Thread: Testing loads at 50m instead of 100m

I do all my load testing at 50m. I walk there and back. 3 hrs of it easily gives me my 10k steps for the day. Besides, that's what I've got in the way of range availability.

I am inclined to believe that at 50m a given load will have the same windage, i.e. vertical plane accuracy, at any other distance given the absence of any lateral influences, mostly wind. So the issue is then horizontal accuracy or elevation or bullet drop or however you want to think about it.

Of course I'm wrong. A bullet on a course a millimeter off perfect vertical centre will be kilometres off at some point between the end of the barrel and infinity. But I'm not shooting to infinity. More like sub-200m. Definitely sub-300. So the issue becomes what error in windage can I accept at 50m that will still give me a kill at say 200m?

In terms of bullet drop, a ballistics app will give you the trajectory at a zero of 50m, I suspect. Not that I really use one. While I have Strelok Pro and have played with it, my optics are not yet such that it is a real benefit. Nor am I inclined to fiddle with a ballistics app while a deer awaits my shot.

I had to refine my views a little at a recent NZDA range shoot where I was able to shoot my new-to-me 243 at 100, 200 and 300m. I had done my load testing and sighted in at 50m. My shots at 100m were fine allowing for range conditions and my degree of ability with a trigger. All would have handily killed a deer. With a following cross-wind, left to right. 100m held no terrors. At 200m I was shooting 100mm to the right and 200mm low. At 300m I adjusted my scope for windage and elevation using best guess, and aimed high and left. Most of my shots would have hit the deer 200mm to the right of the front left leg between hoof and knee. Which is to say, not at all.

I'm still happy with the load, I have no real reason to change that. What I need is real world experience of where my bullet will land at my chosen shooting distances. And the knowledge to change my point of aim to suit the circumstance. I can't get that shooting at 50m.

So developing a load at 50m is one thing. Applying it in the field is another, quite different thing. I suggest...