smha6784 Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 I read on another forum something that really bothered me, from an ethical stand point. The topic was sighting in rifles and more than a few people said " I sighted my rifle in three years ago and it still holds true no reason to waste ammo shooting every year when I know I never bumped it." If you dont check your zero how do you know its true ? As a bow hunter I practice my form and technique and check my zero as it is easy to get a stick or something jambbed in and bend a pin. The same goes for my rifles, before the season I bring my rifles that I hunt with to the range and check zero and heck just shoot for practice and fine tuning. Some of my rifles are more "tuned" than others because the longer you shoot it and try different ammo or combinations the more so to say tuned it can become. Shooter fatigue, scope eye, anything can be an issue so the more you practice with a rifle ( not meaning shooting 1000rds an outing) the more fimilar and accurate you become with it. Right? or is this a diluted reason I have bestowed on myself to go "waste ammo"? What do you guys do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 About like the ones who buy a pre sighted gun the afternoon before season opens and never even shoots the gun before taking it to shoot at the first brown fuzzy that comes along. Biggest gun sales of the year at our local Wally world are the Friday before season opens. Does not seem ethical to me, would much rather "waste" those few extra rounds and have confidence in our guns. Will be getting the ml'ers out this week, been testing some loads in the wifes 243, know it is on. Have had to make last minute scope adjustments before in the past, the weekend before an opening season usually is the last minute. Beats missing a deer or worse injuring one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 Oh, and every year i will hear someone target practicing after the rifle season opens. Dunno if it is a matter of an uh oh i missed or what. Would suck to miss a buck of a lifetime only to find your scope you did not check prior to opening morning was a few clicks off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 I'll shoot to make sure it's on before season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 (edited) I check my rifles to make sure they're still zeroed before I ever think about hunting with them. I also check mine during the season too...especially if I even think it got bumped. You just never know if one has been bumped enough to knock it off a little going to & from your stand...especially if you are hauling it in an ATV, UTV or whatever. Yep seen guys that don't think they need to check zero before they hunt. Have even asked guys with new rifles if they checked zero and get the response "the dealer bore sighted it". I've never witnessed a new rifle that was bore sighted by a dealer that was zeroed. Most wouldn't even hit paper at 100 yards. Edited October 15, 2014 by Rhino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 15, 2014 Report Share Posted October 15, 2014 It takes 1-2 shots to double check. That’s it.... also, a lot of people take for granted that changing ammunition brands also throws off accuracy. If you sighted in with Winchester a Remington will not necessarily hit the same mark or anywhere close. Guns like different types of ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 There are hunters and then there are people who go hunting, and there is definitely a difference between the two. Anyone who does not check the zero of their firearms is either ignorant or stupid, or both. Just shooting off a bench is also a bad idea. If one is not proficient from all shooting positions they may have to employ, at the maximum range they may encounter, then they should not be hunting. How would they even know their maximum range? If clean misses were all that ever resulted I guess then it would not be so bad. Personally, I think that there should be a legal responsibility to properly sight-in your weapon of choice prior to hunting. All firearms purchased should come with a verbal and written notice of the need to properly zero the firearm, that should include proper directions. I am sure that everyone has heard horror stories from the field. There are "hunters" out there that should scare the crap out you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 There's some QDM co-ops that have a proficiency day. You bring your bow and gun. Put out a deer target at a very reasonable range. I think 100 and 30 yards. If you don't hit two of three vitals then you don't hunt. You can requalify before season if you do miss the first time though. I think it's a good rule for a landowner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Many outfitters do something similar although not sure what happens if the person isn't prepared at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 16, 2014 Report Share Posted October 16, 2014 Many outfitters do something similar although not sure what happens if the person isn't prepared at all. Yea most do...I did back in the 90's when I used to go & rifle hunt in Texas. I think they probably put you in a short range stand if you can't hit the vitals at 100 yards. This brings to mind a instance I had in Texas back then. They had a metal plate ~5" in diameter & ~3/16" thick hanging from a bar that they wanted you to hit at 100 yards. They called it "ringing the bell". It was the 1st time I carried my Wby 30-378 on a Texas hunt for longer range shooting. The 2 guys I'm with ring the bell then the guide tells me to shoot it. I ask...are you sure...I'm going to blow through that thing. He disagreed so...I hit ~1/2" from the center & yep...blew right through it like a hot knife through butter. Then we go down there & the guide is looking at it with his mouth open. I ask...you want me to shoot it again? Answer...Oh no...and don't tell anybody I made you shoot it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 I always sight in before the season starts and if I travel - then I sight in when I get there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OKstate Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I always take a least a couple shots before the season opens.... you never know what might have changed!!! And like many have said above, I would hate to miss just because I didn't want to waste a bullet to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Just as important to me is a good thorough cleaning before checking the zero. I never just pull a gun from the cabinet and shoot it without giving it a cleaning. If you stored it already clean (as you should) just a stroke or two to remove any dust particles, spider webs or other debris can extend barrel life and assure accuracy. Newer synthetic stocks aren't quite as prone to shrinking or swelling as some wood stocks. Unless the barrel is floated you have the possibility the barrel can have different pressure on it from the wood. One piece bolt action stocks are more prone to this than 2 piece semi-auto, pump action or some single shot rifles. Always take the best instrument you have for the job at hand. It is the only ethical thing to do. Good Luck this season, Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 thats a very good point that I wish I would have thought of in my discussion on the other forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Others don't get differences in point of impact. Sight your gun in to how you will shoot it I. The field. Don't rest it on a hard surface hit the bull then call it good. Final check should be to shoot it with your hand on the forend rested on the solid rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 I always shoot mine before the season. Did that last weekend. If I didn't that's all I would think about when hunting! The .300 WSM was about an inch and a half left at 75 yards. Dialed it in center and put 3 shots touching the bullseye. The 25-06 was an inch and a half high. I generally take that into the fields in the evening where I can shoot up to 400 yards so I just left it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Others don't get differences in point of impact. Sight your gun in to how you will shoot it I. The field. Don't rest it on a hard surface hit the bull then call it good. Final check should be to shoot it with your hand on the forend rested on the solid rest. Yup great point..I always shoot it off with hand on the forestock, also, with gun resting on a hat or some kind of cushion too like I would from tower blind.:gun2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 Most my gun hunting is done from stands I have some sort of place to rest the stock or forearm, have just a few stands that are exceptions to that. Most my practice is shooting the same, however I do shoot prone some, shoot freehand some. Primarily shoot freehand with my AR's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Without exception I shoot all my guns I will be hunting with prior to the season. It's a confidence booster and the ethical thing to do. Going to KY next week and haven't fired my rifle since bear hunting 2 years ago. One shot at 50 yards was 1 inch high - exactly where it was 2 years ago. Seems like a lot of work just to take 1 shot but now I know a miss isn't the gun. Youth season it's even more important. Kids that shot once a year forget how to aim, breathe, and squeeze. They need that practice before they hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Explain this: Three years ago I sighted my .270 in, about an inch high at 100yds. Go to Texas to hunt, first morning there I drop a doe. Three days later I miss two bucks, sighted gun in and was 6" high at 100yds. Now I was staying in a rail car and keeping the rifle in the truck at night, and it was humid as heck, and the gun was a Win Model 70 with a wood stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Weather change? what else could it have been? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Explain this: Three years ago I sighted my .270 in, about an inch high at 100yds. Go to Texas to hunt, first morning there I drop a doe. Three days later I miss two bucks, sighted gun in and was 6" high at 100yds. Now I was staying in a rail car and keeping the rifle in the truck at night, and it was humid as heck, and the gun was a Win Model 70 with a wood stock. Dunno, maybe something was not tight and got bumped after you shot the doe. Maybe a scope issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 i actually had a hunter come on a $3000 deer/antelope hunt with a new gun in the box and a new scope in the box. he was going to put it together and go hunting. not with me, i said, and made him buy a box of shells for my gun and shoot them all before we even went out. he was actually a good shot, but holy cow.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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