Home AR-15 25 yards to 300: Zeroing the AR15 and Basic Rifle Marksmanship

25 yards to 300: Zeroing the AR15 and Basic Rifle Marksmanship

1868
44

This is an instructional video on zeroing the AR15 with either a detachable carry handle, or a fixed carry handle USGI style rear sight. Included are basic marksmanship concepts that are included throughout the video. We start by zeroing the AR15 at 25 yards, and then by proceeding to 300 yards to finalize the zero. Shooting at the m4/m16 zeroing target which is available freely online will help give you the tools you need to get reduced range practice in. The simulated 300 meter silhouette scaled down for 25 yards is a good indicator of your performance when you take the gun out to 300 yards. Follow the concepts included, be sure to dryfire, and focus on that front sight!

Note to readers: Please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, social media, internet forums. etc.

44 COMMENTS

  1. Great video.Looked like a beautiful day out for shooting.That range looks great with the trees around it,and the shade cover.To much ego's with some of these videos,yours was simple and right to the point..no bs,thanks.I have an AR-15 ,and would like to be able to reach 300 yards with it.

  2. 27.77/78 yard zero
    36 yard zero

    Some one needs to do a vid explaining exactly why..
    The relation ship between distance between the sights front and rear and the click value adjustments and how it matters ..
    At 25 yards to 100 yardetc etc…

    I mean the formula for distance est or one of them is
    27.78 x size in inches divided by mil dots…

    To me that tells there is a reason for using the 25 meter or 27.78 yds zero
    There has to be a physics or balistical reason…..

    And the 36 yard zero has to do with different sights and ammo and barrels….

    As far as it not mattering,,???????

    Aint sure on that one…

    I enjoyed the vid thanks

  3. I too used my mag as a monopod once.
    The Gunny's size ten into my ribcage convinced me that that was a bad idea.
    The slip sling looks like a good idea, but as I am old school I just do the old wrap and peel style.
    Other than that, good info.

  4. Appreciate you taking the time on this. Leaving behind Army v. USMC methods, one thing you pointed out was worth noting. Regardless of group size, at 300 yds it was clear your windage adjustment was fine. Very smart to point out for newer shooters NOT to go chasing the wind if it kicks up, as it often will later in a day. Trust your zero; verify if you want later but don't "chase" the wind when doing basic zeroing. Nice job.

  5. All solid advice for someone who never heard it (ie never been through a military basic marksmanship course) the sling was slightly bizarre, I’d just make a wrap around my forearm and elbow to hold tension and it did the same .great refresher any way for using the a2 clone I’m getting together. Good video

  6. sorry but all groups huge , keep magazine clear, off ground , use sand bag ,for zero , sling ok , should have group touching at 25 yards , i can even manage that at 300 metre's with std military ammo
    ex Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment Shooter

  7. Good video. Thanks for the tips. However I sight a rifle in on a stable rifle rest and take my personal error out of the sight in. The most accurate way is on a stable rifle rest regardless of the rifle. Thanks again.

  8. As a weapons instructor I noticed that you are resting your mag on the ground. Earlier (25 yrds) you mentioned that you were resting on a soft rest….. that is the key and that mag is preventing you from shooting tight groups on the 300 yrd target. With the knowledge that you are passing on to others (A+ knowledge, USMC style) you will go a lot further by doing just what your saying. You did change from the 25 (soft rest) to the 300 (cuff sling), causing your original zero to be off, the mag resting caused even more havoc on your group. 25 yrds for 300 and 32 yrds for 200, zeros receptively. I have to say, this is the most accurate open sight battle rifle instruction I have seen on YouTube to date. Only mag rest when absolutely necessary (rapid acquisition, 200yrds and less) and when a pinpoint hit is not required…….. With good consistent practices you will get to 1 MOA across the course one day.

  9. I NEED ADVICE I purchased M4 5 weeks ago and purchased a carrying handle. I sighted in, paper target, at 25 yds with small peepsight and all ok I place 5 32oz water bottles at 66 yds and all 5 shots hit. THEN I placed paper targets at 50 yds and over the last several weeks my 5 shot group on different paper targets were 2" low and 2" right. Local instructor advised carring handle at fault. I went shooting at range again today with a friend and shot 5 bottles at 66 yds and paper targets at 50 yards with same results. If handle is at fault how can I punch 32oz bottles at 66 yards and be off at 50 yds using paper targets. I would appreciate any comment or assistance. Thanks Juke

  10. Good video. I do have a question. I have a AR that I had a Bushnell 4-18
    scope. The scope was bore sighted to the rifle. I have not been to the
    range yet. My question is, do I set my dials to zero before I shot or
    after? Thanks

  11. I tried zeroing my ar 15 in at 25 yards I have a detachable carry handle. my problem is that the front sight is up so high the front sight wiggles when I touch it and if I were to bring it up any higher it will come out. what do I do? is this a problem with the carry handle? my upper reciever wasnt a cheap piece of junk either. any help would be greatly appreciated.

  12. Dotting the ( i ) with front sight post held in the center of the bull and bullet impacts in the center of the target is referred to as a "Center hold". A 6 o'clock hold is a Bullseye technique in which the top of the front sight post is held at 6 o'clock, the BOTTOM of the black bullseye target, and the firearm is sighted in so the bullets impact the CENTER, or X ring of the target. This 6 o'clock hold allows for a much better ( Iron ) sight picture with the white of the target contrasting with the black of the front sight. The center hold has a black front sight in the middle of a black bull and makes for a much lesss precise and difficult to see black on black sight picture.

Leave a Reply