There is much discussion on this topic amongst those want to know, figured I would share my thoughts on a rifle's zero. A recent question/argument of a friend prompted me to bring this up, in hopes that it will help folks here, to have a bit more effective system, and an understanding of a applicable zero distance to a defensive rifle AKA assault rifle, also known as "combat zero". The following applies to any rifle of nearly any typical caliber commonly used in firearms that fit the moniker. Rifle such as the Ar15 family, AK family, M1/M14 , and so on. This will even work with safari style bolt guns, where a heart shot is critical.
There is much discussion about zero distance, and many of those on here are veterans. If you used an M16 variant is basic training, you will remember that the military zero distance is 25 yards......and that zero holds good out to 300 yards. While this is true, to a point, this generalization is not practical to a non military user, such as someone who owns a rifle for defense.
The thought of the 25/300 yard zero, comes from and engagement standpoint where as one unit would encounter opposition, in a ambush situation. Visualize if you will, one person lying in wait, in a prone position (lying down), aiming at another person, to whom is just walking about in a field. The military 25/300 yard zero works in this application, but only for the first shot. Why the first shot? Well because, when you get shot at in the field, the first thing that is thought during a "react to contact drill" is to get down to the ground, and seek cover\concealment.....
The 25\300 yard zero, yields a 12 inch spread, vertically, I have included a generalized graphic below to help explain.
As you can see by the graphic, the typical 25 yard zero ....to impact at point of aim, or within 4'' of point of aim (4 inches is the accepted accuracy level of typical rifles with typical ammo) requires several different points of aim.........to put this in another way........if you zero at 25 yards, as per military spec, and hold your sights on a coke can at 100 yards, you will not hit the can....and even worse, with a 25/300 yard zero, any distance that you are shooting at that is not 25 or 300......you will have to hold low, sometimes, (at the 75-150 yard range) way low 10-12 inches low depending on certain variables. It is hard to adjust point of aim on the fly, if you are overshooting and not seeing any impacts.
Lets face it guys, if we as civilians have to shoot, we want to hit what we are aiming at, and not just in a general sense. Whether is just for fun, shooting clay targets, popper steel, tannerite, deer or other soft targets......or even having to take a quick precise shot.....we need to be accurate. You need to hit the target or miss low, so you can witness, and adjust.
I recommend the 100 yard zero. Why? As in the above graphic, you will see that the point of aim and point of impact on the 100 yard zero, with exception to the 300 yard distance, are basically in a nice neat cluster. (Yes the 200 yard is similar, but there are issues using the 200 zero which i will get to in a minute). Also, all shots after 100 will impact low............why is this good......again you can see the splash and adjust as needed. A splash right in front of the target, sometimes is just enough to turn a threat into a non threat. it is also intuitive .......the longer the shot, the higher you will have to aim after 200.
Whether it is in the woods in Alabama as a hunter, or in a shopping mall full of people as a cop, 200 yards is just about all you really are going to get. Any farther and target recognition is a problem. An ethical shot is hard to sell, without optics beyond 200 yards, even with supreme eyesight.
With the 100 yard zero, ethical accurate shots can be made, point of aim/point of impact, from danger close, out to 200 yards, no thinking, no weird holdovers etc.
Why not 200? Well, most public rifle ranges are typically 100 yards, and even if you can get to 200 yards range........the effects of wind can have a drastic effect on a true zero......better to omit as many variables as possible.
So how can someone obtain this universal zero, without having the distance to shoot at 100 yards? Well you cant really, but you can get close. Typical indoor ranges are 25 yards. At 25 yards, a roughly close 100 yards zero, will be close (slightly less) to the same distance as your sights as above the bore of the gun......it is that simple. So if your sights are about 2 inches higher than the bore, the impact on target with be just less than 2'' below the point of aim. Is it perfect, no, but it will get you close...............
Anyway this is long enough........
There is much discussion about zero distance, and many of those on here are veterans. If you used an M16 variant is basic training, you will remember that the military zero distance is 25 yards......and that zero holds good out to 300 yards. While this is true, to a point, this generalization is not practical to a non military user, such as someone who owns a rifle for defense.
The thought of the 25/300 yard zero, comes from and engagement standpoint where as one unit would encounter opposition, in a ambush situation. Visualize if you will, one person lying in wait, in a prone position (lying down), aiming at another person, to whom is just walking about in a field. The military 25/300 yard zero works in this application, but only for the first shot. Why the first shot? Well because, when you get shot at in the field, the first thing that is thought during a "react to contact drill" is to get down to the ground, and seek cover\concealment.....
The 25\300 yard zero, yields a 12 inch spread, vertically, I have included a generalized graphic below to help explain.
As you can see by the graphic, the typical 25 yard zero ....to impact at point of aim, or within 4'' of point of aim (4 inches is the accepted accuracy level of typical rifles with typical ammo) requires several different points of aim.........to put this in another way........if you zero at 25 yards, as per military spec, and hold your sights on a coke can at 100 yards, you will not hit the can....and even worse, with a 25/300 yard zero, any distance that you are shooting at that is not 25 or 300......you will have to hold low, sometimes, (at the 75-150 yard range) way low 10-12 inches low depending on certain variables. It is hard to adjust point of aim on the fly, if you are overshooting and not seeing any impacts.
Lets face it guys, if we as civilians have to shoot, we want to hit what we are aiming at, and not just in a general sense. Whether is just for fun, shooting clay targets, popper steel, tannerite, deer or other soft targets......or even having to take a quick precise shot.....we need to be accurate. You need to hit the target or miss low, so you can witness, and adjust.
I recommend the 100 yard zero. Why? As in the above graphic, you will see that the point of aim and point of impact on the 100 yard zero, with exception to the 300 yard distance, are basically in a nice neat cluster. (Yes the 200 yard is similar, but there are issues using the 200 zero which i will get to in a minute). Also, all shots after 100 will impact low............why is this good......again you can see the splash and adjust as needed. A splash right in front of the target, sometimes is just enough to turn a threat into a non threat. it is also intuitive .......the longer the shot, the higher you will have to aim after 200.
Whether it is in the woods in Alabama as a hunter, or in a shopping mall full of people as a cop, 200 yards is just about all you really are going to get. Any farther and target recognition is a problem. An ethical shot is hard to sell, without optics beyond 200 yards, even with supreme eyesight.
With the 100 yard zero, ethical accurate shots can be made, point of aim/point of impact, from danger close, out to 200 yards, no thinking, no weird holdovers etc.
Why not 200? Well, most public rifle ranges are typically 100 yards, and even if you can get to 200 yards range........the effects of wind can have a drastic effect on a true zero......better to omit as many variables as possible.
So how can someone obtain this universal zero, without having the distance to shoot at 100 yards? Well you cant really, but you can get close. Typical indoor ranges are 25 yards. At 25 yards, a roughly close 100 yards zero, will be close (slightly less) to the same distance as your sights as above the bore of the gun......it is that simple. So if your sights are about 2 inches higher than the bore, the impact on target with be just less than 2'' below the point of aim. Is it perfect, no, but it will get you close...............
Anyway this is long enough........
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