sighting in help

[1s1k52]

not sure if this is where this goes but i may need some help quick!. So I have a 4.5-14x40 mil dot nikon buckmaster. I have been told the gun is sighted in at 200 yards. So I just tonight learned about how a scope with mil dots could be meant for a certain "power or changes with the "power" I can't find what mine is out of the two.

I am planning to got to the range tomorrow. I would like to get my gun good to go. What power should I use? how should I go about this? The max distance I will have is 200. This is a 30-06.

I really don't know anything about shooting long distance or adjustments. I bought this to learn about mil dot and the whole process. However, I had no clue at all that changing the power changed everthing.

My be the last chance I have to go to the range before hunting on some invites so I am sort of freaking out.

[Sidro]

This place will help you out. Just input your info and hit fire. http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spot ... ml#Index:4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MechAg94]

I guess the question would be do the mil-dots move or get bigger when you increase to a higher magnification. I thought they were supposed to, but I can't remember. If they do, you can test that out by shooting at 4X and 14X using one of the mil-dots and see if the point of impact is reasonably close.

[Beiruty]

I guess the question would be do the mil-dots move or get bigger when you increase to a higher magnification. I thought they were supposed to, but I can't remember. If they do, you can test that out by shooting at 4X and 14X using one of the mil-dots and see if the point of impact is reasonably close.

That depends if the reticle is first or second focal plan.

[KC5AV]

I'm by no means an expert, but I have done a little bit of research on it for the time I need to purchase a new scope.
This is (most likely) a 2nd focal plane scope. That means that the mil-dots only represent a mil at a specified magnification.
It looks like this one is at about 12x. So, at 12x, a mil is 3.6" at 100 yards. Beyond that, my head kinda starts to hurt a little bit. I hope that helps.

[mr surveyor]

I would sight the scope in at 100 yards with the chosen hunting load, then find the hold over for that load at 200 yards, if 200 yards is figured as the maximum range to be encountered.

With a good solid bench rest a scope can be near zeroed with as few as 3 shots (especially with a bolt action gun).

[puma guy]

I guess the question would be do the mil-dots move or get bigger when you increase to a higher magnification. I thought they were supposed to, but I can't remember. If they do, you can test that out by shooting at 4X and 14X using one of the mil-dots and see if the point of impact is reasonably close.

That depends if the reticle is first or second focal plan.

As Beiruty said it depends where the reticle is placed in the erector assembly - First plane are in the front and second plane are in the back. First plane reticles remain in proportion to the target through the magnification range. Makes it easier for ranging and hold over.

Second plane reticles remain constant for fine targeting even at higher magnification. That's the simple explanation. You can "Google" it for more definitive info.

As KC5AV said it's probably a second focal plane reticle - they are less expensive to manufacture. Your scope manual should give you info for the power "true" setting.

Edited: Here's a link for Precision Shooting with some info.http://www.precisionshooting.com.au/dow ... 281%29.pdf

[1s1k52]

I'm by no means an expert, but I have done a little bit of research on it for the time I need to purchase a new scope.
This is (most likely) a 2nd focal plane scope. That means that the mil-dots only represent a mil at a specified magnification.
It looks like this one is at about 12x. So, at 12x, a mil is 3.6" at 100 yards. Beyond that, my head kinda starts to hurt a little bit. I hope that helps.

where did you go to find this out?

[1s1k52]

I guess the question would be do the mil-dots move or get bigger when you increase to a higher magnification. I thought they were supposed to, but I can't remember. If they do, you can test that out by shooting at 4X and 14X using one of the mil-dots and see if the point of impact is reasonably close.

That depends if the reticle is first or second focal plan.

As Beiruty said it depends where the reticle is placed in the erector assembly - First plane are in the front and second plane are in the back. First plane reticles remain in proportion to the target through the magnification range. Makes it easier for ranging and hold over.

Second plane reticles remain constant for fine targeting even at higher magnification. That's the simple explanation. You can "Google" it for more definitive info.

As KC5AV said it's probably a second focal plane reticle - they are less expensive to manufacture. Your scope manual should give you info for the power "true" setting.

Edited: Here's a link for Precision Shooting with some info.http://www.precisionshooting.com.au/dow ... 281%29.pdf

I no longer have the manual and couldnt find anything online So it sounds like I should have done more research and got a first plane reticle?

[1s1k52]

This place will help you out. Just input your info and hit fire. http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/spot ... ml#Index:4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is pretty cool. I would obviously need to know how far away a target was and where my gun was zero at 100.

So I am still sort of at square one in the sense of what magnification to zero in at 100 yards. I like to have it scaled back for field of view then zoom in usually.

I know some people that keep there 3-9 on about 4 even for 150-200 yard shots. I myself am not one of those people as of right now

[Beiruty]

Since you are in Mckinney, I can help you zeroing your rifle. I am a member at Frisco Gun Club and they have 4-lanes of 100 yrds range. PM if you are interested.

[drjoker]

not sure if this is where this goes but i may need some help quick!. So I have a 4.5-14x40 mil dot nikon buckmaster. I have been told the gun is sighted in at 200 yards. So I just tonight learned about how a scope with mil dots could be meant for a certain "power or changes with the "power" I can't find what mine is out of the two.

I am planning to got to the range tomorrow. I would like to get my gun good to go. What power should I use? how should I go about this? The max distance I will have is 200. This is a 30-06.

I really don't know anything about shooting long distance or adjustments. I bought this to learn about mil dot and the whole process. However, I had no clue at all that changing the power changed everthing.

My be the last chance I have to go to the range before hunting on some invites so I am sort of freaking out.

Usually, the mil dots are calibrated to be accurate at the lowest power. Gun is sighted in at 200 yds at 4.5x40.

[KC5AV]

I'm by no means an expert, but I have done a little bit of research on it for the time I need to purchase a new scope.
This is (most likely) a 2nd focal plane scope. That means that the mil-dots only represent a mil at a specified magnification.
It looks like this one is at about 12x. So, at 12x, a mil is 3.6" at 100 yards. Beyond that, my head kinda starts to hurt a little bit. I hope that helps.

where did you go to find this out?

I can't find the exact page, but it was an online forum. Another recommendation I found was to look at the magnification ring to see if one of the numbers is red, or a different color than the others. That will indicate where a mil is a mil. It may also be marked ml.

[Greybeard]

While mil dots can be a great asset once you learn how to use 'em, I would suggest not stressing over it whatsoever with first hunt with a new rifle. KISS method says that (in round numbers) if '06 is zeroed dead on at 200 yards, it will be about 2" high at 100 yards and about 7" low at 300 (where one can use a simple hold over in the rare event of a shot that far). I suspect that at least 90% of Texas deer are shot (or missed) inside of 200 yards - where the trajectory difference between the "mechanical offset" near the muzzle and a 200 yard target varies (with virtually any weight '06 bullet) by no more than maybe 2 or 3 inches. And the human "wobble factor" in the midst of the excitement is often greater than that.

[1s1k52]

I'm by no means an expert, but I have done a little bit of research on it for the time I need to purchase a new scope.
This is (most likely) a 2nd focal plane scope. That means that the mil-dots only represent a mil at a specified magnification.
It looks like this one is at about 12x. So, at 12x, a mil is 3.6" at 100 yards. Beyond that, my head kinda starts to hurt a little bit. I hope that helps.

where did you go to find this out?

I can't find the exact page, but it was an online forum. Another recommendation I found was to look at the magnification ring to see if one of the numbers is red, or a different color than the others. That will indicate where a mil is a mil. It may also be marked ml.

12x is marked mil. So I will sight in at 12x and hope to start learning more about mils and shooting