Can you zero a rifle at 25 yards

Close enough that when we have the opportunity to zero the rifle for yards, we will be able to do so with a minimum of shots fired. When sighting-in a rifle, the first goal is to understand the likely range for the game we are going to be taking.

As an example, the Ruger. I like to know where it would hit at 50 yards, but I have never taken a shot past 25 yards with this rifle. With the. There is no ideal set range for sighting-in a rifle for everyone, we must be aware of the likely range at which we will be using the firearm. No rifle cartridge is a laser beam. Bullets behave in a predictable manner.

They rise above the muzzle, then they drop at longer distances. I have a friend that has hunted from the same stand for many years.

He looks out over a field that is perhaps yards wide. He has taken shots close to the stand and at the very edge of the clearing with good success because he knows his rifle. Some of us are not so lucky. We may encounter shots that vary to a greater extent. We may encounter shots at the end of our sure-hit zone.

I have sighted in my rifles at short-range distances for many years, and in the end, I have ended up with rifles that are useful from 25 to yards, with the same zero. Those who are good shots and have excellent skills may be able to turn the turrets at longer range and keep on top of things. Sighting-in a rifle for the load and the range is important. Different bullet weights strike to a different point of aim. A grain and a grain. The same goes for 55 and grain.

You have to understand this, as well as the likely distance to you will be engaging the target. The advantage of the zero should be that you will hold the sights on the target and not be out of the kill zone of the game between 25 and yards. Given a modern relatively flat-shooting cartridge. It also depends on whether you prefer the high-shoulder shot or the heart shot on deer. If you aim for the center of the target, you may strike three-inches low or three-inches high, but you will be in the kill zone.

You will still have to calculate, but you will not have to calculate as long — taking the rifle up and thinking about the shot will take less time. I have fired the Springfield Victor, my go-anywhere do-anything.

But then this means a perfect shot and off-hand skill is another matter. You have already done the work in this area. I love a scope with hash marks. Once you have the zero, then practice at every opportunity. Fire at small targets at both known and unknown ranges. Shooting paper is important, but so is consistently striking the target at known and unknown ranges. Settle down, really concentrate and squeeze the trigger, and then adjust your sights and do it again until you have reached your desired zero.

When I'm shooting from a bench rest, I try to get the rifle perfectly steady, and I let the sandbags or rifle rest do the work. I use my supporting hand to snug the butt into my shoulder, with my trigger finger the forward-most contact.

If you're lucky you might get the rifle "pretty close" in three or four shots. Sometimes it takes quite a few more! Relatively few riflescopes have truly precise and consistent adjustments, so it isn't uncommon to go back and forth a bit to get it right. That's perfectly OK, but you have to take your time and make sure the barrel doesn't get too hot.

Once you think you're there, let the barrel cool completely and then check again. Depending on how many shots were fired, there's a good chance it's now time to clean the rifle. There is no set rule, and all barrels are different, but for optimum accuracy, it's probably best to clean the barrel after no more than 20 shots.

Now a freshly cleaned barrel will often have a different point of impact than the same barrel after a couple of shots, so I clean at the range, and if that's my last zero session before taking a rifle hunting, I clean the barrel and then fire a couple of "fouling shots," thus checking the zero one more time. OK, now the rifle is zeroed perfectly just where you want it. But wait - as they say in the infomercials -- there's more! Do you use a bipod in the field?

It's a great tool, especially in open country, but some rifles will have a different point of impact with an attached bipod than over sandbags. This is the one I've noticed, but I suppose the same could be true of just about any field shooting aid. So once you're all zeroed, fire a couple of shots off your bipod or other shooting aid. You may not be quite as steady, so the results may not be as perfect- but if there's a significant difference, you should notice it.

Finally, if you're hunting away from home, make sure you check zero one last time when you arrive in your hunting area. I've found it fairly rare for a well-mounted scope to come out of zero while traveling, but it can happen, and Murphy's Law applies. Check your zero before starting your hunt.

This is not always easy; I can't tell you how many times I've checked zero in the dark, using car headlights on a target. Whatever it takes, the level of confidence that lies in absolutely knowing your rifle is ready is worth the effort. Give a Gift Subscriber Services. See All Other Magazines.

See All Special Interest Magazines. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow. Get Digital Access. Why should I aim 1 inch above the center of the target?

Aiming a bit higher will allow your long range shots to be more accurate. Will sighting at 25 yards give me a yard zero? However no, Sighting in at 25 yards and shooting at yards is going to give you about 2.

Which is generally not enough to stop you from hitting the vitals on most big game at yards. Why a 25 yard zero? I hope you learned how to sight your rifle in at short range, and can see the difference it makes.

One of the more notable being just how much less you need to guess when firing at longer ranges. There is no substitute for good marksmanship skills, but having your scope sighted in correctly will help build those skills; enabling you to fire faster and more accurately than ever before.

Your email address will not be published. We occasionally link to products in our posts to help the reader find relevant items they may be looking for. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature and we sometimes earn a small commission if the item is purchased. For full details read our privacy policy. Tools for the job Screwdriver — Your riflescope is equipped with Windage and Elevation turrets. Grid spacing should be 1 inch, and the target should be easily visible at yards.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Related Posts. Best Rangefinder Scopes Read More ». Affiliate Disclosure.