Ruger M77 tang safety / Leupold VX5

Help Support Ruger Forum:

Joined
Aug 4, 2024
Messages
7
Location
Michigan
Hello all and good hunting.

I am the proud, satisfied owner of a M77 tang safety chambered in 7mm Rem. mag. I recently purchased a new Leupold VX5 with the custom dial system (Turret). I am not real sharp with ballistics etc. but I've killed a lot of deer with this rifle. I am somewhat aware of how the turret feature works but what I would like to know is where should I zero the scope at? 100 yards? 50 yards? I guess I should let you know that I do shoot a "roll your own" load. I use a 139 gr Hornady BTS bullet with 61.5 gr. IMR 4350. That is what the gun seems to handle the best. I have not had much luck with factory ammo. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance, Jeff
 
I have not contacted them yet. I figured that I'd bounce it off of you guy's first. I read through my instructions that came with the scope again and it says nothing about setting up zero. These are very basic instructions. Mounting, installing the battery, etc. I think from here I will contact Leupold. Thanks Gramps?

P.S. With me being 62 years old, I feel strange as hell calling anyone else "Gramps".
 
Well if it makes you feel any better im 73 when you order the CDS turret they will ask you what cal what bullet what velocity and so on those instructions will come with the dial

Gramps
 
That makes me feel a little better. Lol. The scope came with the CDS already on it. I did send a note to Leupold telling them the caliber, the load etc. I'm waiting to hear back from them. I am assuming to zero at 100 yards.
 
Zero distance is something else they will ask you about:
Each CDS dial is unique, taking all practical ballistic and environmental factors into account
  • Cartridge & Caliber
  • Bullet Weight
  • Bullet Make/Brand
  • Bullet Type
  • Ballistic Coefficient
  • Muzzle Velocity
  • Average Elevation
  • Average Temperature
  • Sight Height
  • Zero Distance
I do not own a single rifle zeroed at 100 yds. Before switching everything to MPBR my 30-06 hunting rifles were all zeroed at 200 yds.

This is where my M1917 is set up now:
1733080964721.png


I have been looking into the CDS, it is intriguing and something I may pick up for a long-range gun I am considering.
 
Thank you for the info. My cousin that I hunt with has a .338 ultra mag with a leupold turret that is zeroed at 200 yards, but I didn't know how that varied between calibers. The round that I shoot is a 139 gr Hornady BTSP with 61.5 gr of IMR 4350.
 
Thank you for the info. My cousin that I hunt with has a .338 ultra mag with a leupold turret that is zeroed at 200 yards, but I didn't know how that varied between calibers. The round that I shoot is a 139 gr Hornady BTSP with 61.5 gr of IMR 4350.

Lots of info here, but the big thing is the type of hunting you do. I am in Utah and hunting out West we're usually shooting at 200 yards or more.
 

Lots of info here, but the big thing is the type of hunting you do. I am in Utah and hunting out West we're usually shooting at 200 yards or more.
I'm hunting Missouri mostly. Lots of fields and pasture land. 200 + yard shots are common. I am set to retire in the next year ir so. A western hunt is on my bucket list. The first we want to do is pronghorn and then probably mule deer. My deer this year was at 228 yards but that was with my .270.
 
I'm hunting Missouri mostly. Lots of fields and pasture land. 200 + yard shots are common. I am set to retire in the next year ir so. A western hunt is on my bucket list. The first we want to do is pronghorn and then probably mule deer. My deer this year was at 228 yards but that was with my .270.
7mm will get you out there. Wyoming is full of trophy speed-goats, and non-resident licenses are not too stupid. My stepdad has two nice ones mounted up. I'm not sure what the best state for Mule Deer would be. Lots of big ones around, but the prices and waits for tags is real dumb in a lot of places.
 
I had 1 turret custom made for my 6.5 in a handload that really shoots well. So, I turn the dial to the yardage.
Other models just have an adjustable turret. I pick out the handload I like, sight in at 100 yd. Loosen the turret and rotate it to it's stop. That is now at zero which equals 100 yds.
Then shoot 200 and 300 yd for real data. Turn up the dial to get the zero (hit where aims) and record how many CLICKS I needed to get the dead center, hits where aimed.
Forget about inch's just remember clicks. Depends on where and what I am hunting but, normally set the turret at the 200yd zero.
Most, which means not all. I have found from the 100 yd zero, 4-6 clicks are a 200 yd zero, another 4-6 is 300 yd zero.
With that information, if I have time and the shot will be close in. I rotate turret back to zero stop (100 yds). If a long shot, and time permitting the scope gets clicks up. Counting clicks finds the zero. No need to look at scope turret. Keep eyes on the target.
Another way works, if 200 yd zero with a shot at 300 yd. Use the tip of the point below where the crosshairs cross. I have tested a few of my rifles and its close.
 
Top