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sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:24 pm
by jecole360
I recently purchased an H&R rifle in 22-250. I had a guy at a local gun shop bore sight it today and he used some kind of bore sighter that had a grid that you lined up the crosshairs at whatever yardage you wanted. I was a little unsure about the accuracy of this thing he used because it basically moved side to side in the barrel if he didn't keep it straight up. Anyway other than that what would be the best way to sight it and what yardage shoud I set it at. Most of the coyotes I see while hunting are out there pretty far (guessing about 400 yards). I have only ever called 2 coyote in close (60 yards) but other than that most of my shots will probably be between 100 and 300 yards if I cant get them called in close. Any advice???

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:33 pm
by Tbush
I sight my 22-250 zero at 200 yds then I"m good up close also and then I know my hold over's at 300,400,and 500 yds after shooting alot!!

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:50 pm
by ducksmuggler
I also zero my 22-250 and all my small rifles for that matter at 200 yards. If you only have a 100 yard range sight it in just a hair high say 1" and you will be fine.

I feel shooting guns is just like shooting a bow; if you plan on only shooting to 300 yards practice at 400 yards so when the time comes its a cake walk..

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:52 pm
by jecole360
Thanks. The guy zeroed it at 100 yards but I kinda want it zeroed at 200 so I'll have to tinker with it this weekend I guess.

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:10 pm
by bucksnbears
a 22-250 should be good for coyotes out to 300 yards at 2 inches high @ 100 yards.

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:54 am
by Optimax90
bucksnbears wrote:a 22-250 should be good for coyotes out to 300 yards at 2 inches high @ 100 yards.
BnB I agree with you, depending on what bullet your shooting. I know CooperAI is shooting some 40gr Blitzkings, his load realy falls off at 300. A 55gr bullet will carry farther then that 40, but he still should be real close if he zeros at 200.

I still wouldn't take a boresitings word for it, go out and shoot the darn thing and see what it does...........

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:54 am
by Optimax90
bucksnbears wrote:a 22-250 should be good for coyotes out to 300 yards at 2 inches high @ 100 yards.
BnB I agree with you, depending on what bullet your shooting. I know CooperAI is shooting some 40gr Blitzkings, his load realy falls off at 300. A 55gr bullet will carry farther then that 40, but he still should be real close if he zeros at 200.

I still wouldn't take a boresitings word for it, go out and shoot the darn thing and see what it does...........

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:34 am
by lyonch
Dont trust the bore sighting at all. Get out there and shoot your rifle at 200 yards and zero it in. This caliber has capabilities to produce some very good consistency and shot placement. If you zeros it at 200 all you need to do for a 300 yard shot is hold right at the back of the coyote for height without daylight showing between the crosshairs and the coyote and squeeze a round off. If you have a duplex reticle your bottom post the point of that post is around 500 yards roughly. When you start shooting that far you better know what load you are shooting and the ballistics of it. Just dont grab a box of factory loads and expect that bottom post to be on at 500. The more you shoot it the more accurate you will get.

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:50 am
by bucksnbears
lyonch wrote:Dont trust the bore sighting at all. Get out there and shoot your rifle at 200 yards and zero it in. This caliber has capabilities to produce some very good consistency and shot placement. If you zeros it at 200 all you need to do for a 300 yard shot is hold right at the back of the coyote for height without daylight showing between the crosshairs and the coyote and squeeze a round off. If you have a duplex reticle your bottom post the point of that post is around 500 yards roughly. When you start shooting that far you better know what load you are shooting and the ballistics of it. Just dont grab a box of factory loads and expect that bottom post to be on at 500. The more you shoot it the more accurate you will get.
yep!!!!! :) . also, i see no reason for a 40 grain in the 22-250. :?

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:10 am
by LeviM
Tbush wrote:I sight my 22-250 zero at 200 yds then I"m good up close also and then I know my hold over's at 300,400,and 500 yds after shooting alot!!
Great post Terry, I have nothing else to add! Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more!

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:35 am
by Pilgrim
jecole360

I think those HRs are cool- Interested to learn how it works out.

To your question, I agree that 200 yards would be a better starting point for zero.

The remarks about bore zero shouldn't be ignored. A good boresight job gets you on paper. You'll also figure out that you can eyeball your bore/scope relationship just as easily. The rest is scope adjustments per bullet impact. Where different bullet loadings impact will be another lesson we all learn to deal with.

Another nugget is to consider your barrel's twist rate. I bet yours is 1 twist per 12 inches (1/12") so your barrel will favor mid-50 to 60 grain bullets. Anything under 50 grain is more likely to group less accurately (unless the barrel is 1/14"). Every bullet is designed to match its bearing surface in harmony with a particular rate of twist in order to stabilize (like a football spiral).

Lots of guys on this site own 22-250 cal rifles so there's no shortage of guidance.

Have fun!

NOTE: If you're not concerned beyond 300 distances you can trust that +1.5" at 100 will put most 3600+ muzzle velocity loadings in a coffee cup at 300 with MOA minimum accuracy. My advice is zero between +1" & +1.5" at 100 for a beginner since no brain needed under 300. +2" at 100 would have the top of your trajectory arc pretty high around 200.

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:21 pm
by barebackjack
Like most on here, I too sight in everything at 200. Its simpler that way. That, and my average shot at a coyote seems to be around the 125 mark. 200 yard zero also lets you use the "1/3" rule on coyotes. 100 yards and closer aim at the bottom 1/3 of the chest. 100-200 aim at the middle 1/3 of the chest. 200-300 aim at the top 1/3. Anything past 300 and you had better have done your homework.

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:30 pm
by 2putt
Just got new ammo 45 gr jhp's from winchester. On the winchester ballistics online software is say sighted in at 100 yards it will be 1.5 inches low at 200. But if you have it sighted in at 200 yards it say that at 100 your bullet will be .8 inches high...This to me in my opinion doesnt add up. Any advice? Id rather have my rifle sighted in at 200 but do not have the range to shoot that distance to practice. Do I set the scope 1.5 inches high or .8 inches high at 100 yards to get dead zero at 200????

Thanks!!

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:08 pm
by Tim Anderson
.8 inches high at 100 yards to get dead zero at 200????
Yep that should work but if you got a place to do it you should double check it on paper...

Re: sighting a new 22-250???

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:05 pm
by 2putt
Thanks Tim for the advice! Im still not sure why in the heck the software would tell me sighted in at 100 yards the bullet will drop 1.6 in at 200 yards. Then if its sighted in at 200 yards it will only be .8 inch high at 100. (Im getting two different answers to my question on this software) Or am I just looking at it wrong?