Gentlemen,

I would like to zero my Arsenal SGL 21 rifle that is equipped with an Aimpoint Micro H1 2 moa red dot optic. My question is what distance should I zero it for? I want to get this rifle ready for any civil unrest situation - out to 300 yards.

My PTR 91 with a Vortex 1-4 is setup for a 50/200 yard zero and I am comfortable with that. I have distance covered here.

Your suggestions for the AK?

Thanks,

Mike

AKs are simple to zero with a 25 yard or 50 yard range. Set the rear sight to 2 (200 meters) and zero at 25 yards. Or set the rear sight at 1 (100 meters) and zero at 50 yards.

Once zeroed with either one of those, the rear sight graduations should then be basically dead-on with the 100 meter range increment adjustments out to 1000 meters.

Or, once zeroed, you can then just leave it on the Cyrillic P setting (looks like the symbol for Pi: π) at the rearmost notch on the rear sight, which is the battle zero. This should allow you to get hits on a human-torso-sized target out to 300ish meters by holding center mass, with your impacts being no more than ~7 inches high/low at any distance from 0-300 meters.

Once you have the iron sights set, adjust the H1 red dot to cowitness with the iron sights, with the rear sight set on the either 1, 2, or the battle zero setting (your choice).


But you'll need an AK sight tool to adjust the elevation and windage while zeroing the iron sights. Windage and elevation adjustments are done at the front sight.


If you don't have the tool to zero the iron sights and just want to get the red dot zeroed, then zero the red dot at 25 yards for a 25y/200m zero.

Or if you have the ability to precisely set a target at a nontraditional distance and aren't locked into pre-set target stand distances, you can zero the red dot at 19.5 yards for that roughly 0-300ish meter +/- 7" battle zero.

I'm just not that good with irons compared to a dot. Go the other way, the dot is a better aiming point and will nearly 100% of the time be what you use. For 7.62x39 out to 300 its going to be terrible no matter what zero you use, so I just go with 100 since that makes it better in the ranges I think are relevant. Nobody is doing actual defensive shooting at 300 normally. Get the aimpoint set to be gtg at 100. then adjust the irons to match. Just my strategy.

I'd suggest you zero your PTR91 for 300, and it would still be good out to 600

Your AK for 50-200, and you could stretch that to 300 if necessary.

Thanks Gents for your suggestions. For a social distancing tool, 200 yds would be max. Not a huge difference between the three. 25/50/100

I am just going to work with the red dot for now.

Man, I can't see out to 600 yards! If it was a bolt gun, I would consider it. The 5 inch high at 100/150 yds is crazy.

The AK is currently set for 50/200

quote:

Originally posted by kimberkid:
I'd suggest you zero your PTR91 for 300, and it would still be good out to 600

Your AK for 50-200, and you could stretch that to 300 if necessary.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironmike57:
The AK is currently set for 50/200

Do you mean 50/100?

A 7.62x39 AK doesn't zero at 50/200 like a 5.56 AR does.

But you can do 50y/100m or 25y/200m.

Rogue, you are correct. My mistake. I have been looking at too many numbers lately.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Ironmike57:
The AK is currently set for 50/200

Do you mean 50/100?

A 7.62x39 AK doesn't zero at 50/200 like a 5.56 AR does.

But you can do 50y/100m or 25y/200m.