I’d like to know how often others zero their rifle/optic/whatever?
How about checking your zero?
What if you’re beginning a new case of ammo?
Or a new manufacturer/grain weight/etc?
How often do you zero, then re-zero, or confirm zero?
How much time does it take away from your actual target practice, or training, etc.?
Zero is deliberately verified about monthly. More often than that by default as accuracy exercises are conducted. Also verified/adjusted whenever there’s a change in the ammo carried in the gun, or a component is swapped or gets maintenance.
Depends on the distances you shoot, but the further out you go the more noticeable any change will be. Factors such as wind can make you zero appear off when it’s not, as well as changing your shooting position.
Anytime I’m at my primary range the first few shots are usually on the 200 meter steel. If centered there, the zero is confirmed. I guess this is why I prefer a 200M zero. Small steel at some distance and a drive by paint job is a lot quicker than hanging paper - and the feedback is instant.
Absolutely and always re-zero if the ammo is changed. 99% of the time the zero will shift some if different ammo is used. Often not a factor if you only shoot 50 Yds or so and occasionally you will find two loads that work from the same exact zero or without enough difference to worry about. And some rifles change less than others with different ammo as well.
Occasions I rezero/confirm zero:
Change in ammo, to include a lot change of same ammo.
Change in elevation of 2,000 feet or more.
Change in average temperature of 10 degrees
Change in clothing/equipment
Maintenance of barrel or barrel nut (to include a detailed copper stripping)
Hard impact to optics/sights or barrel (especially the crown).
I check at 100 meters, then stretch it out to the longest distance I have available (preferably to 300 meters, 600 meter max, unless I’m just having fun) to check performance against known data.
Our department’s range is only 50 yds in depth, and rather unsurprisingly a 50 yd zero is STRONGLY recommended. Every time I take my rifle out to our dept’s range (usually once a month) I check my zero at 50. However any chance I get I run my rifle out to 100 or more to verify my holds are still where I expect them to be.
A friends department for whom I helped write their rifle policy I specified a zero check at every training day. Currently they have two range days a year. The main reason I added that provision is I don’t expect most patrol cops to keep an eye on things like that unless they are required too (nothing against patrol cops, I was one until about 3 months ago).
-Jenrick