I too have been guilty of thisStep 1 should always ensure that all screws (scope mount, action, etc.) are tight. You would not believe how many times I've seen people try to zero guns with loose scopes or sights that move every shot.....
I too have been guilty of thisStep 1 should always ensure that all screws (scope mount, action, etc.) are tight. You would not believe how many times I've seen people try to zero guns with loose scopes or sights that move every shot.....
Had this with an ar recently, grab an old sign if you must. I've even lashed a rifle to a tree before then taken a shot at an embankment to see where the hell it was shooting.Gunplumber: can't I get the first shot on a 14 x 14 sheet at 25 yards?
[emoji106]Stand up and aim a hand held bore sighted rifle at some range then shoot one shot and call it. Adjust the sight to move bullet impact to call. Shoot one more shot, call it to verify; if you're not at least 90% sure that is close enough then make a tiny adjustment if needed. Easy to do with accurate rifle and ammo.
Note that rested rifles have a different zero than those hand held against the shoulder, unsupported.
3. Without moving rifle, adjust scope to point-of-impact.
Pretty friggin' simple.
Note that rested rifles have a different zero than those hand held against the shoulder, unsupported.
How much different are the two zeroes going to be be, Bart B.?Note that rested rifles have a different zero than those hand held against the shoulder, unsupported.
He makes it sound like there is a significant difference.
I had to laugh a little at the last part of JimBob's quote, which is great by the way because it highlights one of the most difficult factors to manage in shooting....the shooter. Most rifles are designed to out shoot the most experienced shooters abilities; its when we get behind the rifle and do something to cause each round to behave differently, otherwise anybody could pick up a rifle and zero with one offhand shot. When did zeroing your rifle become a competition anyway...After reading through this post I think its safe to say that most of us may agree on the following two things. (#1) Can we all agree that to zero a rifle properly you need a good solid, steady, supported stable shooting position to maintain the same point of aim for each shot. Otherwise your not zeroing anything, your just "calling shots" which sounds a lot like "calling misses".(Thanks JimBob) (#2) Can we all agree that you need at the very minimum TWO shots to zero a rifle. Otherwise, how would you be able to say with full confidence that your rifle has a confirmed zero. You can't say you confirmed anything with one shot. You moved your cross hairs and still have no idea what will happen until you take that next shot and confirm your zero. I appreciate all of the knowledge and input on here....Post weather you agree or disagree with this.How much different are the two zeroes going to be be, Bart B.? Are you talking a change measured in inches, or tenths of an inch? If it's the latter, I doubt that even 1% here can hold to that, offhand. If it's the former, then something is wrong with the rifle, if it's POI is shifting that much depending upon how it's held .....
As for "calling your shot" ..... sounds like "calling your misses" to me....... If one can really hold to tenths of an inch, offhand, to such a degree of surety that one shot would be enough to warrant moving the crosshairs, how 'bout just hitting the X in the first place?
I don't agree.(#1) Can we all agree that to zero a rifle properly you need a good solid, steady, supported stable shooting position to maintain the same point of aim for each shot. Otherwise your not zeroing anything, your just "calling shots" which sounds a lot like "calling misses".
I agree if your rifle and ammo shoots 1/4 MOA at shorter ranges. And the shot group's center will move 12/19ths MOA if you move the sight that far. If you don't trust your sight to do that, get rid of it and get a better one. If your stuff's less accurate, it'll take more shots. As long as shots strike not much more more than half it grouping size from where you call the shot, that's fine. Every rifle shoots most accurate when it's not hand held by a human, but instead in a free recoiling accuracy cradle. Us humans add a variable to its accuracy level; more with less stable positions.(#2) Can we all agree that you need at the very minimum TWO shots to zero a rifle. Otherwise, how would you be able to say with full confidence that your rifle has a confirmed zero. You can't say you confirmed anything with one shot. You moved your cross hairs and still have no idea what will happen until you take that next shot and confirm your zero.