Guns & Outdoors Forum

I moved some stuff around on one of my carbines recently and did some research before sighting it in. Decided to go with a 36 yard zero, using standard 55 gr 5.56 ammo. Thoughts on this zero? If you're not a fan, what is better and why for a 16" barrel carbine with a red dot optic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-2OpuWvP1Y

And here's the gun to avoid the fine...

I guess it really just matters what it's purpose is and what yardage you'll mostly be playing at. I think a standard zero is usually around 50 yards or so for most folks.

36 yrd sounds good to me

I like 50 yards, but that's mostly because I'm pretty familiar with the hold overs/unders out to a few hundred with that zero and 55 gr ammo. Also I can usually access a 50 yard range to do the zeroing.

I'm sure there's some overly complicated science reasons to zero at something else, but realistically most of us are hobbyists and its all for fun.

Isn't 1.5" low at 25 yards still standard?

shotgunshooter3 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2024 12:05 am I like 50 yards, but that's mostly because I'm pretty familiar with the hold overs/unders out to a few hundred with that zero and 55 gr ammo. Also I can usually access a 50 yard range to do the zeroing.

I'm sure there's some overly complicated science reasons to zero at something else, but realistically most of us are hobbyists and its all for fun.

It's not that complicated. Just focused on being able to hold on target and hit with a few inches at reasonable range.

I zero red dots on carbines at 50 because it’s easy. And gives me a second zero at 235 yards. So, a center hold on a torso gets me a hit to 300 yards with a red dot.
Your 36 yrd zero is doing the same.

The 36 / 300 yard zero approach is a pretty good military option where the goal is to take the other guy off the field in a wide open, free-fire zone. I'm not really a fan because it requires head scratching for truly precise shot placement within shorter distances. Simply put, there's a sharper angle between your line of sight and your bullet's line of departure.

The 50 / 200 yard zero is probably more useful for what one actually does with a carbine. It'll be about an inch low at 25 yards, about an inch and a half high at 100, and 6-8 inches low at 300. Really useful in that it keeps your bullet on a pretty tight vertical space for "effective social distancing".

A 100 yard zero is a pretty good Keep It Simple Stupid approach. Call it two inches low at 15 yards and maybe 1.25 to 1.5 inches low at 50. The trajectory climbs to zero at 100 yards and peaks around 100-120 yards at only about a quarter inch high before it starts falling back down. A couple inches low at 200 and maybe 8-10" low at 300.

The 50/200 gives a little longer point-blank range than the 100. The 100 runs the bullet a little closer to line of sight within the sub-150 yard span that would represent 99.99% of police patrol rifle use. Practically, I think there's little difference between the two besides nerdy, academic discussion.

I set my latest build today with a 50 yard zero. Worked great a hitting steel to 200yds!.