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Need help with leupold CDS dials for .300 win mag |
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dirtrider
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/26/2012 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: February/26/2012 at 00:59 |
I am pretty new to rifles but have numerous handguns. I picked up a new winchester model 70 in .300 win mag. I also picked up a new leupold CDS VX-3 4.5-14 x 40. So I need help deciding on the dials to get for this. I will need to get accustomed to this rifle by shooting quite a bit at a range first. After I gather some experience I would like to hunt with it someday. Not sure what yet or where. I have quite a bit of the following factory ammo already (100-200 rounds of each): Nosler Custom Trophy Grade Accubond 180gr 19.3" drop, 2261 fps, 2043 ft-lb @400yards with 200yd zero 2950fps and 3478 ft-lb at the muzzle Winchester Power-Point 180gr 20.3" drop, 2157 fps, 1859 ft-lb @400yards with 200yd zero 2960fps and 3501 ft-lb at the muzzle Federal Premium Vital Shok 130gr Barnes Tipped Triple Shock Hyper Velocity 3500fps 7.9" drop, 2670fps, 2055 ft-lb, @300yards with 100yd zero 3500fps and 3535 ft-lb at the muzzle I think the Nosler and the winchester are hopefully close enough that I can use the same dials for each??? I figured I could use the winchester ammo for practice and then keep most of the nosler ammo for hunting. If you were wondering I bought the nosler ammo last year when they had the buy 2 get 1 free sale so I figured it was worthwhile to get as it likely won't be cheaper when I need it. Also got a good deal on the federal and figured it is fine for practice too (maybe hunting) with a different dial. So I originally ordered my 2 free dials from leupold (on promo) with the following info: [Factory load data from above for the nosler and federal ammo] Temp: 70 degrees Altitude: 1000' Zero at 200 yards |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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[QUOTE=dirtrider]I am pretty new to rifles but have numerous handguns. I picked up a new winchester model 70 in .300 win mag. I also picked up a new leupold CDS VX-3 4.5-14 x 40. So I need help deciding on the dials to get for this. I will need to get accustomed to this rifle by shooting quite a bit at a range first. After I gather some experience I would like to hunt with it someday. Not sure what yet or where. I have quite a bit of the following factory ammo already (100-200 rounds of each): Nosler Custom Trophy Grade Accubond 180gr 19.3" drop, 2261 fps, 2043 ft-lb @400yards with 200yd zero 2950fps and 3478 ft-lb at the muzzle Winchester Power-Point 180gr 20.3" drop, 2157 fps, 1859 ft-lb @400yards with 200yd zero 2960fps and 3501 ft-lb at the muzzle Federal Premium Vital Shok 130gr Barnes Tipped Triple Shock Hyper Velocity 3500fps 7.9" drop, 2670fps, 2055 ft-lb, @300yards with 100yd zero 3500fps and 3535 ft-lb at the muzzle I think the Nosler and the winchester are hopefully close enough that I can use the same dials for each??? I figured I could use the winchester ammo for practice and then keep most of the nosler ammo for hunting. If you were wondering I bought the nosler ammo last year when they had the buy 2 get 1 free sale so I figured it was worthwhile to get as it likely won't be cheaper when I need it. Also got a good deal on the federal and figured it is fine for practice too (maybe hunting) with a different dial. So I originally ordered my 2 free dials from leupold (on promo) with the following info: [Factory load data from above for the nosler and federal ammo] Temp: 70 degrees Altitude: 1000' Zero at 200 yards |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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I like rustic's recs. Go with an avg elevation. I personally use a 200 yd sight-in. I live in the desert so I went with an avg temp of 55*. You ought to go to jbm ballistics website and play around with the trajectory calculator. You'll find that variances in elev, temp, etc don't make as much of a difference as you think. I"d also recommend you chrono your loads and take an avg velocity, then give Leupold that velocity for your dial.
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dirtrider
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/26/2012 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Great point to chrono the velocity first. I also was able to verify what you mentioned with the jbm calculator. Good to know I will be able to use the dials hunting even with considerable variance in some of those variables.
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