Zeroing at a public range.

Posted by No_Cover6104@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 34 comments

How would you efficiently zero a rifle at a public 50 yard range? Do you just fire a group and wait for the range to go cold? Or should I buy some binoculars and spot my impacts and make adjustments "live"?

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Altruistic-Ruin7468@reddit

If it’s a pistol I do them at 7 yards and can usually see the holes. Rifles…need a spotting scope, or wait till you can go down range. For me I need the hands on the target to measure for clicks for customers. For my own I can usually “adjust by feel” (eh that’s probably 3) and get it pretty darn close. Finalize with 1 or 2 iterations of walking down range.

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Cashbum@reddit

I use the bore method to start at 30-40 yards. Remove the upper and bolt. Stabilize it somehow. Spot your target through the bore and adjust irons or optic to be close and dial in.

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Icy-Medicine-495@reddit

Spotting scopes are not that expensive. Maybe 50 bucks or less for a cheap one that will easily see at that range.

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NotAGunGrabber@reddit

My local range actually rents spotting scopes.

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DumbNTough@reddit

I got a cheap spotting scope and regretted it. It was a piece of shit and its adjustment ring straight up cracked off.

Just spend a few bucks and get a decent mid grade one, IMO

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thatonemikeguy@reddit

Cheap ones from Amazon are great for 50 or 100 yards

Just don't try to use it hunting, can't see shit at any distance.

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Disastrous-Gap-8483@reddit

A lot of gun clubs close to hunting season have zeroing in days where range officer goes around and will spot you. I went with new deer rifle and had my bolt action zero in after like 5 shots.

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SovereignDevelopment@reddit

A spotting scope works great for this. I also highly recommend a ballistic calculator so that you can, at your 50 yard range, zero for other distances besides 50 yards.

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Fun-Part-9073@reddit

I've always used my telephoto lens on my phone. If you've got a good phone and re-active targets you'll be g2g!

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SteveHamlin1@reddit

"should I buy some binoculars and spot my impacts and make adjustments "live"?"

Yes

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sewiv@reddit

Spotting scope, obviously. That's what they're for.

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Spare-Rip-4372@reddit

That’s how I do it. Or have another rifle on the line with decent glass. This gets much easier if you use those high visibility impact targets.

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AJSAudio1002@reddit

Yea you can get like 100 Shoot and See targets on Amazon for like $20.

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gener1cusern4m3@reddit

Im still working my way through a roll of 200 4" ones that I picked up for 14 dollars on there.

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DasKapitalist@reddit

High vis targets help so much.

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Suddenly_silent856@reddit

A drone with a camera. Fly it out and let it hover off to the side. That’s what I do for everything past 500yds if your range doesn’t allow drones then look for a cheap spotting scope. I start with bore sighting through the barrel with my eye at 10-15 yds when I have the barrel lined up to the target I adjust the optic to match so my group and adjustments will be much easier.

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No-Average6364@reddit

Spotting scope! they even have adapters to hook your smartphone to them now.

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robertva1@reddit

Spotting scope or good pair of binoculars

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MeanOldMeany@reddit

I just use a laser bore sight tool in my back yard. Stick it in the barrel, point at my fence 40 feet away then adjust sights to align with the laser dot on the fence. Almost perfect when I get to the range and zero at 100 yds.

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Maleficent_Mix_8739@reddit

I do the the same and get the same results.

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HeemeyerDidNoWrong@reddit

If it's one of the big target stands, you can put up 3+ reactive targets. Use one for sighting and the others for fun guns while you wait. I don't know where you live, but if there's public land setting up for 50 yards is trivial then you can set your own pace. I prefer a range for sighting in farther but 50 I would DIY.

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harbourhunter@reddit

i had this exact question when starting out

here’s how to do it 1. buy some splatter targets, some large, some small, and a staple gun 2. once the range is cold, go out up your large target, and like 20 small ones 3. bore sight and get into the middle of the big target, probably about 20 shots total (10 shot group) 4. fine tune with 5 shot groups on the smaller targets 5. once you get zeroed, take off your scope caps and put them back on in the zero spots

eventually you’ll have to learn your dope / adj for 100’

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daimon_tok@reddit

Maybe you need glasses?

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Clunk500CM@reddit

Bring along: binoculars, a spotting scope or a spare rifle scope...none of these have to be terribly expensive to accomplish the task.

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coldafsteel@reddit

Shoot-n-see target helps, but with any sort of magnification you should be able to spot hits. No need to walk down and back for every group just to see how you need to dial.

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MentalTelephone5080@reddit

Are you sighting in iron sights or a scope?

If you can't see bullet holes with a scope at 50 yards you need a new scope.

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No_Cover6104@reddit (OP)

Irons

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Coldones@reddit

Binoculars + sight-in targets has worked well for me

Something like this https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/products/eze-scorer-12-inch-sight-in-paper-target.html

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TheBlackGuy@reddit

Binoculars or a sighting scope and make adjustments after every shot