel) and your bullet's ballistic coefficient. and double check what your 'clicks' actually are and that your ballistic calculator has them entered correctly.

 

[davsco]

and yeah you're off by almost a factor of 3x (11 spec'd vs 4 actual) so you have something mixed up, prob more so than velocity. double check what you have in your calculator for moa or mil and that it matches your scope, and also check what you have in there for #clicks per moa or mil and that it matches your scope.

 

[JMack]

Thanks I'll go back and check everything with the calculator. I'm planning on running my pet loads thru a chrono.

 

[BULLBLASTER]

Were you counting actual clicks? Or reading the markings on the elevation dial?

 

[JMack]

Reading the markings

 

[Dr. Vette]

Did you ever verify beyond 100 yards?
If not, it doesn't take much error at 100 to start being off at 300.

 

[JMack]

Did you ever verify beyond 100 yards?
If not, it doesn't take much error at 100 to start being off at 300.

No this was my first time actually taking it past 100. I used it this past hunting season for deer but my shots are 100 or less, mostly 40-50yards. So Sunday was my first trip to my local 500 yard range and after some load testing I decided to send a few with the extra ammo I had loaded for hunting season.

 

[BULLBLASTER]

The markings on the scope dial are in moa. Your calculator was giving you clicks.

Per your 300 yard example you mentioned 11 clicks as your output but actual impact happened at the "3" marking on the turret. Which would be 12 scope clicks. Remember there are 4 clicks per moa, or 4 clicks per numbered marking on your scope dial.

Dialing to 9 for impact at 500 yards seems reasonably close also for your 180 grain bullet. That would be 36 clicks.

 

[JMack]

The markings on the scope dial are in moa. Your calculator was giving you clicks.

Per your 300 yard example you mentioned 11 clicks as your output but actual impact happened at the "3" marking on the turret. Which would be 12 scope clicks. Remember there are 4 clicks per moa, or 4 clicks per numbered marking on your scope dial.

Dialing to 9 for impact at 500 yards seems reasonably close also for your 180 grain bullet. That would be 36 clicks.

This makes sense as to what happened. Thanks for explanation

 

[JMack]

The markings on the scope dial are in moa. Your calculator was giving you clicks.

Per your 300 yard example you mentioned 11 clicks as your output but actual impact happened at the "3" marking on the turret. Which would be 12 scope clicks. Remember there are 4 clicks per moa, or 4 clicks per numbered marking on your scope dial.

Dialing to 9 for impact at 500 yards seems reasonably close also for your 180 grain bullet. That would be 36 clicks.

That said this scope will really get me out there. Wow

 

[alf]

Also, stop thinking/using clicks, use MOA for ballistics & drops. You'll go crazy trying to count 48 clicks when 12 MOA gets you there in 2 seconds.

Example....when the chart says 11 1/2 MOA, dial to 11 and add 2 clicks, & shoot.

 

[JMack]

Also, stop thinking/using clicks, use MOA for ballistics & drops. You'll go crazy trying to count 48 clicks when 12 MOA gets you there in 2 seconds.

Example....when the chart says 11 1/2 MOA, dial to 11 and add 2 clicks, & shoot.

Good point

 

[snox801]

Yep these guys got you covered. I see it a lot with newer guys going past 100. Easy mistake. Also you see how quick a bit off left and right will get you at distance