My son Jeremy and I recently returned from an unsuccessful bear hunting trip to the Rangeley Lakes area of Maine. Our lack of success was largely due to the 90 degree plus weather we encountered all week.
Upon returning I decided to get all the rifles checked out for deer season this fall in NYS. I had previously adjusted the point of impact on the 45-70 using 325 grain FTX Leverevolution bullets to be dead on at 25 yards and about 1/2 inch high at 50 yards, to correspond with our distance from the bait sites per our conversation with outfitter Dave Carey.
I tried the 45-70 at a measured 100 yards without any scope adjustment and found the point of impact for two shots touching each other was 3/4 inches high. I then took two shots at 200 yards without any sight adjustment. Point of impact for the FTX loads were 7 1/2 inches low at that distance.
I raised the 1/4 min click (Bushnell Elite 3200 1.5X5X32 scope 5 clicks), moved the target back to a lasered 150 yards and found myself pretty much dead on at that range. The surprise came when I moved the target to 75 yards for a final shot, and found myself 3.5 inches high at that range.
Hornady trajectory figures for the 45-70 indicate that if I sighted in 3 inches high at 100 yards with the Leverevolution ammo, I would be about 4.1 inches low at 200 yards. I imagine that the Mdl 1895 and the guide gun with a shorter barrel might vary from this somewhat. Trajectory figures are done on a computer and one must check individual rifles anyway. Since I have other flatter shooting rifles, I choose to turn the vertical adjustment back down enough to put me about 1.5 inches high at 100 yards. I was running out of ammo and since I need to order some more, I stopped at that point. I felt for woods hunting in NY, the 3.5 inches high at 75 yards was too much mid range height. It is far easier for me to laser a buck at 200 yards and make a hold over adjustment, than to take a shot and possibly shoot over a buck at 75.
95% of all the deer I have ever shot have been under 100 yards. I would rather be precise at the ranges normally encountered than to worry about making a 200 yard shot.
When the new ammo comes in, I will RE-check it at 75 yards, 100 yards and 150 yards which is as far as I anticipate shooting. I found the trajectory figures published by Hornady to be fairly accurate for my Model 1895 Marlin. I might check the 200 yard mark again for reference only.
I am going to test this rifle again soon and see if there is an easy to remember formula for the 100 and 200 yard shots. It seems there is roughly 7 1/2 to 8 inches difference between point of impact at 100 yards (vs.) 200 yards. In my case, I started out 3/4 inch high at 100 yards and ended up being 7 inches approximately low at exactly 200 yards. That is how I arrived at my 7 to 8 inches. Simple math tells me if I sight in 4 inches high at 100, I would be approximately 4 inches low at 200. If I sight in as I have now done which is approximately 1.5 inches high at 100 yards, I should be about 6 1/2 inches low, give or take a little at 200 yards. My scope does not have any hash marks or circles and is not calibrated for any bullet drop compensating. My plan is out to 125 yards or a little more, I do not have to worry about trajectory. If I plan on sitting in a tree stand overlooking a meadow, then I will take a different rifle with me.
That being said, I also took my Savage model 16 Stainless Weather Warrior in .308 Win with the accutrigger to the range with me. I tried Winchester 150 grain power points, some old Federal 150 grain Hi Shoks I had on hand and ended up settling on Hornady's 150 grain SST Interbond load. I am dead on at 75 yards, and can cover both groups with the palm of my hand out to 200 yards. Thinking of the lung area of a deer in terms of a medium size ballon, I can hold dead on out to 200 yards or a little farther.
For me, there is no sense in trying to make the 45-70 into a long range rifle, since in my case, there are better options. The .308 wears a Bushnell 3200 3X10X40 scope with rainguard. It is a great scope for the money and holds its zero as does the Savage rifle.
If I get an opportunity tomorrow, I might put a few 250 Grain shockwaves down range out of the TC 209/50. As mentioned elsewhere in this blog, that particular gun likes (2) pyrodex pellets behind the shockwave load. It is good for 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards.
Next up will be the Marlin Mdl 336 in .35 Remington, and changing the 30:06 from 180 grain loads back to 150 grain loads.
Already thinking about another bear hunt, however thinking of a Canadian hunt next time perhaps in New Brunswick. It will probably be 2012 before I can make that happen. A couple of the hunters in camp mentioned previously booking with Slipp Brother's in New Brunswick, so I may check them out also.
Dan
Mathew 24:44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh"
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