Savage 1899 what distance for dead zero

[MrBojangles]

Any ideas?

Fired a 1913 production in .30 WCF today, 3” high at 50 yards, 8” high at 100 yards. No tang sight, elevator in rear sight at lowest level.

Most 19th Century produced or designed firearms I fire are high. And why is that so? No option to go lower on the sight elevator.

it seems dead zero must be greater than 200 yards. But what can you even see at that distance using iron sights?

[Big Al1]

Put on a taller front sight. Seems a lot of those old rifles shoot high! Could be the difference in todays ammo. I have an 1893 Marlin in .30-30 that I put a replica Hepburn sight on. It shoots high with modern factory, I have to set it at the lowest level. Cast bullet ammo I hand loaded shoot lower.
My trap doors both shot 18" high at fifty yards, they were zeroed for 250 yards!