What Ammo to Zero?

[Centuriator]

My apologies if there is a "moron's question" section here, but ... here we go.

I am working on zeroing my LMT MWS .308 rifle.

Should I use the best match grade ammo to zero...I'm not a reloader, and yes, I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff.

My rifle? LMT MWS 20" barrel in .308.
My optics? Nightforce NX8 2.5-20
Distances I will be be shooting at? 400 yards.

Thank you for your help.

 

[chkunz]

Get on paper and get a rough zero with the cheep stuff. Put up a big target really close at first then move the target in increments to the longer ranges (I see a lot of folks put up a small target at 100 yards and then shot a box of shells and do not get a hole in the paper). Then refine your zero with the ammo and the range you will be shooting the most.

 

[eric32]

I would start at 25 yards with 2 shots get on paper them move out to 100 you should be about 5-7inch high at 100 then zero from there

 

[DirtySteve]

Ditto on the Cheap stuff to get on paper and a near zero. Use what you will be shooting in a match to fine tune your zero. If you can start at 25 as has been stated then move to 100. It will save time and ammo.

 

[D.Stone]

There are always two options.

1. Make the target bigger.

2. Move it closer. (Which makes it bigger.)

You just need an observable bullet impact to calculate your correction.

I don't zero with cheap stuff because I shoot handloads. Often times, I will pick a rock on the berm and fire at it to get a rough zero based on where I see the splash at. It usually takes me around 3 shots to get very close.

My recommendation for newer shooters is to put a target up at 25 or 50m, first are shot, and then correct for it. And then treat your 25m zero as if it were a 300m zero. Come down .7 mils or 2.5 MOA from 25m, and you should be on paper at 100m.

 

[Dave Marshall]

Before you fire a single round you should boresight your rifle.

Place a large target that you can see easily at 100 yards. Remove the bolt so you can look down the bore from the breech end. Point the rifle at the target using the bore to line it up. Without moving the rifle, look through the scope. If they are both on the target, you’re halfway there already.

It shouldn’t take more than a few shots to get zero’d after you do this. No need to waste ammo.

 

[cmillard]

I second what Dave Marshall said

 

[JASmith]

Bore sight first. Lots of tips on how to do without specialized equipment.

Ammo — use thestuff you plan to shoot most often.

Re-zero whenever you go to a different ammo. That might not result in sight adjustment if things are close enough, but one needs to be sure. It saves frustrating unexplained misses.

 

[Pres100]

Before you fire a single round you should boresight your rifle.

Place a large target that you can see easily at 100 yards. Remove the bolt so you can look down the bore from the breech end. Point the rifle at the target using the bore to line it up. Without moving the rifle, look through the scope. If they are both on the target, you’re halfway there already.

It shouldn’t take more than a few shots to get zero’d after you do this. No need to waste ammo.

This.

 

[garandman]

WHICH ammo?

1. The one that meets your accuracy goals.

2. For which you anticipate a ready supply for years to come.

3. That you can afford.

Why zero with an ammo yer not gonna shoot?

At this point, Id HIGHLY recommend getting into reloading. Its nowhere near as scary as it seems.

 

[garandman]

I posted this to encourage non-reloaders to become reloaders.

 

[SSL]

Another cheap method is to place a large piece of cardboard at 100 yards. On the cardboard, make a large plus sign (+) with black tape or even a magic marker. Make sure the arms of the plus are perfectly vertical and horizontal. From a steady rest, carefully align your crosshairs with the plus sign and, paying close attention to technique, fire a round. Note where it impacts and secure your rifle so that it is still aligned with the plus sign and adjust your crosshairs to the bullet hole. Your next shot should be close to cutting the center of the sign. Now proceed with fine tuning. Alternatively you can do the same at 25 yards and then repeat at 100 if you don't have access to large target stock.

And as garandman "hinted" )), seriously consider handloading to get the most out of your rifle.

 

[dgeesaman]

Before you fire a single round you should boresight your rifle.

Place a large target that you can see easily at 100 yards. Remove the bolt so you can look down the bore from the breech end. Point the rifle at the target using the bore to line it up. Without moving the rifle, look through the scope. If they are both on the target, you’re halfway there already.

It shouldn’t take more than a few shots to get zero’d after you do this. No need to waste ammo.

Also I’ve found that doing a horizontal and vertical zero with a high contrast edge is even more accurate to eyeball. We have white coroplast backers at one club. I set zero vertically using the top edge and horizontally using a side edge. Even being nearsighted I can get within a few inches this way.