Thread: Elevation target

Got this target from one of the coaches at the target club. Allows you to confirm long range elevation settings at a very short range.



Zero as normal, I do mine at 100yds.

Place this target at 25yds, use a level to make sure the line is vertical.

Aim at the center of the black dot (its designed for aperture sights). Dial for each range, and the bullet should impact at the relevant intersection.

You should be able to calculate something similar for any caliber. Not 100% sure about the settings, but got pretty close using the following on JBM:

Min Range, Max Range, Range Increment to 25
Zero Range to each of the values (300, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900)
Elevation Correction for Zero Range: Ticked
Ranges in Meters: Unticked (I use yards)

The Drop (inches) column should give you the distance above the center you want to hit at 25 yards for the distance you used as the Zero Range.

I don't see the use??

It's not actually directly related to how your bullet drops at long range, it's just how well your drop chart (from a ballistic calc these days) lines up with the same numbers pulled from the same ballistic calc and drawn in some little lines? It can't be a universal piece of paper because the numbers are different for every load etc.

Might be useful as a half-assed scope tracking test? Or might have been useful a long time ago for people with bad scopes and no ballistic calculators to work out roughly how many clicks it took their dodgy scope to get there if they were using a similar load to what it was calculated for.

Just don't see the point?

gimp, we (mostly) shoot a pretty standard 155 palma load, don't use calculators, and use known distances. These targets are used to confirm elevation dials for the aperture sight rifles.

if you read my post, you'll notice I talk about calculating it for your specific load / caliber, so did not claim it was universal...

the idea is that you shoot this, not everyone has a 200, 500 etc range, then confirm it with real POI at various distances, and tweak it. once it is tweaked, it is a quick, easy way to confirm your elevation settings using only 25 yds.

As far as I can see, all it confirms is the ability of you/your equipment to make a pre-calculated or recorded adjustment, ie, a half-assed tracking test?

I'm bored and this will give me something to do instead of watching TV. I'll post up one set for a 6.5x55 doing 2710ft/sec. It would still work for scopes as well wouldn't it?

Then it should be quick to move the lines/text around to suit whatever anyone wants. Just need your bullet weight/type and velocity

It would be a good ladder test for scope repeatability

Yup, make the aiming point a crosshair type rather than a circle, easier for the scope. You can seeI did that on the right hand circle

Its a shit group anyway. Serious vertical stringing...

No Tahr, it's actually a very controlled group. The flyer @400 was caused by mid-air collision with a sandfly

You see I have a progressive (but perfectly linear) flinch. It really helps when we shoot further and further distances as the day progresses. Of course if we start long and end short, I am completely fcuked

Tussock, just put the two range cards behind each other next time, shoot once, you'll use half the ammo...

Originally Posted by gimp

As far as I can see, all it confirms is the ability of you/your equipment to make a pre-calculated or recorded adjustment, ie, a half-assed tracking test?

When we shoot at Trentham we have 3 shots to get a gun on target or we get kicked off the range. Yet the anal owners wont allow any zeroing, or shooting out of the allowed time window hence the above gives us a fair idea at 100yds onthe range we can shoot at to at least know when we shoot at say 900yds we should be on the target.

Originally Posted by steven

When we shoot at Trentham we have 3 shots to get a gun on target or we get kicked off the range. Yet the anal owners wont allow any zeroing, or shooting out of the allowed time window hence the above gives us a fair idea at 100yds onthe range we can shoot at to at least know when we shoot at say 900yds we should be on the target.

Pretty harsh but I suppose they have to curve the 'yippie' shoot. Considering that the first 3 shots are for fouling and for the barrel to get upto its working temp - I'd have allowed at least 10 per person

The iron sights used in that sort of shooting have a click adjustment, at least as far as I'm familiar with. It's not like bashing the sights on the barrel of the old Lee-Enfield with a hammer.


Edit: Pretend I quoted tussock

This is for us with a standard load, (eg palma or a military cartridge) to check that your sight adjustments and vernier plates are properly calibrated and that the sight is level. Of course you need to check at each real range but it will save embarrassing first shot stuff ups and misses where people are giving their time marking your targets in the butts.