{"id":10924,"date":"2024-03-07T05:20:19","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T05:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=4737"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Range Hunting Prepping Your Scope"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/#Long_Range_Hunting_Prepping_Your_Scope\" >Long Range Hunting Prepping Your Scope<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/#Tall_Target_Test_-_Long_Range_Hunting\" >Tall Target Test - Long Range Hunting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/#Eye_Relief_-_Long_Range_Hunting\" >Eye Relief - Long Range Hunting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/#Setting_Up_Your_Ballistics_Solver_-_Long_Range_Hunting\" >Setting Up Your Ballistics Solver - Long Range Hunting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting-2\/#True_the_Ballistic_Coefficient_-_Long_Range_Hunting\" >True the Ballistic Coefficient - Long Range Hunting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Long_Range_Hunting_Prepping_Your_Scope\"><\/span>Long Range Hunting Prepping Your Scope<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><strong>Before you head out into the field, or the mountains, or the woods, prepping your <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"255\">scope<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tekoa-hd-4-16x44-rifle-scope\/\">long range hunting<\/a> is crucial.<\/strong><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Guest Post By <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/videosview\/how-to-measure-scope-height\/\">James Eagleman<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Long-range <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"349\">hunting<\/a> is a test of patience, skill, and knowledge that pushes hunters to their limits. And it&#8217;s precisely these challenges that make it so captivating for many. But before you head out into the field, or the mountains, or the woods, prepping your scope for long range <a title=\"Binoculars for Turkey Hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/binoculars-for-turkey-hunting\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"731\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a> is crucial.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Tall Target Test &#8211; Long Range Hunting<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before mounting your <a title=\"Choosing the Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/choosing-the-best-riflescope-for-deer-hunting\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1248\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope on a rifle<\/a>, consider performing a tall target test. This allows you to get the <a title=\"Getting Your Riflescope to Hold Zero\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/getting-your-riflescope-to-hold-zero\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1502\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">correction factor from your scope<\/a>. I like to start with my <a title=\"How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1499\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope on a level<\/a> jig.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I use the Bosch Laser Measure, measuring from the center of the turret to the target down range. Then, I\u2019ll look through the scope to make sure everything is clear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I will <a title=\"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Long-Range Shooting Gear\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-long-range-shooting-gear\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1496\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adjust my turret<\/a> to 30 minutes. Once the jig is adjusted, ensuring the scope is pointed exactly at the bottom of the target, I\u2019ll then dial back to zero, equaling 30 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking another look through the scope, I check where the reticle has stopped. And then I\u2019ll dial back to the starting point just to be sure I\u2019m stopping and starting at the same place every time (which is right around 7 inches on the tall target). Always be sure to check that there\u2019s no parallax <a title=\"How to Box Test your Riflescope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/how-to-box-test-your-riflescope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1503\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">error when you\u2019re performing your own tall target test<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_4724\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4724\" style=\"width: 558px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4724\" title=\"Long Range Hunting\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-1024x658.jpg\" alt=\"Long Range Hunting\" width=\"558\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-1536x987.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-467x300.jpg 467w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/shooting-postion-behind-the-rifle.jpg 1655w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4724\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Long Range <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/using-binoculars-with-glasses\/\">Hunting<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><p><em>Before you head out into the field, or the mountains, or the woods, prepping your scope for long range <a title=\"Why Turkey Hunting with Binoculars Works for Me\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/why-turkey-hunting-with-binoculars-works-for-me\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"783\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a> is crucial.<\/em><\/p><h2><b>Eye Relief &#8211; Long Range Hunting<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now it\u2019s time to pull the <a title=\"Finding the Perfect 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/finding-the-perfect-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-scope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"442\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope off the jig and mount it on the rifle<\/a>. First, let\u2019s make sure the eye relief is good for the person <a title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"535\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting<\/a>. As a quick reminder, eye relief is the distance from the outer surface of the eyepiece lens to the position where the exit pupil is formed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I <a title=\"NRA\u2019s Shooting Illustrated Tests the TORIC 30mm 4-20\u00d750 FFP Riflescope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/nras-shooting-illustrated-tests-the-toric-30mm-4-20x50-ffp-riflescope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1504\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">test eye relief<\/a>, I like to make sure it\u2019s set up just the way I\u2019d use it in a hunting scenario. (For the purpose of the video that coincides with this blog, I\u2019m <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-marksmanship-shot-analysis\/\">shooting<\/a> off a bench. If I were hunting outside in a prone position, I\u2019d actually stand up and lean into the gun and <a title=\"Understanding Rifle Scope Turrets\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/understanding-rifle-scope-turrets\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1500\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">adjust the scope position<\/a> accordingly. But shooting off a bench mimics <a title=\"Shed Hunting With a Binocular\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shed-hunting-with-a-binocular\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"795\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a> out of a blind where you\u2019d be sitting up.)<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be sure to push forward on the scope when you do initial tightening because you want the lugs from the rings to be pushed up against the base lugs. That way, during recoil, the gun going backward forces the scope forward.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Setting Up Your Ballistics Solver &#8211; Long Range Hunting<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once everything is tightened up, I\u2019ll hook a chronograph up to the <a title=\"Long Range Shooting in Hot Weather\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/long-range-shooting-in-hot-weather\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">barrel before sending some rounds down range<\/a> to get initial velocities. This is an essential starting point to ensure you have proper velocities in your ballistics solver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2EUz_BW9ZCo?si=tSdSq6j-6HyxRSSB\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As you can see in the video, my first three shots are 2758, 2751, and 2757 feet per second (fps). When I plug the numbers into a ballistics solver, I\u2019m <a title=\"Why You Might Consider a Ballistic Calculator\u00a0\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/why-you-might-consider-a-ballistic-calculator\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inputting my range of 21.8515625 yards<\/a> and turret dial-up of 30 MOA. Now, my initial tall target test showed about 7 inches. But the actual amount in the ballistics solver is 6.93 inches. This number gets plugged in for expected impact, giving me a correction factor of .99059.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Next, you\u2019ll calculate muzzle velocity. In my case, I add 2,758, 2,751, and 2,757 together and divide by three to get a velocity of 2,755.33 fps.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bullet information comes next. I\u2019m shooting a 140-grain bullet that\u2019s 1.38 inches long in a .264 caliber, and twist rate of 8 inches. My sight height is 2.25 inches; I calculate that by measuring from the center of the scope to the center of the barrel.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>True the Ballistic Coefficient &#8211; Long Range Hunting<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now I\u2019m going to check my zero at 100 yards so I can \u201ctrue\u201d the ballistic coefficient (BC). When you&#8217;re truing, you either true the ballistic coefficient or you true the velocities. In this case, I already know what the velocities are, so it\u2019s the BC I\u2019m looking for.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fire two rounds at the <a title=\"Scope Sighting Made Simple\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/scope-sighting-made-simple\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">target from 100 yards<\/a>. Always two or more without adjustments! I never trust the results of a single shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once I have my zero, I\u2019ll run it out to a longer target, relying on my app to help me deal with the various factors like distance, wind speed, and Coriolis effect.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect. This is why it\u2019s so helpful to have an app that can direct you where to dial when shooting at extreme long distances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In order to prep your scope for a long range <a title=\"Planning a Caribou Hunt\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/planning-a-caribou-hunt\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"761\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunt<\/a> you\u2019ll want to start with a tall target test and getting the correction factor. Then make sure you\u2019ve got good <a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship: Scope Fundamentals\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/improving-rifle-marksmanship-part-1\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eye relief so that you\u2019re comfortable behind the rifle<\/a>. Since I ran a chronograph, I was able to true the BC. If you don\u2019t have a chronograph, leave the BC alone and true the velocities instead.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more information, check out <\/span><a title=\"Barbour Creek Long Range Hunting &#038; Shooting School.\" href=\"https:\/\/barbourcreek.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Barbour Creek Long Range Hunting &#038; Shooting School.<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1372\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1372\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1372 size-full\" title=\"Rifles Scopes\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/TRACT-ELR_970x250.jpg\" alt=\"Rifle Scopes\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1372\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\">Rifle<\/a> Scopes<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><a title=\"Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tractoptics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><strong>FOLLOW US: FACEBOOK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prepping Your Scope for Long Range Hunting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2258,2259,2266,2267],"tags":[2364,2365,2797,2894,3032,3146],"class_list":["post-10924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hunting","category-hunting-rifle-scope","category-riflescopes","category-shooting-skills","tag-barbour-creek","tag-barbour-creek-long-range-hunting-school","tag-hunting","tag-long-range-hunting","tag-rifle-scope","tag-scope-prep"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11308,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10924\/revisions\/11308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}