Contents
The zeroing process, from bore sight to confirmed zero
Zeroing is adjusting your optic until point of aim and point of impact agree at a distance you chose. The procedure is short; most wasted ammo comes from skipping its order.
A rifle is zeroed when where you aim is where you hit — at one distance, with one load. Everything nearer or farther follows a known curve from that reference point, which is why the zero is worth doing carefully and confirming on paper.
Before you shoot
A zero can only be as repeatable as the hardware under it. Before burning ammunition, verify the mount:
All screws torqued to the manufacturer’s spec — not “snug,” the spec.
The optic is level relative to the rifle.
Eye relief is set for your actual shooting position.
Rings clear the turret housing and objective bell.
Then bore sight to get on paper without spending a round: a laser bore sighter in the chamber or muzzle, or — on a bolt gun — pull the bolt, centre a target through the bore, and adjust the reticle onto the same point.
Choosing a zero distance
There is no universal best — the right distance depends on what the rifle is for:
| ZERO | BEST FOR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 25 yd | AR-15, short indoor lanes | Pairs with a ~300 yd far zero for 5.56 |
| 36 yd | AR-15 “improved” zero | ~300 yd far zero, flatter mid-range |
| 50 yd | General purpose, hunting | ~200 yd far zero, good compromise |
| 100 yd | Bolt rifles, precision | The standard known-distance reference |
| 200 yd | Long-range hunting | Minimises holdover to 300+ |
Print, shoot, measure, dial
- 1
Set up stable: bench, rest or bags, same cheek weld every shot, consistent ammunition — same lot if you have it.
- 2
Fire a 3–5 shot group at one aim point. Do not touch the turrets mid-group.
- 3
Find the group’s centre and measure its offset from point of aim, vertical and horizontal.
- 4
Dial the correction — move the reticle toward where the bullets hit. Hitting low-left means dialing up and right. Most scopes move 1/4 MOA per click: about 1/4″ at 100 yards.
- 5
Fire another group to confirm. Fine-tune if needed, then shoot one final confirmation group and leave the turrets alone.
Mistakes that cost a box of ammo
Adjusting after every shot. Single shots scatter; groups tell the truth. Shoot the group first.
Chasing flyers. One obviously wild shot is you, not the zero. Read the cluster.
Zeroing a hot barrel. Heat walks the point of impact. Let it cool between groups.
Loose mounts. A zero that “wanders” is usually hardware. Check torque first.
Dialing the wrong way. Turret arrows describe point-of-impact movement. Low hits mean dial UP.
Never re-confirming. New ammunition, a remount, a hard knock — each one is a reason to verify.
Start with the right sheet
The generator builds a zeroing target for your exact load, height over bore and paper distance — including offset aim points for short lanes.
Understanding double zeroes
The bullet crosses your line of sight twice, which is why a 36 yard zero is also a 300 yard zero — and why the near crossing is the one you confirm on paper.