I have always set my hunting rifles to hit right at the crosshairs at 200 yards, (a little high at 100).

For buff I assume I should be dead on at 100?

How do you fellows set your scope?

dead on at 50

Dead on at 100 works for me. This, for my 404 Jeffery, shooting 430 gr. NFs.

I always take two rifles hunting in Africa now. Usually the 404 and a 9.3. The 404 for DG and the 9.3 for everything else.

My last Buffalo I shot in Zambia (46”), was shot at 140 yds. A lot of Buffalo will be shot at 25-75 yds, but you never know when a longer shot will be required. We crawled up on our approach, but simply ran out of cover at 140 yds. I had my 9.3 in my hands when the opportunity came, so I shot him with it, a 286 gr. NP. He ran about 75 yds. and died. It was a heart shot.

The 9.3 was sighted dead on at 200 yds. It was 3” high at 100 yds., so I simply aimed just a bit low. Buffalo have a large vital spot area, so it’s not like shooting Pronghorn in Wyoming at 300 yds.

As most of our hunting is done at relatively short range, I set my rifle about one inch high.

I use the same rifle for everything.

Longest shot this year was about 250 yards on an eland and the same on a buffalo.

Strange thing both were standing facing away at an angle.

Both were hit in the rear of the rib cage.

The buffalo ran a few yards and dropped.

Generally if an animal is still standing, I would place another shot into him.

The buffalo ran and was hidden by trees.

Did not run more than a few yards.

The eland ran a few yards and stood, facing away.

I shot him again in the rear end.

That was not necessary, as the first bullet would have killed him anyway and he was not going anywhere.

Rest of the animals were mostly within 100 yards.

On my .416 I sight in dead on at 100. That puts me 6.5 inches low at 200 and about 21" low at 300. Not just based on the numbers on the box. I've shot to verify. But the difference between 100 and 50 isn't enough to worry about. IMHO. My longest shots with that rifle were 300 on a Coke's and a but over 200 on a buffalo. The short stuff is never a problem.

I haven't the foggiest idea how much is my rifle's drop in inches.

All my life have used the old Kentucky windage.

Been working just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Dead on at 100 works for me. This, for my 404 Jeffery, shooting 430 gr. NFs.

I always take two rifles hunting in Africa now. Usually the 404 and a 9.3. The 404 for DG and the 9.3 for everything else.

My last Buffalo I shot in Zambia (46”), was shot at 140 yds. A lot of Buffalo will be shot at 25-75 yds, but you never know when a longer shot will be required. We crawled up on our approach, but simply ran out of cover at 140 yds. I had my 9.3 in my hands when the opportunity came, so I shot him with it, a 286 gr. NP. He ran about 75 yds. and died. It was a heart shot.

The 9.3 was sighted dead on at 200 yds. It was 3” high at 100 yds., so I simply aimed just a bit low. Buffalo have a large vital spot area, so it’s not like shooting Pronghorn in Wyoming at 300 yds.

Two inches high at 100yds on everything from 223 Remington up to 416 Rigby.

The last thing I want is a bunch of random sight ins on different rifles.

A question with a variety of answers, as witnessed, so rather rethink what you take out of asking.

The significance of your weapon being bang on at 50, 100 or 200 yards is a personal choice; what is infinitely more important is your understanding of your choice of bullet and it's trajectory over varying distances to enable yourself to confidently aim accordingly.

quote:

He ran about 75 yds. and died. It was a heart shot.

Without an insurance shot required?

quote:

Originally posted by Neil-PH:
A question with a variety of answers, as witnessed, so rather rethink what you take out of asking.

The significance of your weapon being bang on at 50, 100 or 200 yards is a personal choice; what is infinitely more important is your understanding of your choice of bullet and it's trajectory over varying distances to enable yourself to confidently aim accordingly.

Exactly!

Knowing your rifle, and where to place the bullet, is the most important thing in hunting.

And shooting quickly.

One of the worst things I have seen hunters do in the field is take far too long to shoot!

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

He ran about 75 yds. and died. It was a heart shot.

Without an insurance shot required?

You can see the insurance shot at the back quartering into the buff. He never moved

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

He ran about 75 yds. and died. It was a heart shot.

Without an insurance shot required?

You can see the insurance shot at the back quartering into the buff. He never moved

Then it wasn't quite dead from the heart shot ....
No harm in making sure it is deader than dead though.

I like a DG rifle to be dead on at 25 and 100. Zeroing at 100 usually makes this happen. They are then usually a smidge high at 50 but negligible. I then shoot at 200 to verify POI there.

I sight my rifle at home about 1-1.5 inches high.

At the range in camp I never hit where I aim.

Always off by up to 3 inches shooting there.

I never touch it.

I go hunt, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I missed an animal, regardless of distance??!!

Sometimes I am totally amazed that I actually hit an animal under those conditions at that time!!

Go figure!

The target area on a buff is pretty big, but some still hit them in the wrong place totally! I think the bigger issue is shooting big guns that you are scared of and being nervous or excited!

It is fascinating watching someone shooting at a buffalo less than 100 yards, completely clean view, broadside, and hitting mid distance between its feet on the ground!

That is a miss by FEET, not inches!

I normally suffer throat ache after that, from laughing!

Killing a buffalo does not require any science.

And sadly too many arm chair writers are guilty of making this into some insurmountable task!

A buffalo dies when you destroy a major organ.

End of story.

I tell all our hunters to forget everything, and imagine a line extending between the middle of the shoulders.

Aim to break it in the middle, regardless of the buffalo's position.

Never fails.

Only requirement is having a bullet that will actually penetrate the distance to get there from any angle.

That is why I recommend mono hollow points, regardless of make.

Other makes like Noslers Partitions and Swift A Frames might not do that.

I also try and have it dead on at 100.

Guys,

I find it interesting that we are so fussy about our site in but once you are in Africa in most cases your PH will put a blaze on a tree or draw a black spot on a beer crate etc at some indistinct distance and if your shot is close your good to go as far as the PH is concerned. I've always been surprised that they don't at least have a portable bench and a target frame at 100 yards.

Mark

I shoot upon arrival because I want to make sure that my scope wasn’t broken in transit.

One time it was.

My zero for buff is 50 yards or 1-2 inches high at 100 if I’m using only one rifle for everything.

I guess that goes to show that it really doesn’t matter at most realistic ranges.

Buff vitals are a large target.

Mark,

I've done it that way in the past, but not anymore.
Lately, I take empty Caldwell sandbags that we fill when we get there and I take those stick on orange round target dots that we paste on a water bottle box. Put the sandbags over the hood of the gari and shoot at my laser measured 100 yards. Should take out the black diamond in the center of the orange stick on target or I'm less than happy.

I leave the sandbags behind after they are filled.

Good for you. I've done the same but I'm always surprised by what the PH's will be happy with.

Mark

Not to totally derail this thread, but allow me an observation.

One thing I have found is that the PH-produced targets in the field are almost always tiny black dots marked with a Sharpie on a random piece of buff cardboard.

And I do mean tiny dots.

As in so small that they are covered entirely by the scope's crosshairs when trying to aim.

I always ask that they be enlarged to at least 3-4 MOA.

Sometimes, but not always, I remember to bring my own targets, and sometimes I even remember to bring them to the sighting-in exercise.

It doesn't do any good to shoot at something you can't see!

Mike,

I agree totally, you can't hit what you can't see. That's why I always take the orange paste on dots.
And I put them in my ammo case, as well as some in my backpack, because I'll check zeros in the field if something isn't right. For example, last year, I shot a hartebeest for bait. He was dead broadside right at around 100 yards. I was careful with the shot and he took two steps and dropped. I probably never would have noticed, but my wife was along and asked where I shot him. I showed her and realized it was 6" from point of aim. Not good. We went and checked the rifle right then and sure enough, it was 6" off.

I have learned through long experience that professional hunters are totally useless in certain matters.

I take my own targets with me, printed here in my workshop.

I have to anyway, as we need so many targets for the shooting contest after the safari.

Something which brings joy to the participants, and non stop laughter to the rest of us.!

quote:

Originally posted by Ongwe:
Two inches high at 100yds on everything from 223 Remington up to 416 Rigby.

The last thing I want is a bunch of random sight ins on different rifles.

Same for me except I err on the side of 2.5" high, so I am not as likely to miss way out there.

I went to the SAAM school and learned a lot. Mostly that rifles sighted for 2"-3" at 100 yds are usually good out to 350-400yds on wildebeast size animals to hold "spot on".

I use turrets but find them a hinderance at times as I have to turn them then trust them....

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
The target area on a buff is pretty big, but some still hit them in the wrong place totally! I think the bigger issue is shooting big guns that you are scared of and being nervous or excited!

Yep, agree. I tried a .458 Lott and was suprised to see how bad I flinched... I prefer the .375 or 416's as I don't flinch as bad...

Real hunters never use any smaller than 45.

And it has been proven beyond any doubt that the 45 and above kill much better than the little ones used by wimps!

Saeed, thanks for the funny!

I sight everything in dead on at 100 and put a sticker on the cheekpiece with the drops at reasonable ranges, for quick reference.

But I have purchased a Gunwerks rifle that I have yet to shoot that I intend to take next year. Still plan on sighting in dead on at 100 , but it has a ballistic reticle that I should be able to just dial it in for longer ranges on plains game. We'll see how it works.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Real hunters never use any smaller than 45.

And it has been proven beyond any doubt that the 45 and above kill much better than the little ones used by wimps!

ah ah ...
i felt so naked when i gave up my 458 win mag for the tiny 9.3x62 ...