How to Sight In Point Blank ~ Maximize the range of your Rifle!

[@bobfisterburger1085]

I saw an older gentleman with a rifle, a glass of scotch and a dog, and immediately pressed play. If my children learn nothing else from me, it will be that our elders are a valuable, and all too often under appreciated resource. This man is a shining example of that undeniable principle.

[@4renzicfiles92]

I long to talk to my Grandma with tears in my eyes sometimes!!!

[@brettheller9257]

Don't forget he did mention the safety part also (The fact that there was no live ammo in the area) Drinking and guns only flys in West Virginia. LOL

[@5695q]

Bet he's got a library filled with all the classics plus a few Sports Afield and Field and Stream magazines.

[@hiramhaji7813]

Damn right!

[@robertsullivan4646]

I think most importantly it just comes down to knowing your gun intimately.

[@vrod1a]

This is what you might call “A wealth of knowledge” When he talks, you listen and absorb as much as you can.

[@7mm-08]

I come back to this video every so often. In a world of hype and nonsense its good to sit and watch this wonderful wealth of knowledge. Thank you Sir!

[@COREYDEER]

I would love to spend a day or two with this man and just take in all he had to share and do some shooting.

[@MrLeo7627]

You are, right here on YT . Lots of things I hate about technology , some things I Love , Like this channel .

[@rickfletcher8422]

It’d take a week just to learn what he’d forgotten!

[@jmac6242]

Second That!

[@sammylacks4937]

I've had people tell me you can't listen/ believe anything on the net. I tell them I know of one at least that covers any area of shooting or just different guns and calibers. What he says you can take to the bank. I'm thankful for him. I remember a list in an outdoor mag for MPBR and the 257 Weatherby was nearly 400 with a 3 " + or - 7 mag was little over 300 Don't recall the bullet wt.

[@syrehn7684]

as a young inexperienced shooter, thanks for your no bullshit no scam knowledge and life experience, its helped me round out my understanding a lot!

[@retiredtofishwildbill4304]

Really enjoy these videos. Nothing is better than listening to someone who knows what they are talking about. Thank you

[@tompedersen6564]

A rifle, a tick collector, a wee dram, and a head full of wisdom. Excellent presentation. 5 stars, two thumbs up, and a toast.

[@fainjohnson3637]

I thought I knew a few things about guns until I started watching this man.

[@mikek8089]

"Jack O'Connor" Now there's a name that one rarely hears of these days. Great writings that man had! When I was younger, I tried to read everything that man put in ink.👍

[@donmurrin5269]

Me too! I've thought of getting a few books i had when I was a kid. Jack O Connor's work. Grabbed my imagination and my knowledge grew from his work and others. Fred Bear, Grits Greshom. Im glad I grew up in the 60s and 70s.

[@donmurrin5269]

Honestly his name has popped in my head a half dozen times in the last week.

[@ricks4468]

Yup... loved his stuff.

[@eb1684]

Jack, in one of his books, strongly recommended the .243 for deer and similar game. Then he backed it up with several pages of reasons. (Lower recoil, flat trajectory, etc.).

[@ricodelacerda3959]

I hear that name alot lately so I'm gonna research his material.

[@bdm1000]

Thank you for your service. My father-in-law died not long ago at age 72. He served and saw combat in Vietnam and had been suffering from PTSD for many years. He lived with us and I know it was very difficult for him. His doctor at the VA hospital said he died of complications due to exposure to agent orange. He had very little functioning lung capacity and was on oxygen his last few years. Not only that, but at least two of his children somehow may be suffering health complications associated with his exposure. I hadn't heard of that before, but it only underscores the fact we often ask way too much of our troops seeing combat in my opinion. Anyway, thank you again for your service and I hope you and yours are in good health.

[@bRad-ns6iy]

I love watching your videos. It reminds me of conversations with my Dad. Great memories!

[@Madskills-hw2ox]

Hello my friend Thank you for the teachings over the years Have a great day 🙏

[@SteeringSteel]

25th ID Schofield Barracks Hawaii “Strike like tropic lightning!” Thank you for your service sir and thank you for all the great educational content that you have given to us over the years. God Bless.

[@PercivalTheSeeker1982]

I have a 50 yard zero on my Tikka 308. It's on again at 200 and drops 5 inches at 275 yards, 8 inches at 300 yards.

[@hootiesfilms6446]

I don't think I've ever fully understood this concept. This helps a lot. Thanks!

[@joeleadslinger6138]

👍 Give Benny a pat on the head for me.

[@dangielfrauk8484]

Tremendous teacher, tremendous content.

[@idleonlooker1078]

Just imagine how wonderful it would be to be on the other side of that table, with a glass of whiskey, giving Benny an occasional scratch and spending the afternoon discussing firearms, reloading and game with this gentleman!! 😊👍

[@Predikt9]

I have to say you are an exceptional teacher, Mr. Your videos have been a treasure trove of practical information for a person like me who has been planning of getting his first rifle for hunting. I spent one year in military but that was 10 years ago and it was hardly useful in getting a bolt action rifle. Your videos on the other hand have helped me tremendously in choosing the right rifle, optics and in general being confident about handling and taking care of it. Thank you and best wishes from Finland.

[@hawknives]

Benny still looks content. he looks great! Blessings to you and your family! Hawk

[@JGF6237]

I look forward to some day meeting you. I work at Four Seasons Firearms in Woburn,Ma.. With the influx of first time gun buyers we are experiencing and their lack of any firearm experience. I recommend a steady diet of your videos to get them started!

[@southtexasbrushcountryboy4176]

I love listening to You. Always great advice on firearms, self defense, hunting and aspects of Life. God bless You Sir ✝️🇺🇸✝️

[@kenneth5328]

Thanks for all you are doing. Such a wealth knowledge and experience. I am learning so much. You are living the good life; a great dog, a fist full of whiskey, and a plan for the hunt. Wish I was there!!! Thanks again!!!

[@colby7625]

I love a brush up on ballistics. I sight in my AR for a 50/200 yd zero.

[@andrewdomenitzdmd]

I think this choice of zero is the most useful too.

[@MarkHansen1990]

Thank you Sir for all these excellent videos. So very helpful. We so need these discussions.

[@zakartv]

Thank you. This drawings were perfect for explaining to my buddies why I choose my specific hunting zero 😊

[@Junior-fd8ux]

I love your channel and information.. I was not aware you were a New Englander. Hello from RI!

[@gruvyalan]

Glad to see you and Benny! God Bless you and your household. Great wisdom and technical information in this video.

[@comlbbeau]

Very well explained, as usual. I believe the technique you described is referred to as sighting in for maximum "point blank range."

[@GunBlue490]

You're correct, as I've described in other presentations.

[@daletustison8550]

I too am an old Fossil. I live in the high desert in Idaho. I learned point blank sighting years ago at the same time I learned about ethical shooting at distances that are not guessing. I get involved with teaching young hunters and help then sight in their rifles for hunting seasons. If the father is between 30 and 40 they usually are programed for shooting game at 1000 yrs. I feel that is totally unethical and inhumane. I have a rifle that will hit an 16 inch target at a measured mile. (Under ideal conditions) That is right I said a mile with all the documentation. I have yet to shoot at any game animal at much over 300 Yds. I have passed up several good ones. I am 79 and have never starved nor wounded and lost and animal. Thank You. You are accurate, factual and a Blessing to our game animals and the shooting community. Dale Tustison

[@64samsky]

Good to see you and Benny. I wish you and the Mrs good health as well as Benny. God bless you all!

[@davereber9786]

Get Benny a Seresto flea and tick collar. They work great for our lab and Gordon Setter, even with her long hair. Thanks for the video.

[@beautanner8409]

Thank you so much! Perfect timing too... I still a noob, and needed exactly this video to help me with my new rifle. EDIT - even better haha - that's exactly my rifle

[@yankfromthehills]

Love the 25th hat

[@s60430470]

Thanks a lot for your rich information!

[@stephenhair5501]

Spot on again. Taking advantage of bullet trajectory really puts you in a great place for reliably hitting your target/game at longer range. Good to see you and Bennie are doing well. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.

[@greg-lg6vr]

Would you comment on chronographs? I'm asking for 2 reasons: 1) My rifle barrel is shorter than the test barrel which the loading manual uses for it's velocity measurements. So I assume I have less velocity, and consequently my far zero point would be somewhat closer and the high midpoint lower. But I would like to know how many inches above and below the crosshairs I have when I'm sighted at point blank as you explained. Is there a rule of thumb for estimating velocity loss due to barrel length, or is a chronograph necessary? 2) I have been using the twist rate/bullet stability calculator on the Berger website, and I see something that surprises me: the calculator indicates that a commercial hunting round I want to use is 'marginally unstable' in my rifle if the temperature is under 60 degrees! So if I were to load the same bullet that commercial cartridge uses myself, it would be very important to measure the actual velocity to ensure stability. Or am I just giving too much credence to a mathematical result from a calculator? So I would very interested to hear your comments on chronographs and these scenarios. Thank you very much, and please keep teaching. I, like many others, have learned a ton from you and appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos.

[@chrismills4213]

Love the wealth of information here...one of the best gun channels on KZbin....God bless.

[@mdh6977]

Benny is a such a good boy!!

[@JakeSchlade]

I own a .257 Roberts because of you. Thanks for yet another informative and helpful video. Good luck this fall and be safe.

[@tomcurran8470]

An older buddy once told me years ago that the best Pennsylvania deer cartridges were the 257 Roberts and the 6.5 Swede. He owned hundreds of guns and was an Air Force captain.

[@bdm1000]

Fantastic illustration and explanation! Thank you!

[@ajjdgduehdkdyud]

I truly think you have the best channel on KZbin! Thank you for your videos!

[@davewinter2688]

A great video. I've been sighting in for maximum effective point blank range for longer than I can remember. I'm coming up on my 70th birthday and although I can't hunt much anymore because of health issues I still enjoy taking my rifles out to the pasture on my farm and giving them a little workout. For a lot of the faster center rfles the old 3" high at 100 yards is still a good starting point. Then shooting groups at both shorter and longer ranges will show where the bullet is hitting above or below those two magic "dead on" spots along the bore axis line of sight. With some work the real maximum effective point blank range for the larger bore slower rounds can be figured out. Modern bullets, especially the Hornady FTX in the LeverEvolution has increased the practical maximum effective point blank range in the 30-30, 35 Remington, 444 Marlin and 45-70 Gov't. They're still not 300 yard plus bean field rifles but have made them better for that potential 200 yard shot, especially if you happen to have a low powered scope on your "woods" rifle. I guess my age is showing in that I can't believe how many current day shooters or hunters never heard of Jack O'Connor or his journalistic nemesis Elmer Keith and many other great gun and hunting writers who really "wrote the book" on all things hunting and shooting from as far back as the early 1930's through the early to mid 1970's. I've seen a lot of internet no-nothings who have obviously never read much of anything he wrote saying that Jack only hunted with the 270 Winchester which is far from the truth. Although he killed eleven Grizzly Bears with his beloved 270, Jack hunted with a lot of cartridges from 250 Savage to 458 Winchester Magnum, but in his "Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns" he said (paraphrasing here) "If I could have only one rifle to hunt the world over it would be a 375 H&H Magnum. If I was allowed a second rifle it would be a 270 Winchester. Happy hunting boys and girls.

[@Mu93508]

Thank you for helping me understand a lot of things that I never understand about shooting

[@jasyski01930]

Thank you for all you share with the shooting community. Your knowledge is a blessing to the rest of us.

[@ely336]

Always a pleasure to see you and Benny Hope you have a safe and enjoyable hunt.👍🐶👨🏻‍🌾😍🇺🇸

[@albertcrabtree875]

You always explain your topics very well. Thanks for all your great videos. I’m seventy now and you’ve gotten me back to reloading and going to the range. Thanks again

[@jdela1576]

Thank you sir. Shooter since 1979. Great info. You explain it well

[@jjiacobucci]

Hey Professor ! Life is good ! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@jdecar1]

Its always good to see another new GunBlue490 video posted. Be well and God bless.

[@drstrangelove4998]

I love these casual chats, thank you Gunblue490 and Benny of course.

[@hbarwickjr]

Excellent teaching! Thank you.

[@christianpaul3303]

Always enjoy time with you, sir. Yes - I can tell Benny is a good boy. Y'all keep each other safe.

[@Paladin1873]

We received 14" of snow overnight here in Montana and today is the first day of deer season. That didn't keep a lot of businesses from closing to go hunting.

[@rik4369]

Well done! Enjoyed the simplicity an accuracy of his explanation. Some people make shooting too complicated for new shooters. Morden weapons & scopes are designed for eaiser use. Semper Fi

[@abaachi13]

Old School wisdom... Thank you, Sir.

[@alanlabar7722]

Videos and information don't get better than this. Thank you.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

Good luck my friend. Im on my 3rd week of deer season here in california. Its been good so far this year. 2 weeks in and i already have meat in the freezer👍

[@5000rgb]

Where are you hunting? I have had zero luck in D5.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

@@5000rgb i live in socal. I hunt either d11 or d15. Thers lots of action at d11

[@5000rgb]

@@sparky_-mf2cs Looking at last years harvest report D11 didn't look any better than D3,4,5. Is this year better or did you find the hot spot? I stick to D3,4,5 because I figured it's easy to get to so I can hunt and scout more but it's not working out.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

@@5000rgb this year has been a little better for me than last. But i am always looking for the hot spots. Why hunt areas with no deer? Sounds like you need to do a little more scouting before season actually starts.

[@5000rgb]

@@sparky_-mf2cs ​ Yeah, I had done a fair bit of scouting before the season started and was planning on finalizing my spots when the state caught on fire and they shut down the forest. I've seen footprints and poop and a few deer before the season. The Sierra Pacific land being closed doesn't help either. I definitely agree you should do your hunting before you do your shooting. We have this weekend left. I'll probably wind up hunting the same area because I've seen more sign there and I know my way around but it's heavily pressured. Nobody that I have talked to has admitted to getting a deer, only one guy claimed to see a legal buck.

[@StealthJackson12B]

I am forever grateful for you spending time and sharing your knowledge. Very nice pour of scotch.

[@gunwrites6222]

Though I've long known this of what you speak, it is just so refreshing & wonderfully enjoyable to have YOU explain it with such simple & precise terminology, and in a calm & at ease manner. You make learning and/or continuing education an absolute pleasure. You being a New Hampshire boy and longtime Master Educator I believe it past time Dartmouth College give you an Honorary Doctorate. Their Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Education aren't just for Josiah Bartlett(1790), Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel '25(1955), or Fred "Mr." Rogers '47(2002).

[@martinetti123]

Thx, Sir! 'So far, so good'. God bless!

[@easttexan2933]

Outstanding explanation. thanks for taking the time to share this info.

[@Commenter007]

Thank you, sir, for another great video! Happy to see that you and Benny are doing well.

[@LUVDOGS1954]

Love that pup, is aging much better than you and me! Another excellent video, thank you sir.

[@alpha2foxtrotnunya880]

Always excellent videos! Thank you for your help and thank you for your service! 2A! 🇺🇸

[@dmett3828]

Wow thanks for the info. I'm probably going to have to watch just three or four times until it sinks in though😆😆

[@Jeff_Seely]

I am like you Captain. I will NOT take a shot on big game that is beyond 350yds. When I was a boy, I went deer hunting with my cousin. He took a shot on a deer that was greater than 350yds and he misjudged bullet drop and it was windy. He hit that deer outside the kill zones, but he wounded the deer and it fled into the open dessert. We looked and looked and couldn't find it. The next day we noticed some buzzards coming in and out of a ravine. We found that deer because of them and the buzzards were picking that carcass clean. When we got back, we told the story to my dad and he made my cousin fill out his tag and turn it in. He said, "you shot that deer and it is dead. You have your deer for the season". It is disrespectful and irresponsible to shoot game outside of your capability. And it is irresponsible to not know the limitations of yourself and your rifle. A very belated thanks to you for this video.

[@kevinyoung9034]

So simple, yet so misunderstood. Thank you Sir.

[@happyhome41]

SO good to see you again. Always benefit from your information dense discourse. Thank you !

[@paulsimmons5726]

Always love your videos and and solid usable advice for hunting at ethical ranges. Glad to see Benny enjoying the afternoon with you. Take care and have a great hunting season this year.

[@russellparrish5745]

Glad Benny is doing well and hope he continues to keep doing well. I feel the same way about my dogs.

[@jeffestrada6857]

Thanks again 👍

[@ingeniousmechanic]

"Shoot at the deer first" ha, that's great. I see that electric strawberry. Tropic Lightning!

[@dominickfiorenza2639]

LOVED THAT VIDEO ON DROPING THE SLIDE ON THE 1911 , IT IS SO COOL , AND I SHOWED THE VIDEO TO MY FRIENDS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT DROPING THE SLIDE, AND THEY WERE CONVERTED FROM THERE OLD WAYS ,,LOL THANK YOU SIR FOR MY FREEDOM , AND GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND DONT 4GET TO GO OUT AND VOTE!!!! PS I LIKE ALL UR VIDEOS LEARNING FROM VETERANS IS A HONOR!.

[@gregpolimis2630]

Welcome back, great to see and hear from you again. This new hunter thanks you profusely for the education. God bless and good hunting!

[@kentgoldings]

I zero my 22LR squirrel rifle at 50 yards with high velocity HP. The first zero is approximately 25 yards and the rise between 25 and 50 is no more than an inch. This works well from mid-October to the end of February. I do have problems in September because I’m often engaging the squirrels in the top of trees with base closer than 15 yards away. The bullet will always impact significantly lower than the point of aim.

[@robertmartin4456]

Thanks for promoting practicle information

[@indycharlie]

Great HAT and video . WC home brother . .. Knox , Sam , D troop 3/4th turned F troop 4th Cav medic .

[@indycharlie]

Centaur .

[@dukeman7595]

Enjoyed the visit.

[@jimhearn7459]

Thank you sir for yet again a very enjoyable and informative talk. Should I make it up the New England way again I’d enjoy buying and drinking a round of Glenlivet with you.

[@GunBlue490]

I like that!

[@jerryziegner]

Benny and a nice glass of Scotch. Great video

[@RustyNail5856]

Thanks a lot for your information. loved the video.

[@jeffmorrow1957]

Thanks, I already understand a trajectory but you explained it very well for someone who doesn’t. I enjoy all of your videos and I have also learned a few things, like the perfect sling for a rifle. Now all of my rifles are sporting a loop sling, the same ones in your video. Thanks again Gun Blue we love you and Bennie😎

[@frankf7858]

Mr Gunblue Just so you know. I was unsubscribe to my favorite KZbin channel, yours. Utube up to its old tricks. I hope there will be a platform that is pro gun education. Again thanks for all your lessons.

[@captainobvious1721]

Your knowledge is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share it. Its funny how many new gadgets and gizmos you see come on to the market that are an answer in search of a problem. I ave always favored simple reticles and use good judgment in the field.

[@uralbob1]

Great to see Benny again!

[@karrotsme8652]

Whenever you sight in a rifle with a scope, does it matter if you use a 3 or say 9 magnification?

[@oldArmyVet]

I always use the highest magnification to sight in.

[@TripleAAA53]

Good Luck this season Sir !!! Semper Fidelis

[@robertdeeter5295]

I've learned a lot from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@vdog4799]

Glad to see you. I was just thinking about you hoping you were ok

[@ResistTheNonsense]

I worked out my 30-06 Rem. Core Lokt 180 PSP to to a point blank range of 255 yards shooting out of a Browning X-Bolt. Gives me about a 6" pipe all the way out to the 255 yards

[@MichaelMiller-od6pu]

Blessings to both you and Benny!

[@forthehellofit5544]

Priceless knowledge Always appreciate your videos

[@duvancan]

I wish all my college subjects were as interesting as shooting. There are so many things to learn. Thank-you for the lesson. I find very interesting the relation between: scope mount height, first zero, down range zero, bullet drop, temperature,... I use "federal ballistics calculator " to help me make decisions on some of the variables. When i started this hobby i never thought shooting was so absorbing. BTW. ... I still trying to convince the wife to let me buy that beeman R7 you showed on previous video....

[@vincegordon6830]

Great explanation! Thank you 👏

[@drogers_3]

Excellent channel awesome content! Excellent info, this is a critically underated channel. Paul Harrell is my current favorite, but yours is a close second.

[@me2bfc]

I've been playing around with this information and came to group rifles into categories. 30-30 class rifles get zeroed so the maximum trajectory is about 3 inches high at 100 yards. 308 class rifles get sighted 3 inches high at 150 yards. That way I can use a maximum point blank range with a target of 6 inches diameter out to 275 yards with my 308 loads. I use an 8" diameter target, but figure I'll knock 2" off with my shooting. If I had one, a 7mm Rem Magnum might be 3" high at 175 yards.

[@me2bfc]

Excellent video. I've been tinkering a lot with my 336 and some higher velocity hand loads, again thanks in part to your videos. Since my most common target is clays and sometimes playing cards, I originally set it to hit no more than 3 inches high with my old standard 170 grain Winchester loads. My hand loads are getting pushed to 2500 fps or so, and I'd like to set the high point at 6" for a slightly larger target, 12" bullseyes. Thanks again for the great information.

[@brettheller9257]

Wonder if that dog is an English setter or a Lewellen? My Dad raised both at one point before he passed away. My oldest daughter (31 years old) wanted a Lewellen because she Idolized her Grandpa as did about everyone that knew him. Been 5 years seems like yesterday he passed. Any how my daughter flew from North Carolina to Michigan which is where she grew up and I currently live she had been talking to a breeder and we went from the Detroit airport to pick this 8 week old puppy. Brought back some pretty fond memories. Keep up the great work GunBlue490. After looking a tiny bit closer that may be a brittany. My Dad had a few of those also. He flew all over then United States to shoot to retrieve events with dogs that him and I worked with and trained. He had a room full of trophies. The guy who claims to be my older brother that never ever lived at any house I lived in. He was adopted by my Grandparents. He is like 65 now. Bastard sold everything my Dad and I ever did together. Some items that you would never see again. (OH by the way he was more less by law a brother in law to my dad and never spent more than 2-3 days at any given time with my Dad. I spent every minute with my Dad that I could up until up until I was 49 years old when he passed. I did not expect anything for all of the help that I gave him. It was the time that counted. Oh well life goes on. sorry for the whining session.

[@GunBlue490]

Benny is a Brittany. Thanks and God bless.

[@brettheller9257]

@@GunBlue490 Thank you Sir that is one good looking dog. And I am an old school Jarhead that went to the rifle and pistol range every year and scored Expert with those old Iron sights. I absolutely love your videos. And God Bless you and yours also. Dont forget to Vote Trump on the 3rd if you did not get to vote early. (}:👍

[@GunnyArtG]

Well explained. I've tried to convey this to shooters before and their eyes gloss over and they just sight in an inch high at a hundred and think they are optimized. Some folks are just too set in their ways.

[@oldArmyVet]

Depending on the rifle they may be optimized. I know for my situation I sight in 2 Inches high that puts me dead on at 200 for my rifle. 200 is the farthest shot I'll get where I Hunt.

[@GunnyArtG]

@@oldArmyVet sure I’m not suggesting it doesn’t work in many cases but why not plot the full path of the bullet to know you maximum effective range for your rifle and hunting situation in case you ever start pushing the boundaries. I had it happen to me on the short side because I forgot about the scope offset and emptied my rifle trying to take a finishing head shot on a Turkey at 5 yards.

[@oldArmyVet]

@@GunnyArtG a rifle for turkey season?

[@GunnyArtG]

@@oldArmyVet Fall rifle season in Texas for whitetail allows for turkey also. I was lucky enough to see see one at about 100 yards but took a wounding shot and he ran right to me and I eventually had to jump on him and finish him with my knife because I emptied the gun. :)