Target set-up distance: bullet to target or eye to target?

[Luxi46]

I was setting up my target downrange with a measuring tape sighting in my rifle for the first time ever today, and hit a snag so to speak. I'll be sighting in at 20 yards using a Leapers 3-12x AO scope on a Remi NPSS. When measuring the distance to where my target will be, I couldn't figure out if I should measure the distance from the bullet to the target or from the point where my eye would be to the target. I've read a lot on optics and sighting in and what I know is, when just using optics alone, the distance is  measured from your eye to the target. But with a bullet thrown in the mix, I haven't seen this mentioned conclusively somewhere. I'm not trying to make this an exact science or anything, just trying to get facts straight. The difference in either situation is only half a yard, so wind will probably be a bigger problem then getting this exactly right, but this question is really eating at me.

[Silent_Thunder1969]

I was setting up my target downrange with a measuring tape sighting in my rifle for the first time ever today, and hit a snag so to speak. I'll be sighting in at 20 yards using a Leapers 3-12x AO scope on a Remi NPSS. When measuring the distance to where my target will be, I couldn't figure out if I should measure the distance from the bullet to the target or from the point where my eye would be to the target. I've read a lot on optics and sighting in and what I know is, when just using optics alone, the distance is  measured from your eye to the target. But with a bullet thrown in the mix, I haven't seen this mentioned conclusively somewhere. I'm not trying to make this an exact science or anything, just trying to get facts straight. The difference in either situation is only half a yard, so wind will probably be a bigger problem then getting this exactly right, but this question is really eating at me.

Hate to be a nag but.... what's the use of sighting in if the bullet stays @ 20 yards or so from target ?? 

Not that I'm very knowlegdeable but i'd say measure from the muzzle because that's where the variations start.

[Scotchmo]

It does not matter too much unless you are shooting at a very close target (10-15 yards). For projectile drop, it is from the muzzle. For ranging, it is at the scope. I use the scope turrets for all my measurements including drop, scope height, and ranging. That seems to be a decent compromise.

We assume the pellet BC is constant. We assume the mil-dot angle is constant. Neither is actually true. They both vary with distance. You will have to decide if is makes enough difference to worry about.

Your apparent mil-dot spacing will change as you focus on the close targets. If I'm shooting a 3/8 KZ at 11 yards, it can make a difference. I get my initial data from ChairGun. But I still verify the drop and scope parameters in the field. After verifying the pellet BC, I put all my ChairGun dope in a spreadsheet. I then apply the scope compensation data to the spreadsheet and print out my ranging and holdover sheets.

[Luxi46]

Hey guys, sorry for the late reply, been travelling for the past week and haven't had the chance to do some shootin. Measuring from the turrets does sound like a good compromise. I also looked up Chairgun, and it's definitely something I will be delving into so to speak.
Thanks John, ST, and Scotchmo for your input, much appreciated!