Your rifle scope will need to be “zeroed” at some point during your shooting career. In order to get the crosshairs to line up with where the bullet will land, a rifle scope must be zeroed by aligning it with the barrel. It’s crucial to know how to zero a rifle because you may need to do so on a variety of situations, including after long-term storage, after installing a new sight, after receiving a strong blow, or even just when switching ammo types.
We’ll walk you through the process in this article so you can be sure you’re doing everything correctly to make your rifle as precise as it should be.
Locate a safe shooting area
You must fire your weapon in order to zero it. Naturally, in order to be safe while doing so, you must be in a regulated atmosphere. A nice spot to zero is on your local range. To avoid annoying other shooters, make sure your setup prevents you from needing to declare a cease-fire and apply a new target after each shot. Frequently, this entails setting up many targets.
Understanding the aim is really beneficial in this situation. Specifically, to be aware of the separations between zones and markers on the target itself.
Eliminate human error
When zeroing, try to eliminate human error since it is a major cause of inaccuracy. If not, how will you know whether you or your gun are inaccurate? In order to minimize error, the rifle is frequently put up in a vice, on a bench, or on sandbags. You may now make more accurate shots as a result.
Additionally, you’ll want to be positioned at a certain distance from the target. This is typically 100 yards, but choose a setting where you’ll be shooting most frequently. In order to avoid affecting your modifications, make sure that you are aiming straight at the target.
Learn how to adjust your scope
How to change your scope is really simple to understand. A dial for left-to-right adjustment and an up-and-down adjustment dial will each be located on the device. Understanding the significance of these shifts is crucial, though. How many dial turns will it take to align your site?
These adjustments are typically marked with MOA on the majority of scopes. By turning the dial, the crosshair will move a certain distance on the target.
Minute of Angle is abbreviated as MOA. If the target is 100 yards away, adjusting the scope by 1 MOA results in a change of 1 inch in the target’s distance. This is further divided into quarters because 1 inch obviously represents a significant shift on the target.
At 100 yards, a scope’s 1 click corresponds to (traditionally) 14 MOA and produces a smaller change of 14 inch. Alternatively, some scopes omit the term “MOA” in favor of the more concise “1 click = 14″ at 100y”. The range you’re shooting at multiplies these modifications, which is a crucial point to remember. A change of 1 MOA at 100 yards for 1 inch translates into a change of 8 inches at 800 yards.
Aim and take a shot at the target
Fire one round after lining up your crosshairs with the center of the target. This serves as your starting point for future scope adjustments. If you’re unfortunate, you’ll have to make far more significant changes.
Small shims can be placed on the corresponding side of the scope to achieve this, or the scope mounts can simply be loosened and tightened while being moved in that direction. This is because getting the scope to point reasonably accurately shouldn’t need using up the entire scope’s adjustment. This would prevent you from adjusting for elevation and windage in the future.
If you’re lucky or after you’ve completed the aforementioned steps, you simply need to make a minor change. You can modify your scope to reflect the required adjustments by using the knowledge you have of your target (being able to estimate the distance from the impact point to the bullseye).
Adjust your scope
With the knowledge gained about MOA adjustments, you can perform a test shot and fairly accurately determine how many clicks to move the scope in each direction.
For instance, if your target is 100 yards distance from your position, and the aim its center, after firing a test shot at the target, you will relaize it may have struck the target 1.5 inches too low and 3 inches to the left of the bullseye.
You can adjust this as the 1 MOA at 100 yards causes your scope to move in 1/4 MOA increments. Rotate the top dial six clicks in the “up” direction since you need to change the height by 1.5 inches. Turn the side dial 12 clicks in the “correct” way since you need to adjust 3 inches to the right.
Try the process all over
Check your weapon’s accuracy with one more test shot. The results should be quite accurate, although there are always variables that could influence them. As many times as necessary until you are entirely satisfied with the outcomes, repeat these processes.
Technique to Zero a Scope
Your scope may be zeroed in around two dozen various ways. While some of them are simpler than others, none of them are incorrect. However, they are all rather quick and painless, so it really just boils down to preference. Here are two strategies you may use right away!
The No-Tech Method
The first thing to do is to just put your firearm on paper, regardless of where your final zero will fall. “On paper” means that your point of impact and point of aim are sufficiently close to one other for you to at least be on target. The best approach to zero a scope is always with a solid rest. Don’t attempt to accomplish this unaided or off-hand. Use a shooting bench, a shooting rest, some bags, whatever you like—just make sure it’s supported. The easiest approach to do this is to start shooting at a close range and gradually increase your distance until you are at zero.
Place your crosshair back on the bullseye after making a shot at it while the rifle is still resting and safe. Then, with as little movement of the gun as possible, adjust your turrets until they are over the shot.
Although it requires a steady hand and solid grip, once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes really simple. Re-aim at the target and fire to confirm zero and make any necessary adjustments. If you do it correctly, it only takes two bullets to zero a rifle.
Place your crosshair back on the bullseye after making a shot at it while the rifle is still resting and safe. Then, with as little movement of the gun as possible, adjust your turrets until they are over the shot.
Although it requires a steady hand and solid grip, once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes really simple. Re-aim at the target and fire to confirm zero and make any necessary adjustments. If you do it correctly, it only takes two bullets to zero a rifle.
The Low-Tech Method
Consider buying a bore sight if you want to avoid having to put your firearm on paper at close range. You ought to be quite near to a genuine zero with this, at least on paper. Simply zero your scope as usual, and you’re ready to go.
Conclusion
Learning to zero a scope is easy by following all the right steps. With the right application you will increase your accuracy and safety while on your hunting expedition. There are different techniques but the ones mentioned above will help you achieve your aim within few trials.
Travis Mike is a firearm enthusiast and author passionate about all things guns. With 10 years of experience in the industry, Travis Mike has gained a wealth of knowledge on the subject. He is skilled in gunsmithing and tactical training. In addition to professional experience, Travis Mike is an avid hunter and shooter, regularly participating in local shooting ranges and hunting trips.