Setting up a holdover chart for hunter F/T or hunting

[kirby999]

Or how to get the most out of your airgun and scope combination.   The last few days I've been  figuring out more about the trajectory  of all four of my PCP's , (since they're all 12fpe, it applies to all of them ) than I've ever knew, and it's going to help me and my rifle to be more accurate, whether shooting field target or hunting. I'm sure most of you have a method of sighting in  your rifle that's worked for you , but this help me understand what my pellet does from 10 yards out to 55 yards   . I took a blank paper  ( I like card stock) and with a black sharpie grew a large cross hairs .  I placed  one inch orange dots on the cross hairs  , The one that has a 1/2 inner circle and a black diamond  for a center ; it's best if you take a look at the picture of a sample target . I then drew   horizontal lines about an inch or  a little longer,  spaced an inch apart above and below the dots . this gave me a graph to go by when figuring out the hold for each rifle and scope combo.  If you'll look at my target you'll notice I made several aiming spots to use at different distances .I found out the drop at 55 yards for all of mine is only 3 inches when sighted in at 30 yards . I would have thought it to be more for 12fpe . Now I know exactly . And by placing my scope's cross hairs on the graph at different distances, I can see where my  mildots line up for hold over . Made figuring out hold over more accurate and easier. If you look at the card I made to go by ; you can see some of the longer distances have the same hold over as the the close ones . 10 yards and 55 yards both share  a 1st and 2nd dot split or 3" if I put the split on the center of the dot and look up at where the crosshairs hit on the graph. 13 yards and 45 also share a first split of the first dot and crosshairs. 11 and 12 yards line up with 50 yards . I hope I'm clear with my descriptions as this has helped me a lot. I forgot to mention , each 12fpe rifle has the same trajectory , but unless you have the same scope on each, the mildots  will not line up the same.   kirby

[jon]

Great info!

I need to do one on clicking so it can de-mistify that process as well.  I dont feel an airgunner is properly equiped to hunt at mulitple ranges without knowing about what you just described.  It's so similar to achery it's silly.  A good rangefinder makes Kirby's set-up just plain deadly no matter what kind of gun or it's power level.

[Splash]

Excellent idea David. Looks like I'll be making new targets and doing a few test of my own. Of course I'll also have to get a couple more mil-dots,hehe.
Mike

[kirby999]

Mike , you can do the same thing with regular crosshairs . If you'll notice I only use one and a half mildots on this one. I have one rifle set up with crosshairs and the top of my post is 50 yards ( also 11-12 yards ) the split is 45 (13) for 40 I hold the x hairs 1/2 " high , 35 is only a 1/4" . Zero takes care of from 17-33 yards . Actually MOSH (minute of squirrel's head ) would be dead on from 15- 45 yards , just aim for the top of his skull. It was a lot of fun just figuring out the trajectory and I'm getting use to the monopod , it's becoming a great tool, I'm sure my bi-pod is going to be even better . kirby

[Splash]

SHHHH, David, that's my reason for gettin a few scopes,hehe.
Mike

[kirby999]

This set up only works if you pick a specific power to leave your scope adjusted to . I use 12X because that's the max in hunter class f/t that you're allowed . FYI actually everybody not just you Mike, hehe , If you decide to come to one of our matches dragging a bucket or stool behind you and was wondering if you would be the only one "not" on one of those neat little cushions (bumbag) fear no more , as I will be on my camo dove stool/cooler that I bought at a yard sale last year . Makes a perfect seat and makes the <15" height requirement . kirby

[melloroadman]

Kirby a old camera trick that works for a rifle as well is to take a string and tie a loop not on one end and slip it over the barrel . The other end at a length cut that will reach the ground plus about a foot you tie a large washer to which you place under your forward leg while in a shooting position . This will allow you to put upward pressure on the rifle to steady your aim . It will also allow you to swing left to right if your target is moving . Just thought I would throw that in if you get caught with out your pods. Marvin

[spysir]

I have tried a couple of the SR Hwake scopes (just at Roz's GOB club) it has an etched recticule (other Hawke scopes do not) with cross hatch's of lines instead of dots, center cross hair is your zero/ the cicrle above is ten yards/ each line before center is exactly 5 yards, great optics 10 year warrenty, designed by Nick for 12fpe FT. Under $200.00, if you have'nt tried one you need to (everyone).

  John

[leadbottom]

Sounds interesting.  I would think besides having the same fpe, the bore-to-scope center distance would have to be really similar for those sight markings to be accurate.

[kirby999]

The scopes are IIRC set up for 6X power at 12fpe with a certain scope height setup , They have a program available online that you can enter your particulars into and it will tell you what each cross line will represent . I'll be taking the map6 one I've ordered and will find out exactly what they represent for my rifle .The company that's making(or I should say designing them and having them made to their specs over in china and Japan ) these scopes are interested in providing scopes for the airgun community . They have a new line coming out this summer called Sidewinders , they'll be 30mm scopes with side focus. These and the Airmax scopes are springer rated . kirby