Gentleman -

How do you guys sight in your 5.56's? I know it depends on the type of shooting you do, but I've heard two different ways.

1) Dead on at 100 yards

2) Dead on at 50 yards

Thoughts ? Thanks.

MDS

I use these, the zero for 100yards at 25 yards - nats ass it, then kick it to 100yds to verify, because if you don't check it at the range, it's only a guess IMO. Plus it can / will vary depending on your optic height over bore, ammunition, etc, etc.

http://www.arma-dynamics.com/r...ot-zero-targets.html

I prefer to have a zero at 100, so the bullets are always at or below the zero, not above and below. And since most of my shooting is 100-125yds and in, I'm good to go.

Zero at 100. You’ll hit fine within 100, and easily keep in a silhouette out to 300.

Depends on the optic and reticle.


50 is a recipe for failure if you ever shoot out to 400+.

I always confirm zero out to the farthest distance I will shoot.

Most of my ARs are zeroed at 200 at the main crosshairs.

I should add - I’ll never shoot more than 200 yards

Colt 6920 SOCOM w/ ACOG 4X

MDS

This is a question best answered with more input and then by examining actual trajectories calculated with something like the JBM solver.

The things that make a difference include the specifics of the gun and sight, the velocity of the bullet and its ballistic coefficient, and the type of target. Hunting prairie dogs requires much greater precision and accuracy than banging steel silhouettes.

Just as a few examples, though, I used JBM to calculate the ballistics of M193 55 grain FMJ ammunition at 3040 fps (16" barrel) under “standard” atmospheric conditions and sight height of 2.8 inches.

With the following zero distances, the bullet will be above or below the line of sight by the number of inches indicated:
25 yard zero: 50y +2.6"; 100y +6.8"; 200y +11.6"; 300y +10.0"; 400y 0
50 yard zero: 50y 0; 100y +1.7"; 200y +0.7"; 300y –5.3"; 400y –20.4"
100 yard zero: 50y –0.9"; 100y 0; 200y –2.1"; 300y –10.5"; 400y –27.3"

I recommend a 50 yard zero for police patrol rifles because out to 300 yards it requires the least point of aim adjustment. In fact, to 200+ yards with human-sized targets, good hits will be achieved by simply aiming at center of mass. Of course that will also be true of a 100 yard zero. And as mentioned, a 100 yard zero requires a positive holdover at all ranges except 100 yards. That can make things simpler for certain situations, particularly if one is making precise elevation adjustments with a scopesight elevation knob or calibrated reticle.

However, as a practical matter if absolute accuracy isn’t required, zeroing at 50 yards is simply easier for most people, especially when using nonmagnifying sights like the EOTech, Aimpoint, or countless others.

With a 4× ACOG, though, I personally would probably zero at 100 yards, especially if using better ammunition than military grade stuff.
All my precision rifles are zeroed at 100 yards for the type of shooting I do with them because it’s necessary to dial up for most distances and for ballistics calculation purposes.

Great post - thank you

MDS

https://youtu.be/jttB1kUXfJE

This is what I went with. To each his/her own though.

My AR with the Aimpoint Pro is 50/200.

When I get my 1-6 for my new AR it will be 100yds to take advantage of the reticle.

quote:

Originally posted by Harleysbluff:
I know it depends on the type of shooting you do, but I've heard two different ways.
1) Dead on at 100 yards
2) Dead on at 50 yards

It does depend on what type of shooting you plan to do. With an ACOG and target distances no greater than 200 yards, I suspect you're looking more at defensive purposes than precision target practice.

If this is a defensive firearm, then a zero at either 50 or 100 works. But I suggest a 50-ish yard zero is better. Your zero depends upon how you wish to use the reticle, and hold overs/unders for target distances not equal to your zero.

I zero my Ars with iron sights at 1000 inches just like we did in the service. Balistically it’s the same as a 100 yard zero. With a scope I zero at 100 yards

My current department only allows iron sights and red dots (with magnifiers if you want) and zeros to 50 yards. My previous department we zeroed at 100. But we allowed certain scopes- I had an ACOG TA01. Most of the graduated scopes like that are set up to zero at a hundred.

quote:

Originally posted by Harleysbluff:
I should add - I’ll never shoot more than 200 yards

Colt 6920 SOCOM w/ ACOG 4X

MDS

Since you're using a 4x ACOG, zero it at 100 meters, like they're supposed to be.

What model of ACOG do you have?

TA31H

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I zero my Ars with iron sights at 1000 inches just like we did in the service. Balistically it’s the same as a 100 yard zero. With a scope I zero at 100 yards

You zero at 83 feet?

I use the 50 yard zero on my rifles; one with Aimpoint PRO, the other has iron sights.

I also have the officers in my department use the same zero. We qualify out to 100 yards and have no issues with this zero.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtGold:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I zero my Ars with iron sights at 1000 inches just like we did in the service. Balistically it’s the same as a 100 yard zero. With a scope I zero at 100 yards

You zero at 83 feet?

Yup, Click here

We used that for marksmanship and to zero the rifle to that shooter and it is the same as using a 100 yard zero.

The things you have to do when you do not have access to a real military known distance range.

I like the 50 yard zero myself. Acceptably clean shots out to 300 on center mass without having to remember what the holdover is. Even I can handle that.