Rifle Scopes What do you do for scope zero?

[Northtogladwin]

I havent figured out what bullet I want to use yet but I'm sighted in for 140 bthp match in 6.5 creedmoor.
Should i use that zero and see what else groups good for me?
I dont want to use a match bullet for hunting for personal reasons but dont want to shoot more expensive hunting bullets for every day shooting.
Should i re zero every time i switch a load and set a zero stop or what?
Any info would help!

 

[JMGlasgow]

Are you looking for a hunting bullet, or a different match bullet and don't want to rezero your rifle?

 

[nn8734]

Just use that zero for now until you develop a load with the hunting bullet and powder/primer/brass combo that works for you. POI won’t be too much different with other bullets at 100. You will need to run a ballistics app to see how it will drop over distance then validate it on the range.

Once you arrived at your load, re-zero and begin gathering validated dope at known distances over the chronograph or LabRadar. I do 100 yard increments out to as far as I figure to shoot the rifle and record the conditions for each session, making note of any material changes in drop values from session to session.

edit: if you intend to shoot two different loads you will need to maintain two separate zeros/dope records for that rifle.

 

[want2learn]

i prefer whenever possible to re-zero / check my rifle with any change in cartridge components....generally only takes a minute, just a couple of shots.

i''m not re-zeroing between shots during load development as long as i'm close i.e. on paper

 

[CBDR]

Funny you should mention that question. I do not or have ever shot a match, yet the 143 gr ELD-X is what I use to hunt & shoot at the range. Results for both applications have been favorable. But recently I zeroed one of my bolt action 6.5cm's with a second focal plan optic with the 140 gr HTHP. I zeroed it for 50 and it was dead on for 100 & 150.
25m I had to aim one inch high. Not sure of what your hunting distances are but my limitations are severely limited by vegetation. Five foot high swamp growth. The only way I can overcome my limitations is putting a second story on my box stand.

 

[Yerman]

A lot of ballistic calculators allow you to set offsets for when you switch bullets, add a suppressor, etc. You need to load different profiles anyway so just set up an offset and your ballistic calculator will take care of the rest.

If I had a rifle that was shooting multiple bullets / multiple purpose, I would probably set up the zero on the hunting bullet so when you go hunting, you can always go back to zero/zero and not miss a shot because you couldn't remember if your scope was zero'd for your range ammo or hunting ammo. At the range, who cares if you are off a little or need to walk yourself into a target.

With modern ballistic calculators and Kestrel's, there is no need for you to search for a bullet that matches the zero of your range ammo.

 

[Dildobaggins]

When I use a new rifle, I usually zero it with cheap ammo, then test groupings of other loads. Find out what load shoots best. ( that is not insanely expensive). then shoot that. Then for hunting I always use Hornady , takes me a couple of shots to zero the load. Another poster mentioned that you wont get a huge change in POI at 100yrds. I 100 percent agree with that. Once you have it zeroed with a load you like, if you want to switch loads, it should not be difficult at all to zero with that specific load. Good luck!

 

[deersniper]

You might be surprised at how close the different loads impact.