September 20, 2022. A varmint shooter is not able to place his target at a fixed distance. As he moves between targets closer to him and farther away, the varminter must make multiple corrections for bullet drops. Click HERE to see a Varmint Forum discussion about the best way to adjust for elevation. Some shooters recommend using the scope’s elevation adjustments. Some shooters prefer to hold-over with the help of vertical markers on their scopes. Others combine both methods, holding off for a certain yardage and then cranking up elevation.
“I zero at 100 meters — I mean that I check the ballistics at 200, 300, and adjust zero accordingly — then set the scope zero. A click chart is taped inside the ammo container for each groundhog gun. Then, use the knobs. They’re there because they’re useful. They are much more accurate than holdovers with or without hash marks if they have a good scope. This assumes that you have a good rangefinder and know how to use it. If you don’t have one, you’re just spraying and praying. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to twist the knobs. Gunamonth: I have my elevation knob calibrated in 100-yard increments from 550 to 550. Range-find the critter and move the elevation knob up…dead creature. Hold-over is difficult because it is so impractical. Because you are also holding on to wind and elevation, it is not repeatable. It feels like you’re starting over every time you change targets within 50 yards. My hit ratios increased dramatically when I stopped using the hold-over method (I used zero for 200). K. Candler It was quite safe to shoot dogs over 325-350 yards. I began using a comeups table to hold all three of my p.dog rifles (6mm Rem and.223 Rems). The.223s can hit 450 yards, but a 650-yard dog should be wary of the 6mm Rems. The comeups table (elevation only) has an additional benefit that takes half the variables out of equations when the wind blows. This is something I didn’t know about before. I can focus on wind and not worry about elevation. It makes life much easier. Mike (Linefinder). “I dial for elevation, and hold for wind. To make windage holdings easier, I also use a mildot reticle. I use the mil-dot to measure the distance the bullet struck, and then adjust windage accordingly. It’s very fast once you get used it. — PepeLPMinority view — Hold-over is Better
Once I’m at 200 meters, I try to not touch my knobs. My varmint scopes all have duplex reticles. I use the bottom post to place me on at 300 meters, rather than turning the knobs. My reason I leave my knobs alone, is that I have made one complete revolution up and down too many times and missed the varmint. This has happened several times and is why I try to not change my knobs as often as possible. Chino69: I have been using the holdover method for a while and it works well most of the time. However, the 450 yard and over shots can be a bit difficult. It worked well for me, and I have moved to a 300 yard zero. The click-up method seems more foolproof, but I want to try it. — 500YardHogCompromise View — Use Both Methods
“I use both [methods] equally — hold on to 250 and click up beyond that.” Jack (Wolf). I use the target knobs as well as crank-in elevation. I also use a rangefinder to determine how far they are from me before I start cranking in the clicks. Premier Recticle has a scope with drop dots that I like. There are no cranking [knobs] beyond 600. -Vmthtr
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