Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post - M-4 50m zero vs. 25m zero

01-30-2005, 09:24

When my agency started a patrol rifle program, we quickly learned that the 25m zero we were familiar with from the military was not a great plan. We went to the 50m zero for quite a while and found it to be much better. When talking torso shots to 300 it should work great.

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but we have since gone to a 100 yd zero. We looked at this after attending a school with Paul Howe. The premise is that the round is low everywhere except 100. It will be low up close regardless of zero due to sight offset and it's just easier for me to remember that it is always low rather than sometimes low and sometimes high. The listed data is my 16" carbine with 75gr Hornady TAP, but it should close with 62gr and 14.5"barrel.

15 yds -2.5" 50yd -1.5" 75yd -.75" 100yd -0 150yd -1.5" 200yd -3.5"

This works great with an optic like an Aimpoint or EOTech. I always remember to hold high in close and high way out there. Between 50 and 150 just aim dead on even if a head shot is all that's available. At longer ranges it is actually easier for me to hold the dot over the small targets than it is to cover up the target with the dot. This eliminates fooling with the brightness setting when bullets are flying. It also works okay with the ACOGs. When using iron you probably need to adjust the rear sight for range because it's hard to hit a small head and/or upper torso with that big front sight covering it up. If I am anticipating longer shots I might run the rear sight up a few clicks.

I have found both 50 and 100 zeros to be much superior to the 25m/300m one. I don't shoot out that far very often, and if I am then I don't mind adjusting to hit them out there. It's easier for me to think about shooting at a target out there than it is to adjust aim 7" at 100 yds with the 25m zero when I'm excited.

I haven't been on the Maryland AR15 site in a few years, but found it very informative reference the 50 m zero and other battle site zeroing techniques.

Take care
Allen

edit for: malfunction on the data entry due to computer illiteracy.

01-30-2005, 09:24	#6
agzant Guest Posts: n/a	When my agency started a patrol rifle program, we quickly learned that the 25m zero we were familiar with from the military was not a great plan. We went to the 50m zero for quite a while and found it to be much better. When talking torso shots to 300 it should work great. Not meaning to hijack the thread, but we have since gone to a 100 yd zero. We looked at this after attending a school with Paul Howe. The premise is that the round is low everywhere except 100. It will be low up close regardless of zero due to sight offset and it's just easier for me to remember that it is always low rather than sometimes low and sometimes high. The listed data is my 16" carbine with 75gr Hornady TAP, but it should close with 62gr and 14.5"barrel. 15 yds -2.5" 50yd -1.5" 75yd -.75" 100yd -0 150yd -1.5" 200yd -3.5" This works great with an optic like an Aimpoint or EOTech. I always remember to hold high in close and high way out there. Between 50 and 150 just aim dead on even if a head shot is all that's available. At longer ranges it is actually easier for me to hold the dot over the small targets than it is to cover up the target with the dot. This eliminates fooling with the brightness setting when bullets are flying. It also works okay with the ACOGs. When using iron you probably need to adjust the rear sight for range because it's hard to hit a small head and/or upper torso with that big front sight covering it up. If I am anticipating longer shots I might run the rear sight up a few clicks. I have found both 50 and 100 zeros to be much superior to the 25m/300m one. I don't shoot out that far very often, and if I am then I don't mind adjusting to hit them out there. It's easier for me to think about shooting at a target out there than it is to adjust aim 7" at 100 yds with the 25m zero when I'm excited. I haven't been on the Maryland AR15 site in a few years, but found it very informative reference the 50 m zero and other battle site zeroing techniques. Take care Allen edit for: malfunction on the data entry due to computer illiteracy. Last edited by agzant; 01-30-2005 at 09:35.