I'm going to experiment with some longer range target shooting in the near future and I have a quick question. Up to this point I've always held over at longer ranges, but I want to be able to dial in the correct elevation on my scope based on bullet drop at any given range so I can aim dead on.
As an example, based on ballistics charts lets assume my bullet drop is 37" at 500 yards. Based on some threads I've read here on the subject, to convert this to MOA at 100 yards for scope adjustment purposes I would take 37/5/1.047 to get a reading of 7.067, or roughly 7. Correct? Since 1 MOA is so close to 1", to simplify things I'm just going to say they are equal.
Now, I'm using a Nikon Monarch 6.5-20 which is calibrated at 1 click = 1/8" at 100 yards, which would equal 8 clicks per inch. Does this mean I would have to adjust 56 clicks so I can aim dead on at 500? I'm not even sure my scope has that much of an adjustment range.

rowdy

You got the math right. Between 7 and 8 MOA.

Your scope dial should also have a big graduation every 8 clicks which are MOA. That makes counting clicks unnecessary.

I can't say about your particular scope, but most will accomodate up to 10 MOA with no problem. That will usually get you to about 600 yards. The better scopes will have even more latitude. For example, a Leupold 30mm LR scope can go all the way to 1000 yards without running out of clicks.

You probably already know this but many scopes that say 1/8 MOA do not necessarily move exactly 1/8 MOA with each click. You may have to do some fine tuning. It's always a good idea to run a test with your scope to see exactly how much it will move with 8 clicks.

Ray

The math is right, but the bullets are stupid. They will only go where you point them. If the scope is dead nuts on for every click it makes life easier. Try not to think in clicks but in minutes. My 308 need 14 minutes (56 clicks) to make an x at 600yds. Depending on temp and humidity sometimes 14.25 minutes.

http://www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx

Next spring, this is what I'm going to try out for my BR 300 Win. Mag......there are given fields to fill out for bullet information, clicks, weather etc. & you may select range intervals. What I like about this, is 'point blank', do a test with a zero at 100 yd. then another where 'point blank' is indicated & you may see this is what you want to do. r in s.