Rifle Scopes Where do you set your zero and why?

[Jayne]

Might be covered but I didn't see it searching around.

Question is, <span style="font-weight: bold">where do you set your zero to and why</span>?


I have a 200 yard zero on my 300wsm so I don't have to worry about dialing for 0-300 yard shots when trying to hit and elk.

I have a 100 yard zero on my 308 because that's what it was set to at the RO class and I never changed it lest I screw up my existing dope.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

I set all my rifles up with a 100 yard zero, I see no reason or benefit for anything else.

 

[slowkota]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

200 yard zero... Not by choice though, my Zeiss is bottomed out on elevation with my 20moa rail. lol

Works out though, the Rapid Z 800 reticle is based on a 200 yd zero anyways. But it would be nice to dial it down when I'm at the 100yd range... I'll probably swap out the base for a 15 or 0 moa cant.

 

[sib1948]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 yard zero on all calibers, since few places to shoot more than 1000 yards on a regular basis. See no reason for longer zero.

 

[Ltdshooter]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 yd zero on the tactical / target rifles. 200 yd zero on the hunting rifles.

 

[ctsmith]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ltdshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yd zero on the tactical / target rifles. 200 yd zero on the hunting rifles. </div></div>

+1

 

[Rob01]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 yards so anywhere I shoot I am dialing up whether it be 10 yards or 1000. Never have to dial below my zero.

 

[Helmet]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yards so anywhere I shoot I am dialing up whether it be 10 yards or 1000.</div></div> You just convinced me in one sentence.

 

[samnev]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ctsmith</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ltdshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yd zero on the tactical / target rifles. 200 yd zero on the hunting rifles. </div></div>

+1 </div></div>


+2

 

[unreconstructed]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yards so anywhere I shoot I am dialing up whether it be 10 yards or 1000. Never have to dial below my zero. </div></div>

Yep.
Until I get a suppressor and shoot subsonic loads anyway. That's when I'll have to work around a zero stop.

 

[roggom]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 for my prairie, field, cross canyon rifles and dial to 1000 or whatever. These rifles are tweaked for long range and have scopes with external elevation turrets.

My mountain rifles (-06 & 7x57) are zero'd at 200 for MPBR. These are for dark timber and open meadow.

 

[z71rat]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Zero is set for 100 yards. All of my data is based on that, so that is where it goes. Besides, 100 yards is easier to change the targets out, vs. 200 yards.

I have actually experimented around with a 50 yard zero as well. It makes for some interesting changes to the 100, 200, and 300 yard data. It was a fun learning experience too.

DK

 

[tylerw02]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

I zero for what ever range the target is at

I start from 100 and its all up from there.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tylerw02</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I zero for what ever range the target is at

</div></div>

That's not a zero. That's dialing on data. Pretty sure you were joking but for anyone new looking didn't want them confused.

 

[Ring]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

most of my varmit guns were at 200, because 90% of my shots were 200 to 300y

but now i just do 100y.. its just easyer

 

[pinzmann]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

200yds as I feel its more accurate if I have to tweak it. As for 100yds I just come down about 1 plus 1. But then I rarely shoot at 100.

 

[Grizzdude]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

1760 yard zero

 

[agbm]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Mine is set for a 200 yard zero, but if I need to shoot at a 100 yards I just turn 8 clicks away.

 

[bunsen27]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

200yds for my .308 and 300yds for my .260 Rem I do hold over/unders though instead of dialing (like most) mainly because of the reticle type I have.

 

[Joebill]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 yard on my 308

 

[jimmykm21]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

All my rifles are zeroed at 100 even my Barrett

 

[White Mamba]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Im a 200yard guy due to hunting. Being a little high at 100yrds with the tacitcal rifles never bothered me

 

[jdgray]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

With target turrets I zero at 100 yards. If I had simple coin adjusters, I zero for 200(and hold over,under)

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

100 yards. Why?...

Because the reticle or rifle doesn't know what the turrets read when POA intersects POI and from a 100 yd zero you can change your zero to any distance you want by simply dialing your dope for that distance. Your optic isn't in some "magic" mode when it's zeroed...the only thing that's true about a "zero" is...your turret is set to read zero and POA intersects POI.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

on dedicated centerfire target stuff for those that dial (such as myself):

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yards so anywhere I shoot I am dialing up whether it be 10 yards or 1000. Never have to dial below my zero. </div></div>

used to be hunting in heavy woods, brush, etc so my levers used to be 50yds. now that my hunting is more open longer range based this:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ltdshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">100 yd zero on the tactical / target rifles. 200 yd zero on the hunting rifles. </div></div>

i think it also depends on the type of rifle / shooting you are doing. if a dedicated competition rifle, i'd go with the usual or first distance used and dial up / holdover.

but really a "true" zero should be where ever the bullet flight intersects with the line of sight either on the upswing or downswing of the bell curve, with the first upswing being preferred. or at the highest point of the curve, but that means there will be some dialing down.

but almost everyone does the zero as their "starting point" from where to do any adjustments, if needed, for their what they are using the rifle for the most.

when you think about it, where ever distance you dial to now becomes your zero on the rifle.

 

[ronas]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

For two 308's 200 yard zero. Why, because they are almost never shot at 100 yards. Both are shot at 600 and 800 yards.

 

[L3IRQ]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

I haven't met many people who do this but I run my zero's according to what the specific load is. Run it through the calculator and see where it's going to give me the easiest holdovers for what I want to do, I even have an SBR running a 42 yard zero right now with the load I'm currently running, gives me awesome impacts to 300, 400 at the waist.

 

[Derek01]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Most of mine are set at 100 yds, easiest to re-check zero. However the big magnums are set at 200

 

[RobertB]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Everything gets 100 yds from me. Even my hunting rifles that get "set" 2-3 inches high at 100yds still get zerod at 100 yds, turrets reset, then turrets turned to how many inches high I want them. My 2 hunting rifles are a 300wm and 7 stw. When I do this if I have a shot past 400 yds I can dial the rest. I know I'm good with both rifles out to 3-400 yds depending on rifle with no holds. BUt any that, I always dial and never hold. One reason is that the only rifles I have that don;t have MOA reticle and turrets are my 2 hunting rifles with a typical hunting scope. Both with mil-dots. All comp guns, target guns, and BR guns get zeroed at 100 yds, even the dedicated 1000 yds BR rifles. I have the comeups for them as well. I think 100 yds get you a good wind zero wiht alot of variables removed. Good luck

 

[rweaver00geo]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

for me my hunting rifles are 200 yard zero, but my target rifles are at 100. A 100 yard zero sucks with a 223 when you have a coyote hanging up at 300 and you have to hold a whole head high.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Rweaver, with a mil or MOA based reticle that's an easy hold.

 

[PaulStafford]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

my zero is at 100 yds.
Its commonly available when you're traveling and recheck on arrival.
Zeroing at much longer ranges (eg the std Marine 600 yd zero)incorporates errors I don't want incorporated(cant, wind)

however, it is derived from shooting at 300 yds and backing off the calculated drop (for me, .9 mil), as physically zeroing at 100 doesn't give me sufficient resolution - it is much easier to see if you're off .1mil at 300yds than 100 yds

one possible reason to zero elsewhere is if you don't have a zero stop and the turrets are only 5 mil. I could zero at 400 yds and never go more than one full turn either way to go from 100-1000 yds - prevents full-rotation mistakes in a comp.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Depends on you rifle/scope and what you're gonna do with it.

I zero my Service Rifles (M1A & White Oake AR) at 200 yards cause that's where I shoot them,

My vintage military rifles are zeroed at 200 yards because that's the range I shoot them.

I have an old Weaver K 2.5 I zero at 300 because I shoot it at 3 & 600.

I have a ART MPC that is zeroed at 200 yards, because thats where its set for the lowest power.

My long range hunting rifle's is set at 100 because I normally have time to adjust. But I carry it set on 275 giving me a pretty good MPBR.

My heavy rifle, I use late in the evening for elk (because I don't want to follow blood trails in the dart) is a 375 H&H I zero at 250, again for a good MPBR.

Target rifles used for long range are zeroed at 100, except for my Match 1000 yard rifle which of course is zeroed at 1000 yard.

Different jobs/tools require different zeros.

 

[Hunter24]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

Depends on how far you're shooting I guess. Maybe the kind of base you choose. I wouldn't have anything passed 200 for a hunting rifle.

 

[96C]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

My .308 is zeroe'd at 300 meters for hunting, with the EREK knob I can wind elevation out to 850 meters in one turn or hold over to 870 meters by reticle.
With the 300m zero, anything closer is a simple hold under and the round comes up into the target.

100m +1.5
200m +1.0
300m 0.0
400m -1.1
500m -2.4
600m -3.9
700m -5.6
800m -7.6
900m -9.8

 

[mt Al]

Re: Where do you set your zero and why?

200 yds so that on 80-90% of my hunting shots will hit the boiler maker with out any thought of holdover. Beyond that the hold over is pretty simple out to about 450. Beyond that I better sneak in closer.