What's the average shot distance with a 30.06 at a deer?

[yeudon]

I'm a beginer hunter and i have been shooting at the target range weekly. I would like to know the best distance to sight in my scope.

thx for all the replies

[KwackWacker]

A little info from you would help me tell you a little

What type of terrain are you hunting? Power lines? Thick woods? Open hilly country?

What type of ammo? Hand loads? Factory? What grain bullet?

In general you would do well to sight your rifle in 1 1/2" above center at 100 yards. It should be right around dead center at 200 yards. This way you won't have to hold over or under at anything out to about 250 yards.

[T-bird]

I've shot a 30.06 for 25 years --- it's one critter-getter you just can't go wrong with.

I like the 168gr Winchester Ballistic SilverTips, and I sight 2 1/2" high at 100 yds. I've got some big fields that offer shots out to and beyond 300 yds so this lets me hold dead on out to around 275 yds without worrying about holdover. And I've shot deer as close as 12 yds and as far away as 327 yds with this set up and never had a problem.

If you're chasing deer, the 150gr bullets work well too, if you move up to elk or bear, I'd switch to one of the premium 180gr rounds like the Winchester Failsafe.

Just make sure you try several brands and bullet weights to see which one your rifle likes the best. And good luck!

[yeudon]

thanks guys.

i'll take the 1 1/2 " over because i doubt ill be shooting over 250 yds.

im practicing now with silver bear ammo, but when it gets closer to deer season ill try the 150 gr u suggested.

[artjaggard]

Hi Yeudon,
My first hunting rifle was a 30-06 which I bought to hunt both Elk and deer. The elk hunt fell through and I took it out for deer. A herd of deer surrounded my tree and the first deer I took was at 25 yard. Since then I've taken three at about 250 yard, a couple at about 150 yards and all the rest within 100 yards. Last year all three deer were within 50 yards. Partly it will depend on how y ou hunt. I hunt like I'm carrying a bow, so they tend to get in close before I pull the trigger.
Art

[Buck It]

I dont know where you are hunting,I hunt in Florida and Georgia. Ive been shooting a 30-06 for 25 years. I take my info from a sniper who is now in Iraq. It has aloud me to kill deer and hogs from 10 yards to 300 yards. I set my scope at 1 inch at 100 hd yards. I have used all ammo set at this way and have killed,I dont wont to go off about ammo anymore so we will leave it at that. Buck-It

[progers]

That's pretty much where mine sits. I have both my 7mm and .243 set at 1in. hi at 100yrds. I usually always neck shoot at up to about 60 yards and aim at top of kill zone around 200 yrds. and normally hunt from 15' to 18' off the ground. 8 out of 10 fall in their tracks with 7mm. and 5 out of 10 with the 243. Pop and drop! That's what I like to see!

[DocHolladay]

welcome to the forum first of all yeudon, glad you made it. second what all these fellas are saying is true. if you are not shooting farther than 200yds. then 1-1.5in is good. i live in Tennessee and rarely shot farther than 150yds. i have a couple of places that allow farther shots but there is no need in it when the deer can come in closer. if its a good deer and you really want to harvest it shoot it at the distance you are comfortable with. also i wouldnt wait till this fall to try out new ammo. its better to do it now so you will be ready when hunting season gets here.
go and buy 2 or 3 "new" brands that you havent tried and shoot with them. you dont have to sight your rifle in with them yet but shoot them at your target and see which one the rifle likes best. as long as you are on the paper you can tell. i always try to shoot 5 shot groups cause 3 doesnt tell you to much you may have a good group then # 4 goes off somewhere else. let your barrel cool off, then clean it after each brand and then fire one of the new brand to get it dirty again before you shoot the 5. always aim at the same spot for your groupings. once you find a brand that you are satisfied with the groupings then you can sight it in.
just my 4 cents worth.