Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Zero at 200 for .270 WSM?

I sighted in my new rifle today--a .270 WSM A-Bolt Stainless Stalker. Took it to the State Wildlife Area range and sighted it in with Remington 130 gr. Core-Lokts, but I have some Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 130 gr. loads to try next time. Right now it's hitting 2" high at 100 yards, directly above my aim point. According to a 2008 Remington catalog I have, this would mean that I'm zeroed for that load at about 250 yards.

I think this is gonna be a good rifle/scope combo (Leupold VX II 3-9). Next time I'll try the Winchester 130 grain Silvertips and some 150 grain Power points. Do you guys who shoot .270 WSM's zero for 200, 250 yards, or another range?

My Nightforce has the HV reticle that is designed to be zeroed at 200. Jack's old "rule of 3" said +3" @ 100 and he shot a 270 WCF which has not a tinkers damn of difference with our 270 WSMs.

I sight in for dead on at 200. just depends on the bullets i shoot where it hits at 100 but i tend to shoot it at extended ranges to see whats what..

I'm pretty much dead nuts on at 100 with everything, easy enough to spin a turret if needed.

I followed the directions like ma pappy told me

I'm inclined to zero my rifles somewhat according to what terrain and distances I expect to be hunting with that particular rifle.

Like Steelhead suggests, turrets are great for helping to resolve the holdover/drop issues, so his zeroing at 100 yards makes sense. He also hunts alot of the darker timbered, thicker stuff where 100 yards can be a looooong shot at times, as do I. Heck, iron sights would suffice in most instances.

So, for me anyway, zero's depend alot on the distances I expect to be shooting. Doesn't always work out exactly as one would want, so we all mostly choose the 200 yd. zero as it fits most all situations. I happen to zero most all of my rifles dependent upon where my highest trajectory with that specific bullet and rifle doesn't exceed more than +3.5 inches high from the bench. Most often, that gets me a 250-280 yard zero, such as with my 270WSM and 130gr. TTSX's.

Within the above ranges, there isn't any real difference between the standard .270 and the 270WSM. At longer ranges however, the 270 WSM's 250 fps greater velocity (which is somewhat past what I'd consider to be of little or no consequence/difference), exhibits certain benefits to those who intentionally seek out longer range opportunties, be it on paper or game.

Is 250 fps worth a slight bit more recoil and powder, given it's longer range attributes.....?

That's for each one of us to decide............

pushing 130 gr sst at 3350 is worth the recoil and powder to me.. but that's just me. plus the cases look cool..

Sounds like you don't have turrets on your scope. Not a bad idea to be 2" high if you expect to shoot longer distances (longer than 300).

Pick one load, shoot it at all distances, record the drop and tape in the info to your rifle.

CLB

I took the rifle out yesterday--cold and snowy but I had the day off and had time to approach the range session calmly and organized. I shot 3-shot, 100 yard groups with the factory Remington 130 gr. Core-lokts, the Winchester 130 gr. Ballistic Silvertips, and the Winchester 150 gr. Super X Power Points. The 130 grainers shot the best (.91 and .97" groups about 1.75" above point of aim) while the 150 gr. Power points went into about 1.14" right at my aim point.

I believe I can shoot tighter groups with these factory loads and would like to get a bit better accuracy-- would think that could be done with handloads. I've contacted an outfitter about a plains whitetail hunt along the Missouri River in South Dakota. This should be a nice rifle for that purpose.

Who needs a turret. Actually never been in a situation where I needed one.


330 yards right thru the neck.

I did take the .270 WSM out yesterday in some pretty bitter temperatures and snow. Fired a sighter and then shot a 3 shot group of .536" with the Remington 130 grain factory Core-lokts at 100 yards. I was about 2.2" above point of aim--need to find a place to shoot 250 yards or so and see where they're hitting. I think I'm going to like this rifle though...