New member have questions.

[Dieseldoug]

I am new to shooting distance. I’ve always been a hunter just never shot past 125 yards with any rifle. I bought a table at a whitetail banquet and chose a savage axis .308. I had a vortex diamond back tactical 4-12-40 scope given to me. After reading the manual on the scope I now want to try to shoot some distance and learn MOA adjustments. I’ve been on this site for the past month and it is awesome. So how do I get started with this rifle and scope I know it is cheap stuff but let me see what I can do with it first before I spend money on a better rifle and scope. I used levels and mounted my scope and got an anti-cant mounted on scope rail. The scope rail is a 20 MOA.I guess advice on how to zero it would be nice thanks

 

[Sieg]

Bore sight it at 50yds, set it in a stable rest, remove the bolt, center the bore on the target, dial the turrets to center on the target. A 3" circle on white paper works well for a target.

Get it zeroed on apaper at 100yds, reset the turrets to that zero, then count the total number of clicks of vertical elevation available from your 100yd zero. Check the trajectory/drop chart of the ammo you're shooting and compare it to the vertical adjustment range of your scope. That will give you a rough idea of how far you can shoot the scope using the center of the reticle without using hold overs. The amount of holdover the reticle has will be shown in the scope manuals reticle information.

 

[Reverie Ranges]

Find a mentor that will show you in person or start off with a basic instructional class locally. Theory is always relevant, but practical application can complex things as there are MANY variables between ammo, shooter issues, equipment, etc...

 

[Dieseldoug]

Bore sight it at 50yds, set it in a stable rest, remove the bolt, center the bore on the target, dial the turrets to center on the target. A 3" circle on white paper works well for a target.

Get it zeroed on apaper at 100yds, reset the turrets to that zero, then count the total number of clicks of vertical elevation available from your 100yd zero. Check the trajectory/drop chart of the ammo you're shooting and compare it to the vertical adjustment range of your scope. That will give you a rough idea of how far you can shoot the scope using the center of the reticle without using hold overs. The amount of holdover the reticle has will be shown in the scope manuals reticle information.

 

[Dieseldoug]

Thanks. I did do the bore sighting as you described. I forgot to mention this gun has never been fired. I’m using 168 Hornady match ammo. Do I just start shooting or do I need to do something as far as maybe break in? Thanks again.

 

[Liberator52]

Welcome ! From Eastern Washington !

 

[KamronG7]

Welcome to the hide. Make sure to read the manual, that should be very helpful. If that doesn't answer your question, there should be plenty of videos out there to walk you through it. Good luck!