Most of the people ask…
What magnification to zero a scope?
We are here to answer that…
Let’s get started!
Installing your Rifle Scope
Scope rings should always be tightened down as far as possible. This ensures that the scope is centered perfectly.
Scope rings or mounts should be tightened to the rifle before mounting the scope. Loc-Tite should be used to make sure the scope stays tight when you shoot.
Scope mounts need to tighten down until they do not move. Traditional screws will usually require the use of substances such as Loc-Tite to prevent loosening of the scope rings or scope mounts from recoil when firing. Holographic scopes should not require any adjustments. A QD mount should be locked tight and fit the scope rails appropriately. The scope should stay level. The vertical crosshair should sit perfectly up and straight. Eye relief should be listed in the instructions.
This video shows how to mount a scope correctly.
Note: If you want to know the complete guide and information about scopes click HERE.
Selecting the Right Ammunition
A scope is zeroed using a reticle (a crosshair). When you zero a scope, you are also zeroed to a specific type of ammo. You need to know what kind of ammo your scope was designed for.
When you zero your rifle, it means that you’ve found the right amount of ammo for your gun. This ammo will give you the most accurate shot possible. Other loads of the same caliber might vary slightly, but these differences won’t affect your shooting much.
There are many types of ammunition available, but most people use the same kind every time. This is because there is very little difference between the different kinds of ammunition. However, some people do notice slight differences in performance.
Selecting the Right Target
You can zero a rifle by using a target that is divided into grids. Bullseyes are the easiest targets to use because they are designed for shooting. A square inch is the size of the box that holds the target. The shooter can adjust the scope based on the distance the target is from the bullseye by adjusting the number of inches away from the bullseye.
A large piece of material should be used when shooting targets. It helps to know if you’re hitting off-target or not. Cardboard works well as a backup.
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Distance Setup
A shooter should use a bipod or sandbag to stabilize the rifle while aiming. Zeroing a scope is done by using a laser rangefinder.
Begin the Zeroing Process
A sniper must be very careful when aiming a rifle. He or she can use a rangefinder to help them aim. When using a scope, the shooter should make sure the target is dead center in the crosshairs.
Laser sights are used by snipers to help them aim accurately. Laser sight allows a sniper to see exactly what he or she is aiming at. Sniper rifles are harder to zero than other types of guns because of how they work.
A shooter can adjust the scope to cover the laser on the target, this helps them zero the optic more quickly.
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Prepping for Range Hot
A shooter should always be aware of what they are doing before firing around. They must load the gun, aim properly, and then shoot. After shooting, they should check if the action is open, and then continue downrange to make sure they hit the target.
Three shots are grouped. All three shots must be in one general area. Shots are not too close or too far away from each other.
There is an external issue with the rifle. It could be due to the scope being attached to the wrong side of the gun or the ammo being bad.
The shooter should re-examine their gun, ammo, scope, and skill level.
The Final Zero
The shooter should first zero their rifle by shooting three rounds at the target. Then, they should adjust the scope and fire again. Repeat this process until the rifle has been properly zeroed. Once the rifle is zeroed, the shooter can stop.
Zeroing a scope initial pellet selection
In long-range centrefires, turrets with MOA adjustment are arguably more used than adjustable sights. For airgun shooters, there’s little difference between the available options. After cleaning the barrel, you need to decide whether to choose a pellet that produces smaller or larger groups. You can try out different pellets by shooting groups and picking the pellet that gives the smallest group size. But before you do that, you need to know how far away you’re going to shoot.
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Zeroing a scope Clickety click
Each click on this Hawke sidewinder will shift POIs by 1/4 minute at 100 yards. Some scopes will measure adjustment in minutes at 100 yards. For example, if you adjust your scope to +1/4 MOA, then each click will equal 0.261 inches at 100 yards. This is close enough for our purposes.
You should aim for the center of the target. If you miss, you can always try again.
Protect your ears: Treat felt bullets with respect, just like other types of ammo. They are very loud, so wear ear protection when using them, however, they are ideal for barrel maintenance once you have your sights set on your initial zero, it is time to make a decision, at what distance should you shoot your primary zero? This depends on the type of shooting that you do.
Zeroing a scope Take five
This rifle has been almost perfectly zeroed. One-click up and left should do the job very nicely. Your target is set back at your chosen zero distance – 30 yards in this case. Shoot a group of five pellets. Take the average point of impact. Adjust your zero accordingly.
You’ve found the right type of pellet for your rifle. Testing different types of pellets requires time. Different pellets are made of different metals, which means barrels already led for one pellet won’t be the best fit for another.
To give each of your test pellets their best chance to perform you’ll need to clean your barrel every time you change brand by shooting a few felt pellets, then leading the barrel by taking 20 shots with the new pellets before carrying out your next rounds of testing.
A springer needs to be loaded with a lead pellet directly after the felt pellet to avoid damage to the gun. Kill zones vary from 15 and 42mm, with the smaller ones set out between 13 and 35 yards. In the hunting fields, a kill zone the same size as a 10p coin (24.5mm) is considered a good yardstick.
You should aim for the center of the target. At 8 yards, you’re aiming for the middle of the target. At 15 yards, you’re aiming right at the center of the target, and at 30 yards, you’re aiming dead center.
A large target put up at closer range is perfect for spotting hits and enabling you to get an approximate zero. Most people think that point-blank range is close, but for shooters, the point-blank range is the distance over which you can aim perfectly and still hit a target. You need to measure this distance by moving the target in five-yard increments and shooting five-shot groups.
My rifle, scope, and pellets combination have a PBR of about 20-35 yards. That means that any target I shoot at will be shot dead.
You should aim high if you want to hit the target. Aim low if you want to miss the target.
Aiming at targets requires you to know how far away they are. You need to adjust your gun accordingly. A scope with a reticle based on milliradians allows you to measure distance accurately.
Mils are units of measure used by the military to determine distance. A mil is equal to 1/1000th of an inch. The reticle is used to help you aim your gun accurately. You can mark other things on the crosshair such as a dot or a circle. These marks can also be helpful when aiming your gun.
Aiming low means aiming 1/4th of an inch above the bull’s eye. This is called overshooting. Aiming high means aiming 1/4 of an inch below the bull’s eye. This means undershooting.
What Magnification to Zero Scope?
Which focal plane?
Holdovers and hold under vary depending on the type of scope you’re using. For example, if you’re using a 1/4 Mil-Dot Scope, you’ll want to shoot at 1/4 Mil-dots. If you’re using a 3/8 Mil-Dot Scope you’ll want to shoot 3/8 Mil-dots.
You should always know what kind of pellets you want to use before you start shooting. When you’re using different types of pellets, you should always be aware of how far away you’re going to be shooting. And if you change your gun or your ammo, you should check your points of aim again.
Note: If you want to know more information about scopes click HERE.
Conclusion
We hope that you now know how to zero a scope!
Author
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John is the Editor in Chief here at The Outdoor Stores. His area of expertise ensures that there is no one better to suggest which rifles are most suitable for your hunting experience. He is also available for you to contact him personally to discuss the types of animals you want to hunt and the terrain you will be hunting on. Feel free to read his posts for expert opinion on Rifles, Scopes, Rangefinders, Bonoculars and Monoculars.