the nuances of sighting in...

[best defense]

I've always found sighting in to be more work than fun. My old scope served me well for many years but it was a cheaply and fogged up in the rain and cold for the last several years. I replaced it this year along with the ammo since my original supply finally dried up... I don't shoot this much its a hunting rifle.

So I wanted to see if I could move the group over and out to 200 yards so I asked my friend and he took me to the TCGC 200/300 yd range but I didn't know they don't allow you to set up a 100yd target in line. We only had a couple hours and no time to drive back and forth to ranges with setup time but I was able to see that I could put rounds on paper at 300 yards while I was there so I made no adjustments and saved ammo. I was also disappointed to learn the hard way they didn't have sandbags to borrow, although I have a Harris bi-pod witch really helps there is still a lot of human error shooting out that far with the shoulder free to move and being hot summertime out I didn't have much for any improvised padding like a heavy jacket to put down...

ug, the nuances of sighting in. I just want my group to be centered on the bulls eye. I don't think I will get a chance at the range before hunting season so I'm thinking of going back out to my spot in the woods this Sunday. I have one spot that's 0-200 yards and another in a clear cut that goes out to 400yds (but is a huge pain to walk thru).

Does anyone else find this more work than fun? (deep down inside I'm having fun but its still work...)

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I thought your observance that TCGC does not provide sand bags interesting, and for the most part they don't, and definitely do not at the 200-300 yard line. However if you go down to the 100 yard line, they do usually have a few.
However, since you have a bi-pod, that should be a moot point. All you need is something to put under the but stock to keep it from going up and down and sideways when you breathe. Set up the bi-pod and whatever you are using at the rear for support. If you can pick up a bunny bag they work well.

Let me share something that has worked for me when I first start setting up and sighting in a new scope/rifle. I start with a 50 yard target. Usually plain white paper with a stick-on dot so that I can see the bullet holes more easily. I fire 2 or 3 rounds to see where the rifle will group. Next thing is prop the rifle up in a real solid rest, like on a bi-pod and get it aimed at the same point I used for shooting, i.e. the stick-on dot. Then without moving the rifle I dial the cross hairs to the group that I shot. Then I move to the 100 yard line and repeat the process.
This takes most of the work out of sighting in, and saves ammo as well.

I am also a member at TCGC and would be happy to help if you like. If I knew how to send a private message on this board, I would have, but that does not seem to be an option.

 

[Koda]

resurrecting this to share results of my saga...