I can’t wait to get out and shoot this thing. But the only range I can get to at the moment is a 25-yard pistol range. Is it going to be overkill to throw a few boxes of ammo down range at an indoor pistol range?
Iron sights probably aren’t zeroed. Should I wait until I can get out to a longer range and zero with a rest at 50 or 100 yards. Or might as well get some practice starting off-hand at 25?
Check the Zero targets stickied at the top of the page. They have 25 yd targets, which are printed for a 50 yd zero.
It’s a new gun, shoot it and enjoy it.
Wouldn’t it matter that those targets are in meters, not yards though? I’ll be on a 25 yard pistol range. I guess it’s a starting place, though. But how will I know how many clicks to adjust the sights?
Sights adjust in .25 MOA increments.
Targets are set up for 25 meters.
Shooting range is 25 yards.
I don’t think that’ll work out too well for me.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much and would just run with what I had access to. Zero 1" low at 25 yards and when you get the chance, dial it in at 50 or 100 meters.
4 clicks at 25 yards will still move your point of impact roughly a quarter inch if you have 1/4 MOA turrets. Don’t overthink it and let the groups on paper tell you what you need to know.
Plus, since it is a new rifle you are going to be checking other things as well such as: function, brass pattern, unusual wear, etc. Twenty five yards is just fine for such analysis.
Cool cool coool, thanks guys!
I’ll take a 25yd range over not shooting at all.
Oh whoops, my sights are 1/2 MOA, not 1/4. Troy folding Battle Sights.
All shooting is good for you and the rifle. Sighting in is a progressive act anyway, so begin the process and have fun.
I recently tried a 50yd zero shot at 10yds. You’re POI should be 1.9" below your POA. If you can get a tight group at 10yds you’ll be dead on at 50 and 200.
I would recommend to confirm your zero at a longer range when given the chance. If you’re going for the 50/200 zero, I would strongly recommend fine tuning your zero if/when you get the chance to shoot 200. Those small compromises we make zeroing at close ranges really start to show themselves downrange at 150+.
This is not good advice.
You are overthinking things in my opinion. Lots of AR shooting is done inside of 75’ and there is nothing wrong with that. Your iron sights are not ultra precise instruments and you can get plenty of good practice familiarizing yourself with your new gun including not just sight-in, but handling and function as well.
The closer the range, the tighter you should expect your groups to be, so it is possible to challenge yourself at almost any distance. Go shoot the thing!
If your sights have a 1/2 MOA adjustment, use these targets at 25 yards (the difference between yards and meters is not of concern):
http://home.comcast.net/~j_colt123/Improved%20AR15%20Optic%20Target%2050Ma.pdf
What you are doing here is aiming center mass on the silhouette and adjusting you bullet impacts to fall into the hash-marked circle. This will give you a rough 50/200 yard zero.
I would also second verifying zero at the correct range when you have the opportunity. The zero targets I created are based off of generalized ammo and sight height combinations. They will get you very close, but different setups and ammo can yield different POIs at the desired zero range.
Links to my zero targets are in my signature line.
My advice, FWIW: Don’t poo-poo “only” a 25 yard range. Work on putting rounds through the same hole, with your irons, from that distance, first from the bench to make sure your sights are zeroed and dead on, then do it from the offhand position. It will pay off for you as you get out beyond 25 yards.
I’ll use the 25 yard slot if that is all that is open. I’ve been known to shoot .308 at it before - who cares, its still fun! Some shooting is better than no shooting, especially if it is a new rifle!
Zeroed and confirmed. What makes this bad advise?
It’s bad advice because it’s easy to shoot though the same bullet hole at 10 yards even when your fundamentals suck, so you can deceive yourself into thinking your shooting and zero is pretty solid. Stretch that zero out to 200/300 yards and reality sets in real fast. Whenever possible you’ll want to confirm your zero at the distance you are actually zeroing for.
[video=youtube_share;P-FUsH8jt6E]http://youtu.be/P-FUsH8jt6E[/video]
I guess Todd Hodnett and Frank have it all wrong
I believe I wound up using your targets. Not the one you posted here. But one from another thread (if it was you). So thanks!