Sighting in a 7mm-08 for the first time

[TrapperJ]

Trapper I checked the Hornady sight for the ballistics on the 7-08 lite. It said it's a 120 grain SST bullet. It gives the ballistics option to put in your zero range. In this case I plugged in 40 yards and the info shows at 175 yards you will be 1.6 inches low. From 40 to 175 you will not be over an inch high so in this case you should be good if you have a actual 40 yard zero. I would suggest you set a target at 100 yards and verify this information. I think you will be ok as far as the zero.

But I think the 120 SST bullet may not be the best choice. The 139 grain BTSP load I think is a better choice. So pick your shot namely a broadside shot in the lungs. Good luck!

It's actually the 139 gr I guess I should of said thay

 

[TrapperJ]

Your absolute minimum distance for sighting in would be 50 yds. Ballistically speaking, that should be very close to a 200yd zero, but would still need confirmed at range.

A 25yd zero would net you a 300yd zero, again to be confirmed at range.

As to your original question, 8 rds is not enough to sight in and hunt with. I've been flat broke before, and it does suck. You need to decide what your wants and needs are and prioritize them. Everything has a cost, be it time or money.

I'm gonna get some more rounds try to atleast

 

[Dan O]

Putting in the Hornady 139 SST in the Superformance line in the ballistics program. The results show it 1 inch high at 100 yards with the 40 yard zero. It is 1 inch low at 200 yards. So again, verify your rifle at 100 yards. Good luck and pick your shot and take your time, don't rush the shot.

 

[2rocky]

Zero and sight-in your rifle with one shot — Ron Spomer Outdoors

Save ammunition. Here’s how to zero your scoped rifle with just ONE shot.

www.ronspomeroutdoors.com

 

[TrapperJ]

Putting in the Hornady 139 SST in the Superformance line in the ballistics program. The results show it 1 inch high at 100 yards with the 40 yard zero. It is 1 inch low at 200 yards. So again, verify your rifle at 100 yards. Good luck and pick your shot and take your time, don't rush the shot.

Thanks I would say I'm pretty good at pickin things lol

 

[TrapperJ]

Only BB guns would need sighting in at 10 yards. I stand by my previous post. Next year.

Eh maybe maybe not I've always been a go getter and I think I got this under wraps. Or something like that but why wait Next year and lose experience this year? But I am gonna remember the phase things. But Next year I'm gonna try for a bear tag depending on how this year goes

 

[Forkyfinder]

Not sure if theres someone local that could help you with some field mentorship - but id suggest that and a 22 to practice up with in either case. You can learn all the dynamics of adjusting your scope without spending a dollar every trigger pull. Theres a lot of great resources online - but you ultimately have to do it to understand completely.

It takes range time and some practice. You dont want a wounding gut shot to be your first one. I would suggest at least 2 boxes for hunting with 10 rds, sight in with 10 rds, and practice for 20.

 

[TrapperJ]

Not sure if theres someone local that could help you with some field mentorship - but id suggest that and a 22 to practice up with in either case. You can learn all the dynamics of adjusting your scope without spending a dollar every trigger pull. Theres a lot of great resources online - but you ultimately have to do it to understand completely.

It takes range time and some practice. You dont want a wounding gut shot to be your first one. I would suggest at least 2 boxes for hunting with 10 rds, sight in with 10 rds, and practice for 20.

So shoot 10 rounds to zero then shoot another 20 for practice? Got it I think. I did see a video saying shoot one shot at the target then move the crosshair with the turret to where the first shot hit then shoot again and it's zeroed. Is that true?

 

[Laelkhunter]

Putting in the Hornady 139 SST in the Superformance line in the ballistics program. The results show it 1 inch high at 100 yards with the 40 yard zero. It is 1 inch low at 200 yards. So again, verify your rifle at 100 yards. Good luck and pick your shot and take your time, don't rush the shot.

He said he had Hornady Custom Lite ammo, not Superformance unless I misread something. The two would be worlds apart ballistically.

 

[Dave N]

So shoot 10 rounds to zero then shoot another 20 for practice? Got it I think. I did see a video saying shoot one shot at the target then move the crosshair with the turret to where the first shot hit then shoot again and it's zeroed. Is that true?

It will usually get you close. Never trust it, shoot more to confirm and/or adjust.

 

[Dan O]

He said he had Hornady Custom Lite ammo, not Superformance unless I misread something. The two would be worlds apart ballistically.

True he said that but according to the Hornady site listing the 139 SST that is the only load with that bullet. So it could wrong but non the less he needs to shoot whichever load he has at 100 yards and go from there.

 

[Caseknife]

So shoot 10 rounds to zero then shoot another 20 for practice? Got it I think. I did see a video saying shoot one shot at the target then move the crosshair with the turret to where the first shot hit then shoot again and it's zeroed. Is that true?

IF you can keep the rifle perfectly stable while you make the scope adjustment, and that is a BIG if.

 

[TrapperJ]

IF you can keep the rifle perfectly stable while you make the scope adjustment, and that is a BIG if.

I think I can keep it pretty sturdy I might build a small shooting bench to help with it

 

[TrapperJ]

It will usually get you close. Never trust it, shoot more to confirm and/or adjust.

Not much I trust in this world lol but I will lay a few down range to see if it's good or not

 

[yakimanoob]

Y'all. YIKES with the "you're too poor" elitist nonsense. @TrapperJ don't let 'em get to ya. A lot of folks on here have forgotten that some folks actually hunt for sustenance and don't have hundreds of $ lying around to spend on precision shooting.

With that out of the way, it may help to understand your expected hunting situation a little better. Do I understand right from your original post that your hunting shots will be in the 40-80 yard range? I imagine that means you're hunting whitetails from a stand of some kind, yeah?

If I've got that situation right, you'll be just fine with what you have so long as your shots land on paper at say 50 yds (which should be the case if it was properly boresighted). My suggestion would be to set up a target at 50 yards, fire three shots at the same point of aim, and adjust your scope accordingly. Fire 1 or two more shots to confirm you did the adjustment correctly, and then go hunting! (the Ron Spomer video posted above shows a good example of the kind of thing I'm talking about, although I think he does it at 100 yds).

At these distances, and assuming you'd aiming for the lungs/vitals on deer-sized game, you really don't need to be concerned about ballistics drop or calculators or anything of the sort.

Best of luck to ya!

 

[yakimanoob]

Btw I shoot with a Savage 7mm-08 as well.

 

[TrapperJ]

Y'all. YIKES with the "you're too poor" elitist nonsense. @TrapperJ don't let 'em get to ya. A lot of folks on here have forgotten that some folks actually hunt for sustenance and don't have hundreds of $ lying around to spend on precision shooting.

With that out of the way, it may help to understand your expected hunting situation a little better. Do I understand right from your original post that your hunting shots will be in the 40-80 yard range? I imagine that means you're hunting whitetails from a stand of some kind, yeah?

If I've got that situation right, you'll be just fine with what you have so long as your shots land on paper at say 50 yds (which should be the case if it was properly boresighted). My suggestion would be to set up a target at 50 yards, fire three shots at the same point of aim, and adjust your scope accordingly. Fire 1 or two more shots to confirm you did the adjustment correctly, and then go hunting! (the Ron Spomer video posted above shows a good example of the kind of thing I'm talking about, although I think he does it at 100 yds).

At these distances, and assuming you'd aiming for the lungs/vitals on deer-sized game, you really don't need to be concerned about ballistics drop or calculators or anything of the sort.

Best of luck to ya!

Ha yeah I figured there just some ole timers joking around and yes the reason for hunting is for food. Have you seen the price of meat?? Higher then it should be but anyways yes my shots are gonna be around 40 yards mostly since I'm hunting thick woods which a bow would be better. But I'm not that good at that so figured I would go with what I am good at. Here later today (if you see this Thursday the 10) I'm gonna sight my rifle in at 50 feet since that's all I got range wise and I'm gonna try ron spomers way of doing it. Thanks for the best of luck I can't wait tomorrow (Friday the 11) is first day of season so pretty hyped about it

 

[TrapperJ]

Btw I shoot with a Savage 7mm-08 as well.

I love savages I don't get why every one complains about the bolts being stiff just gotta use force to open them but other then that savage and stevens and mausers are my 3 favorites with my dream rifle being a k98 8mm mauser. But soon I wanna buy a rossi lever action 44 mag for these closer and thicker shots

 

[yakimanoob]

At those ranges you'll do just fine with a 50ft zero. I copied the Hornady ballistics info below (I discounted the velocity since I imagine you have a 20" barrel like me rather than the 24" ones they use to get the back-of-the-box data). As you can see, you'll be about 5" low at 80yds -- nothing your "shoot a little higher on longer shots" intuition doesn't know already.

[Just to be thorough, I will mention that going beyond say 100yds will put you into very unknown territory, as the errors that will be imperceptible at 50ft will rear their ugly heads when you get out to longer ranges. Your area of uncertainty at 200yds, for instance, will be measured in feet, not inches, so I would not advise taking any shots on game significantly beyond the 80yd limit you mentioned.]

Good luck!

 

[TrapperJ]

At those ranges you'll do just fine with a 50ft zero. I copied the Hornady ballistics info below (I discounted the velocity since I imagine you have a 20" barrel like me rather than the 24" ones they use to get the back-of-the-box data). As you can see, you'll be about 5" low at 80yds -- nothing your "shoot a little higher on longer shots" intuition doesn't know already.

[Just to be thorough, I will mention that going beyond say 100yds will put you into very unknown territory, as the errors that will be imperceptible at 50ft will rear their ugly heads when you get out to longer ranges. Your area of uncertainty at 200yds, for instance, will be measured in feet, not inches, so I would not advise taking any shots on game significantly beyond the 80yd limit you mentioned.]

Good luck!


View attachment 343978

For now where I'm hunting 80 yards isn't even around lol now when I get some longer spots to hunt I'll go ahead and put a better scope on and zero for 100