.30 caliber pellet sight in distance

[Ironhorse]

I am planning to sight in my rifle this weekend.

It is a 30 caliber shooting 50 grain pellets at 850 fps.
 
It is mainly for hunting groundhogs from 20 to 75 yards.

I am trying to decide on the best distance to sight it in.

I was thinking that I could sight it in at 50 yards and determine holdover at 75 yards, and determine where it is hitting at 40, 30, and 20 yards.

Does this seem to make the most sense, or should I zero it at 100 yards and see where it hits at shorter ranges?

I have JSB match diablo exact in 44.75 and 50.15 grains.

[Motorhead]

Ideally pellet flight APEX ... Any thing closer than that ZERO or any distances Further than Zero are HOLD OVER VALUES and Never a hold under !!
Pending optics height ? ... you likely to end up in the 25-30 yard distance for your ideal zero range.

[triggertreat]

I zero my .30 at 50 yards.  This is because I tune the speed to be zeroed at 25 yards and 50 yards when using JSB 44.75gr pellets.  There were some apps I used to select the speed and distance for these zeros.  I don't think these apps are available for download anymore.  Maybe someone knows which apps are available now.  These save a lot of time and pellets when you know what speed you need with the weight ammo you're using.

[Kmanca1]

I have never used any 'science' when sighting in my airguns.  I use....what works for me.
I guess, thinking about it now, I base the sighting distances on my shooting style, working distances and slug/pellet speeds and flight characteristics.
I suppose you could call that 'science'.

As a rule--- PCP's
.177, .20, .22 are sighted in at 50 yards.
.25, .30. .35 are sighted in at 80 yards.

I don't have it any more...but .45 was sighted in at 50 yards.

[Ironhorse]

Thanks for all the information.
I may stretch it out from 50 yards when I get a chance.

[JimD]

I do what Motorhead (Scott) suggests and put the zero at the apex of the pellets flight.  My P35-22 shoots 21 grain H&N Baracuda Match pellets about the velocity you describe.  The BC is undoubtedly different and the height of the scope above the bore different too.  But it's zero is 30 yards and it is about half an inch low at 15 and 40 yards.  Between 15 and 40 it is less than half an inch low and for many purposes I would just ignore it.  Just an example that might be somewhat similar to your gun (or may not be).  I do these calculations in Chairgun which is discontinued but I found a copy to download on line.  I don't care that it is discontinued, that just means you don't have to deal with the nonsense updates.