Been a number of years since I've rifle hunted but since I got skunked this year during PA's archery season it looks like I've got to dust off my Browning A-bolt composite stalker in .300 win mag. Yes I know it's overkill for whitetail but it's all I've got this year.

Shooting Winchester ballistic silvertip 180gr. MV is 2950 and bc is .507. I seriously doubt any shooting I do will be over 200 yds. and most likely be between 50 - 100 yds.

Plan on sighting it in this weekend and wondered if simply dead center at 100 is my best choice or the traditional +3" at 100 would be better. Sorry I've been out of rifle hunting for a while and just looking for suggestions.

Using a Leupold vari-xIII 4.5 - 14 with fairly low mounts (forget actual height but I'd guess between 1-1.5".

Thanks.

IIRC, the .300 Magnums should generally be sighted for about 250-yards to obtain the maximum point-blank range, which should be somewhere around +/- 4" out to close to 300-yards. It has been a long time since I shot at 300-yards, so my memory may be (is) probably foggy. In any case, I have always been a big believer in zeroing at the range you intend to have conincidence, rather than relying on tables and firing at a closer range. It's nice to actually know what the bullet is doing at 250-yards, or whatever you choose. If you're not interested in the usual approach (zeroing for maximum point-blank range) and if you aren't going to shoot farther than 200-yards, I'd just zero at 150 and check my point of impact at 50, 100, and 200.

I always sighted for longer ranges.
there is less hold under for a 100 yard shot in a 300 yard dialed rifle than there is hold over for a 300 y shot with a 100 zeroed rifle.

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it just needs more voltage

When I sight in regular caliber rifles I sight them in at 1 inch high at 100 yards. When I sight in my magnum calibers, I shoot 1 3/4 inches high at 100 yards so I can take advantage of the longer reach. I would not sight in a rifle 3 inches high unless I am headed out west and need to take a really long shot. I hope this helps.

A little high here on my end also with the .308. You should be in the vitals if the cross hair is in the right spot no matter if its a little high or a little low.

I wouldnt say .300 win mag is over kill for whitetail. If anything u are doing the animal a favor and making a little better sure there is less to no suffering at all.

I zero all my rifles at 100yds.

Here's some dope on my scopes, I'm using the Bushnell banner scopes that have the mechanical adjustable turret for elevation. It's called BDC
(Bullet drop compisation) I can shoot from 100yds to 500yds by just doping the scope to that distance. I also have the older bushnell trophy and sportview models with the same BDC feature. One of them is on my 700 in 338wm. Using new Winchester super X 225gr ammo she can put two rounds thru the same hole at 100yds. I like the BDC feature so much I purchased it for all my scoped rifles.

BSA offers a BDC scope for the 223 caliber too.

I'm surprised this BDC option never really caught on. You do install the proper numbered ring for your bullet weight. In the dial/turret.

These newer scopes with the dots on the cross hairs don't adjust or composite for the bullet weight your using. I'm not sure how accurate they are at distances.

Every so often when I'm shopping and see the Bushnell scope with the BDC option I grab another one just to have it incase I get a new rifle. For $99 it's well worth the money. My older bushnell scopes with the BDC option are over decade and a half old now and still clear as a bell.

Bullet Drop Compisation my rifles never leave home without it.

Many reloading manuals have ballistic tables and show trajectory
figures. I would just look at numbers for a bullet similar to yours and
see how high you need to be at 100 yds for a 200 yd zero. Should be
about right for your area.

Here is a link to Hornady's ballistic tables. http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/...Ballistics.pdf My guess is your load needs to be about 1.5" high at 100. for a 200 zero.

I always sight my rig (same as yours except a Howa) 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 at 100 yards. Hit a paper plate @ 400yards when I was in practice.

A 300 Win Mag.,,,,w/o fussing over a lot of charts and using up a lot of ammo and time,,sight it in for an inch high at 100yrds.
Then take it out and shoot a whitetail in the PA hills by holding where you want to hit up to 250yds or so .
An inch up or down isn't going to make a difference inless you're trying to put his eye out.

Which eye, Sir?

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Dick Burg

I don't get zeroing any rifle from .243 up at 100 yards. I guess it must have become the norm because of restricted ranges and finding a calm day.

I have got short with folk who have questioned me zeroing a 30 cal or equivalent round at 300 yards. I usually fix them with my special stare, hold up a round and ask, "Does that look like a 100 yard round to you?"

The one you're aiming at.