I am researching how to zero a scope and sight it in for a new AR-15 and need some advice. The scope, an AIM Sports® 4x32 mm Rapid Ranging Scope with a 600-yd. Bullet-drop Reticle, has a horizontal cross hair and a minor hash below, then a major hash with a number 4 to the right of the hash, another minor hash followed by a major hash and a number 6.

 

According to the manual the 4 and the 6 are 400 yards and 600 yards so the horizontal cross hair would be 200 yards which is where the scope should be sighted in. So it seems to me I will need to find a 200 yard range where I can do this.

 

There is also a red dot mounted above the scope. Typically would the red dot scope be used for shorter distances and sighted in differently?

 

I have a bi-pod on the rifle but will I need a shooting rest?

You need to find out to what ammunition the hash marks are relavent. One would assume service ammo, but is it M193 or M855? Once that is sorted out find a ballistic chart for that bullet weight/cartridge and your barrel length. Now find the 200 yd zero on the chart and then follow that line back to the 100 yard range. Now you can zero your scope on a 100 yard range for the POI shown on the chart.

 

Not a big fan of these range compensating reticles, but doing it this way will probably be no worse than actually shooting it at 200 yards.

 

A solid rest will work better than a bipod, but you may find it shoots to a different POI with the bipod if you sight it in over a rest. To shoot effectively with a bipod, the legs need to be "loaded" (slight forward pressure of the rifle) consistently shot to shot.

 

Good luck.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

PS: Yes the red dot should be zeroed to the CQB distance you choose.

 

 

All good advise Bob. I would further suggest don't forget the pencil and paper. Take notes and shoot at as many different distances as you can. The imperical data is good but seldom perfect.

As far as the bullet compensating scopes...They don't work well if you handload. Your most accurate load may not be a load compatable with the compensator.

 

As in "Old School" I have tape on my stock with distances and hold over or scope clicks depending what I'm doing.

You need to find out to what ammunition the hash marks are relavent. One would assume service ammo, but is it M193 or M855? Once that is sorted out find a ballistic chart for that bullet weight/cartridge and your barrel length. Now find the 200 yd zero on the chart and then follow that line back to the 100 yard range. Now you can zero your scope on a 100 yard range for the POI shown on the chart.

 

Not a big fan of these range compensating reticles, but doing it this way will probably be no worse than actually shooting it at 200 yards.

 

A solid rest will work better than a bipod, but you may find it shoots to a different POI with the bipod if you sight it in over a rest. To shoot effectively with a bipod, the legs need to be "loaded" (slight forward pressure of the rifle) consistently shot to shot.

 

Good luck.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

PS: Yes the red dot should be zeroed to the CQB distance you choose.

 

This is the scope and the manual does not indicate what ammunition it is relevant for.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/aim-sports-4x32-mm-rapid-ranging-scope-matte-black.aspx?a=938957

 

I will look for a ballistic chart for M193 and M855 since I use both. It is an S&W M&P15 Sport with a 16" barrel.

Hmm... I just mounted a scope on my VZ-24, and I'm not sure if it's quite level, the mount that is, and ways of telling?

 

I didn't want to drill into the stock, so i simply got one that replaces the rear sight-leaf, and removed the leaf and the spring. How will I zero it in? I know dick-all about scopes, but with my poor eyesight, I think they'll help me out.

The 5.56 (55gr) will cross the same path at 50yds and 200yds. You can sight it in at 50yds and it should be right on at 200yds.

 

I sight in my red dot at 50yds. That will cover everything form 1-200yds. POI will be about 1-2" high at 100yds

The 5.56 (55gr) will cross the same path at 50yds and 200yds. You can sight it in at 50yds and it should be right on at 200yds.

 

I sight in my red dot at 50yds. That will cover everything form 1-200yds. POI will be about 1-2" high at 100yds

 

I believe that's 50yds/200meters. I'm going to the range Thursday to sight in a new iron sight using the fifty yard range and then I'll check on the 200 yard range where if I'm right they should be a little high.

You need to find out to what ammunition the hash marks are relavent. One would assume service ammo, but is it M193 or M855? Once that is sorted out find a ballistic chart for that bullet weight/cartridge and your barrel length. Now find the 200 yd zero on the chart and then follow that line back to the 100 yard range. Now you can zero your scope on a 100 yard range for the POI shown on the chart.

 

Not a big fan of these range compensating reticles, but doing it this way will probably be no worse than actually shooting it at 200 yards.

 

A solid rest will work better than a bipod, but you may find it shoots to a different POI with the bipod if you sight it in over a rest. To shoot effectively with a bipod, the legs need to be "loaded" (slight forward pressure of the rifle) consistently shot to shot.

 

Good luck.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

PS: Yes the red dot should be zeroed to the CQB distance you choose.

The 5.56 (55gr) will cross the same path at 50yds and 200yds. You can sight it in at 50yds and it should be right on at 200yds.

 

I sight in my red dot at 50yds. That will cover everything form 1-200yds. POI will be about 1-2" high at 100yds

 

I found some factory ballistics charts for the PMC X-TAC ammo and they were Zeroed at 100 yards. I converted the charts to a 200 yard Zero and wallah the 55gr bullets are at -.2 at 50 yards and Zero at 200 yards while the 62gr bullets are 0.0 at 50 yards and also Zero at 200 yards. So I should be able to sight in the scopes at a 50 yard range.

 

Thanks for the input. Now I just have to play with the scopes to determine which screws adjust windage versus elevation. I will attached the trajectory conversion spreadsheet I built as soon as the premier membership renewal is processed.

Now I just have to play with the scopes to determine which screws adjust windage versus elevation.

 

The horizontal knob is elevation and the vertical one is windage. If it has caps on the turrets, once you take them off there will be directional arrows for windage (left or right) and elevation (up or down) and it may tell you what value each click is in either inches or MOA. Have fun.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

The horizontal knob is elevation and the vertical one is windage. If it has caps on the turrets, once you take them off there will be directional arrows for windage (left or right) and elevation (up or down) and it may tell you what value each click is in either inches or MOA. Have fun.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

How about on the Mini Red Dot?

 

Ha! Got me! Read the instructions. I know this is an anathema to all real men - but as a last resort it usually works....unless you like wasting ammo.

Ha! Got me! Read the instructions. I know this is an anathema to all real men - but as a last resort it usually works....unless you like wasting ammo.

 

I Emailed them for instructions and they sent me the same manual that is on their website but those instructions do not include anything for the Red Dot. The manual is a generic one and not for specific scopes. Time to experiment...

The top screw should be elevation and the side screw windage.

The top screw should be elevation and the side screw windage.

 

This. And an arrow with U or up on the elevation, arrow with R(right) on the windage.

 

The cap on the enclosed red dot pictured above should be removeable.

I found some factory ballistics charts for the PMC X-TAC ammo and they were Zeroed at 100 yards. I converted the charts to a 200 yard Zero and wallah the 55gr bullets are at -.2 at 50 yards and Zero at 200 yards while the 62gr bullets are 0.0 at 50 yards and also Zero at 200 yards. So I should be able to sight in the scopes at a 50 yard range.

 

Thanks for the input. Now I just have to play with the scopes to determine which screws adjust windage versus elevation. I will attached the trajectory conversion spreadsheet I built as soon as the premier membership renewal is processed.

The horizontal knob is elevation and the vertical one is windage. If it has caps on the turrets, once you take them off there will be directional arrows for windage (left or right) and elevation (up or down) and it may tell you what value each click is in either inches or MOA. Have fun.

 

Adios,

Pizza Bob

I found some factory ballistics charts for the PMC X-TAC ammo and they were Zeroed at 100 yards. I converted the charts to a 200 yard Zero and wallah the 55gr bullets are at -.2 at 50 yards and Zero at 200 yards while the 62gr bullets are 0.0 at 50 yards and also Zero at 200 yards. So I should be able to sight in the scopes at a 50 yard range.

 

Thanks for the input. Now I just have to play with the scopes to determine which screws adjust windage versus elevation. I will attached the trajectory conversion spreadsheet I built as soon as the premier membership renewal is processed.

 

I guess I can't attach spreadsheets so here is a graphic of the trajectory conversion chart.