Ron Spomer tells you how to sight in your scoped rifle when you don’t have access to a long range. (You may sometimes need a buddy to help you, I think — Ron does.) And I have to tell you
Here’s my take on this.
A vast preponderance of shots are made at what I’d call short range: less than 150 yards. And if you do most of your hunting in any kind of woodland, it’s likely to be less than that — think 50 yards. So if you’re doing this kind of shooting, then a 30- or 50-yard zero makes a lot more sense. (Frankly, if you’re shooting at about 50 yards or less, I seriously question whether you need a scope at all.)
I think the longest shot I ever took back in South Africa was a measured (by pacing off) 325 yards, and I have to tell you, had I been more experienced a hunter back then, I probably would have backed off and not taken it.
Now? If I were to go hunting at all (which is highly unlikely), I’d set my limit at 100 yards, and probably less than that. I’d use a low-power scope (maximum 5x) if indeed I used a scope at all — and I’m pretty sure a red-dot scope would do the trick, instead of a crosshair or mil-dot reticle.
Remember that most of the time, you’re shooting at a side plate-sized target, and as such, a 3-MOA sighting group would be more than adequate.
Leave the sub-1″ stuff to the target professionals, and let’s not even begin to talk about the ultra-long distance 1,000 yard shooting. That’s sniper-grade accuracy, and 99% of all riflemen aren’t snipers or even close to being snipers. Hell, at my very best I wasn’t a sniper, mostly because of my crappy eyes. But I was quite a competent hunter.
Know your limitations.