Scope Height

Among other things, I tend to play with a plethora of gun related software programs (QuickLoad, Load From A Disc, Sierra Ballistics, etc.) and use my chronograph so I can plot the "best" sight-in distance for whatever caliber/bullet I happen to be using. I tend to look at a distance that will give me the furthest Point Blank Range (the bullet DOES NOT rise to 3" or more and, when it gets close to 3" low, that's the PBR). Most ballistic programs default to a scope height (middle of bore to middle of scope objective lens) of 1.5". Mine happens to be 1.6" and, when I change the default to reflect that, my PBR increased by 5 yards. Hmmm! I have a Bushnell Holo-Sight (red dot) on my 50 Alaskan and it measures 2.46" above the bore and, lo and behold, my sight-in distance increased by 8 yards (15 to 23) and the PBR increased from 155 yards to 165 yards. That happens to be with a 525 gr bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1650 fps and to get the same extra PBR, the velocity would have to approach 1800 fps.



Something else to think about in your spare time ... maybe those "ultra high" scope rings aren't a terrible idea. The concept seems to work well at handgun velocities but not so much as you approach those of a rifle.

Scope Height