Zero distances

**zachomega** · June 13th, 2020, 10:47 PM

I've been thinking for my scoped rifles of using a 100 yard zero and for my iron sights and red dots (well green dots) of using a 50 yard zero.

Does this make sense? Or am i setting myself up for some type of failure?

-Zach

**abner13** · June 13th, 2020, 10:56 PM

All depends. Most hunters around here zero at 100 , but some do 1 or 2in high at 100. Ideally , you could zero at 100 , but you really should follow up with 200 and 300yd groups and learn just how much it drops. It also depends on how far a shot your realistically gonna get/take where you hunt.

The 'battle zero' of the iron sights on my Swedish Mauser is 300yds! Had to install a taller front sight to bring it down to 100.

**DucatiRon** · June 13th, 2020, 10:59 PM

No right or wrong. Just depends on where you're going to shoot it the most. I have all my big bore AR's with red dots sighted at 100. I dont shoot them much past 200. Scoped guns get zeroed at 300 minus the 6.5 Grendel. Its zeroed at 1k. Scoped handguns at 200 save for the 460 mag. Its zeroed at 300. 300 Blackout pistol single shot scoped and 100 zero. Most all other guns PCC and such with a holographic type sight sighted at 25 for competition use. Now remember I have access and shoot weekly on a 1000yrd range so I purposely zero father than most.

**knight0334** · June 13th, 2020, 11:04 PM

Zero for whatever you want. Just be sure to practice your mid range and stepped post range points of impact to have them in your head should you face targets of varying distances.

I have one rifle zero'd at 50yrds, most at 100, one at 200, and one at 500. ...each rifle has it's own purpose though.

**gghbi** · June 13th, 2020, 11:14 PM

Know the ballistics of your prime load. Since a lot of us are limited to a 100 yard range for sighting, use the ballistics to get an optimum path for your intended range. For my 30-06 I am set just a bit high at 100 which means I am good for 200 plus without having to think about it. I do not recall the exact number off the top of my head, but where it is set will do minute of deer for any range I can expect in my hunting area. EDIT: see the table.

Range (yards) 50 100 150 200 250 300
Load 165 PSP 0.3 0.8 0.0 -2.3 -6.3 -12.1 trajectory in inches

For the 30-30 I am set dead on at 100, because I will not be taking shots longer than where that puts me. A lot of the woods I hunt in a 100 yard shot would be long.

**zachomega** · June 14th, 2020, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the great replies.

My philosophy is that if it has a scope, I'm probably trying for precision shooting. And if it is open sights or a red dot, I'm more going for minute of center mass.

-Zach

**TooBigToFit** · June 14th, 2020, 09:17 AM

I usually do 50, verify and adjust for 200. They'll usually be pretty close...

(For the calibers I shoot... .223 and .308)

**jthrelf** · June 14th, 2020, 09:27 AM

Depends on scope height over bore. Is it just a duplex reticle? Or a BDC? If BDC then follow the instructions.

For AR height backup sights and dots then yes I'm a fan of the 50yd zero.

**Holeshot121** · June 15th, 2020, 06:07 AM

I zero red dots at 50y. The POI is usually within a few inches above or below POA out to about 250y with a 16"+ barrel. Sounds like exactly what you're looking for.