Home AR-15 Short Range Zero For Long Range Accuracy – Gunsite Academy Firearms Training

Short Range Zero For Long Range Accuracy – Gunsite Academy Firearms Training

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Bob Whaley instructor at Gunsite shares their method for zeroing the AR-15 Platform and why they prefer a 50/200-yard zero. (NSSF Video) #LetsGoShooting #NSSF
#LongRange
#longrangeshooting #precisionrifle

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44 COMMENTS

  1. Marines use a 36 yard zero. It works well close in and at distance. If you’re shooting center mass, there’s really no hold over because no matter the distance out to 300 yards you’re going to impact within a six inch diameter. Just point and shoot.

  3. My optics are mounted higher than normal. I'm a tall guy. My 50 yard zero is more like a 50-280 zero. I like it much better this way, because I'm within 5" of my target, all the way out to 300. 3" high at 150(apex). 5-6" low at 300. 2" high at 100, and 200. The height of your optics above your bore is very very important, to your bullet trajectory. If you don't believe me, go to a ballistics calculator and only change the sight height. Try it at 1.5", then try it at 3.3". Huge difference. The further away your sights are from your bore, the more your barrel will be pointing upwards, for a 50 yard zero. Imagine if your sights were 12" above your bore…. You would have your rifle barrel aiming at a pretty extreme upward angle, to get your bullet to intersect your line of sight, at 50 yards. That's a huge exaggeration, but you get the point.

  4. Don't expect the 50-200 yard zero to work with your hunting rifles. The scope is closer to your bore, on hunting rifles, which creates less of an upward angle, from your line of sight, to your bore. This creates a slightly flatter bullet trajectory. The farther away your optic is, from the bore, the higher the apex of your bullet flight will be. You will need closer to a 35-200 yard zero, with your hunting rifle. To make this point more clear… Imagine that your scope is at eye level, but your rifle is at your knees. Can you picture that extreme angle, to get your rifle to hit at 50 yards? That would be more like a 50-500 yard zero, but can you imagine how high the apex would be? This, of course, wouldn't be ideal… This is the reason that I like to mount my optic, as close to the bore as possible. It allows your bullet to travel down a narrower "pipe", per say. I hope this makes sense.

  8. Good job. The guys are spot on with the specifics fundamentals of trajectory for the caliber and weapon type they are referring to. They well know and understand that there are other basic variables that come into play for other set-ups such as caliber, barrel length, bullet type and weight, climate conditions, and several other situations. But for basic trajectory purposes to get you generally on paper and allow you to tweet from there and in which every rifle point of impact varies to some minute degree they are correct and will get you where you need to be. Thumbs up guys. Keep up the good work.

  10. Why not just adopt meters? Is it really that hard? Ohh yeah.. Imperial. Ugh. Just adopt the international standard for shoot sakes. I wouldn't have to buy me 3 sets of wrenches when I wanna crank'er… know what I'm sayin'? For you lug nuts out there, yes that was a sexual joke.

  11. In the marines we did 36/300, when I went over to recon, sometimes we would change it up. We ran 300 mostly, but I preferred a 100 yard zero during the bulk of my second deployment. You can have mutiple favorites and use them all, situation should dictate it like life does all things. Get to know them all.

  14. I zero'd twice; once at 25 yards (at the local range)spot on, but with an ascending trajectory) and then 100 yard (1.7" high) and then the 2nd time out on the desert floor at 27 yards (spot on) and then a final check on several targets at 97 yards and aimed 1" low. It took me 3 shots to prove my theory of accuracy with 3 more confirming shots (just 'cuz I could). I was shooting 55 grain SPs from a 16" Wylde chamber with 4-12 power Vortex bdc scope at 90 degrees (f). I"m dialed in for coyote hunting with an initial laser sighted mounted scope and 2 trips to the range and a handheld laser range finder.

  16. Can the 50/200 yard zero work with any firearm and caliber? Can it work effectively with a Remington 700 in a 308 caliber with a 26 inch heavy barrel and 12×42 SWFA scope.

  17. we need you in california. now they are taking online ammo suppliers from us.
    Parker v California is suppose to ban new ammo laws.

  18. I am hooked on 35 yard zero. 243 58 grain Hornady and 300 win mag 200 grain eldx @2950fps. With scopes the way they are its really easy to dial up when you have time. Basically dead hold out to 250 when you have to rush. Things change. But for now thats what I am doing.

  21. my remingron .308 is zerod at 100yards then have the adjustment all the way for me to 700yards.. work out how much the bullet drops the speed and energy of her.. love doing it

  30. Im so glad some of you are so much smarter than these experts. It is funny how you come to their video comment section to make your point instead of making your own video. When it comes to your own personal "weapons system" you really need to do your own research, instead of depending on the experts you are criticizing, to get your exact figures. These guys do a very nice job providing some very basic shooting information for those that really dont have a clue at all. Im pretty sure that if they knew that only you experts would be watching there would be trig equations and more technical terms like "gun" and "bullet" instead of "weapons systems" and "cartridge". But go ahead and keep on trashing and bashing cause Im really sure they lose sleep at night wandering if you approve of how they explain things. BTW, the 50/200 method works great in yards or meters. When you do the math, 200 meters is approx 218 yards. 50 meters is approx 54 yards. So even though gravity is still working over those 4/18 yards, the actually amount of bullet drop isnt enough for a scope adjustment. Stay safe

  31. 25  yard zero  to get the front sight set..  and  to get  a  tight  group..  mechanical zero or  for  your  eye's//  then  go  shoot @  200  yards and get your proper dope  for  B.Z.O.  and  your should already be on target. especially if you use your data book properly and are using the A2 style AR-15 sight system.. use good bone support, proper breathing and trigger control and sight alignment.. sight picture.. etc.. (fundamentals)  then  you should focus on the front sight..  it should be clear.. the target should be  fuzzy..  your brain will automatically  try to center the rear aperture to the front sight..  squeeze  off a three shot group  then use a spotting scope to confirm your hit's    after this  you  can make  adjustments for windage and elevation  just simply using the A2 style iron sights system  only making adjustments to the rear  sight..  never messing with the front sight again…    then  your good to go  all the way out to 500  yards  for an M4   i shot expert in many ranges  in various con tries  in storms.. wind  rain.. hot..  heat waves  whatever.. and i was always  shooting expert..    

    Semper-fi!

  35. i have a question. on my iron sights (ar-15) elevation adjustment wheel, about 3 clicks there is a "z" stamped on my wheel just as if it where the 4 or 5 mark. fyi, my sight is a 3 to 600 yards (6/3 at bottom) iron sight. that "z" mark is not "on" a click but closer to a 2.5 click if that makes any sense.

    all that for my question; what in the world is that "z" for? i am clueless and would really like to know. thanks for anyone that can help!

    Sean

  37. i don't consider the difference between us measurements and metric "nit-picking". Just look at the Mars Climate Orbiter. It makes a difference. you might not car about your weapon. That is fine some people do, and they deserve the correct information.

  38. Zero at 25 meters.

    (1) After setting the front and rear sights to mechanical zero, the elevation knob is rotated up (clockwise) one click past the 8/3 (300-meter) mark. The elevation knob will remain in this position until the battlesight zeroing has been completed.

    per FM 3-22.9

  39. Most bases in the sand box don't have room for a 200 meter range. Understanding these principles is important. Most soldiers are fighting with weapons that have been zeroed on a short range. Getting hung up on small details gets to be important. Small details can have major consequences.

  40. Hate to break it to you but most soldiers zero their weapons at 25 meters for a 25/300 meter zero. that is the Army standard. This system that they are talking about was designed for the military by Lt. Colonel Chuck Santose. If you want search for the Santose Improved Battlesight Zero. you can find a lot of information on it.

  41. not when you are shooting 500+ meters in Afghanistan. The point about it being 200 meters is very important. if you do this correctly your sight adjustments will still work allowing you to make long range shots.

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