Leupold TBR question

[Duckslayer89]

Got my RX1200 TBR yesterday in the mail. For setting up the TBR there is the different groups that your rifle falls under for ballistic drop. Mine was level 16 but the rangefinder is set up for a 200 yard or 300 yard zero. Who uses a 300 yard zero?! I always set my zero at 100 yards. Will it matter much if I have a 100 yard zero using the TBR for you ballistic gurus?

[Bill W]

I use a 300 yard zero on my deer rifle.

[jay.sharkbait]

It's a Battlesight zero thing.

[farmin4u_98948]

It's a Battlesight zero thing.

Explain

[pashok23]

I use 300 yards on my .300 WM

[Duckslayer89]

Started thinking, with a CDS why would it matter what your zero is when your always zeroed out when you dial to the range you want?

[HntnFsh]

They set the CDS dial by your zero. Whether its 100, 200 yard zero etc.

[Taco280AI]

If you get the custom dial and don't use the 1/4 moa

[Griiz]

I only use a 100 yd zero on my rifles with open sights. Scoped rifles are 200-300 yard zero. I would only have a 100 yd zero if I was a brush gun. A longer zero keeps your point of impact in the kill zone while holding dead on your target.

[Taco280AI]

The thing I don't like about 300 yard zeros, which is why I don't use them, is that the bullet will reach 4 inches high before it starts coming back down again (unless you're using some super fast cartridge like the 257 Wby). There is no reason for that, especially when my average shot has been around 175 yards. If your average shot is actually 300 yards it makes sense. But if it isn't, then why sight in like that?

This years deer was 293 (horizontal distance with the TBR). Made a scope adjustment of 1.75MOA, held dead on, lost him in the recoil but when I got back on he simply rolled over in his bed with a double shoulder shot.

Using my 200 yard zero, my bullet is within 1.5 inches of my POA from 0-225 yards. If I went with a 300 yard zero, my bullet would be 4 inches high at my average shot distance of 175 yards. If it is up close and I'm a little rushed, I don't have to think about where my bullet will be, if I'll have to aim low or not.

It just seems that many people are too concerned about the longest shot possible, and not the most common - instead of being set up for the most likely shot and adjusting for the longest, if necessary.

[jay.sharkbait]

I avoid dialing at all costs and with simple optics a 300 yard zero makes a lot of sense.

[Taco280AI]

Again, why would you want your bullet 4+ inches high? Cause that doesn't make sense.

[Taco280AI]

Lets use the very common 30-06 using a 165 Partition, factory Federal ammo at 2830fps, 3000 feet in elevation, 59 degrees:

300 yard zero: that bullet is 5.4 inches high at 150-175 yards! That makes zero sense.
200 yard zero: that bullet is 1.8 inches high at 100-125 yards. It is also within 1.8 inches of line of sight/or point of aim/whatever from 25-225 yards.  Makes a lot of sense.

[Jonathan_S]

Devils advocate here, 5.4" isn't high for a controlled shot. For somebody with capped turrets and who aims at the heart, that just gives them that much farther of a shot without having to fiddle with their equipment or worry about holding over.

When I hunted mule deer and coyotes with capped turrets, I zeroed at 300. Most shots where 250+ anyway.

[jay.sharkbait]

Again, why would you want your bullet 4+ inches high? Cause that doesn't make sense.

It wouldn't be. Holding low at these distances is easy.

Dialing takes time and takes focus away from the target.