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Do You Zero At 7 10 or 15 Yards

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36K views 87 replies 42 participants last post by  Phoenix.  
#1 ·
Just installed a Romeo 1 Pro on my P320 X-Compact and will be going to the range next week to zero it. This is my EDC so I would like to know if you choose to zero at 7 10 or 15 yards. Thanks.
 
#5 ·
I don’t even shoot less than 15.
I can remember when no one did 3, 7, or 10 at the range.
Now it is super common.
When I send my target out to 25, I get looks. Especially since my target is a 7x10 letter print,, on a chest size target.
 
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#13 ·
I don’t even shoot less than 15.
I can remember when no one did 3, 7, or 10 at the range.
Now it is super common.
When I send my target out to 25, I get looks. Especially since my target is a 7x10 letter print,, on a chest size target.
It's probably the same "look" I give to people that stand static in a lane shooting at chest level target.
 
#10 ·
Another thing worth keeping in mind with a RDS - even a 6 MOA dot is going to be smaller, and thus provide a more precise aiming reference, than the average combat front iron sight at 25 yds. You're already starting with a more precise aiming system than irons.

There are certainly different schools of thought on RDS zeroing distance, and I don't think there is any right or wrong - but there definitely is "more realistic" and "less realistic" - at least if you are referencing the body of data available on actual self-defense stats.

The school of thought I tend to ascribe to is to have the RDS zeroed at a reasonable intermediate self-defense distance. That way, adjusting for a bit farther, or a bit closer, based on the situation, requires less hold over/hold under during a high stress moment. 15 yards is a pretty good and realistic intermediate distance - adjusting from that to 25 yards, or to 7 yards, requires little effort. In fact, even 15 yds is probably on the far side, if you look at most common self-defense engagement distances. I don't know who came up with 25 yards as the 'golden rule' for sighting in, but 25 yards (again, based on available data) is not an intermediate distance, at least not for civilian self-defense scenarios.

Which isn't to say at all that one shouldn't practice and strive to be proficient at greater distances - you definitely should, and it will only improve your confidence with your weapon. But the % of self-defense engagements that happen at 25-30 yds or more is so statistically tiny as to be almost non-existent. I prefer to prepare, and have my set-up dialed in, for what is most likely, and then be sure I can range out, and range in, from that without having to think about it.

That's just the thinking behind my approach, but again - I'm not saying that's the only way to do it.
 
#12 ·
Not if they have a gun in their hands and are a threat. As long as you can positively ID your target as having the ability, opportunity and jeopardy of causing death or great bodily harm to you or another person, you can employ deadly force.

Now if we're being realistic, I think as distance increases the likelihood of the situation meeting that criteria drops significantly, which is probably what you were implying. But being able to take a long accurate shot is a good skill to have. And of course a red dot on a pistol makes that much easier.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I zero at 15 yd then test my ammo for accuracy at 25 yd. As others have said, slim chance you'll ever need to shoot as far as 25 yd though. (For SD guns).
I zero my Single Action revolvers at 50 yd. But that's a whole different deal.

Locke
 
#18 ·
25 yards. The sight is as much as an inch above the bore. So....doing some quick, non precise math in my head, if you zero at 25 yards your point of impact is going to be 3/4" low at 5 yards. If you zero at 5 yards your point of impact will be 5 inches high at 25 yards. I'd prefer to be off a fraction of an inch off at 5 yards than be several inches off at any realistic difference.
 
#30 ·
#24 ·
Obviously caliber and load makes a big difference. With a 9mm 124 grain +P Gold Dot zeroed at 25 yards will be pretty flat to 40 yards or so them the poi will start to drop. You don't get 2 zeros like you do with most rifles. A 25 yard zero is 3/16" low at 15 yards.

With a 9mm 124 grain +P Gold Dot zeroed at 15 yards you'll be close to a second zero at 40 yards. I just did the math, assuming the sight is 1 inch above the bore. A 15 yard zero would be 5/16" high at 25 yards.

A 5 yard zero with the same load would be 1 5/8" high at 15 yards, and 3 inches high at 25 yards. The second zero would be past 100 yards.



This assumes a sight that's 1 inch above the bore. IIRC that's close to most "dot's on most handguns.
 
#21 ·
I personally do a lot of shooting at 15 yards, and then shoot at 25. The group size opens up to three or four inches but that is okay. I use police type silhouette targets and do head shots at 25. I know that I can hit what I shoot at. I tend to hit to the right at 25.
 
#22 ·
I shot a lot at 7 yards and still do sometimes but I have started liking shooting reactive targets which move away from you when shot and seeing how far out you can still hit one consistently. I shoot golf balls a lot and can hit them from 10 to 25 or so yards with a reflex sight on a pistol pretty consistently. Golf balls might not be the safest target but they are fun and easy to shoot rapidly and easy to see. I am pretty sure I am zeroed at 7 yards but the adjustment at 25 or so isn't far off it seems.
 
#27 ·
I read an interesting article recently that advocated zeroing the RDS on any weapon (pistol or rifle) at the distance that equals the peak of its flight trajectory. For a 9mm pistol that equates roughly to 10-15 yards according to some ballistic trajectory charts I've been looking at online. The rationale for using that point was that it reduces all shooting corrections for other distances, closer or farther, to adjusting your POA above your desired POI. Using any other range would require you to sometimes aim higher and sometimes lower compounding the shooting solution.
 
#28 ·
I read an interesting article recently that advocated zeroing the RDS on any weapon (pistol or rifle) at the distance that equals the peak of its flight trajectory. For a 9mm pistol that equates roughly to 10-15 yards according to some ballistic trajectory charts I've been looking at online. The rationale for using that point was that it reduces all shooting corrections for other distances, closer or farther, to adjusting your POA above your desired POI. Using any other range would require you to sometimes aim higher and sometimes lower compounding the shooting solution.
That's the same argument for a 100 yard zero on an AR. It's kind of a religious debate. Some prefer that, some prefer the 50/200, some prefer the 300-whatever.

I prefer a 50-200ish zero on ARs, basically out to around 220 or so, depending on bullet and velocity, you are never more off than your height over bore (over or under).

The only time I do it different is if I'm using a BDC optic that requires a specific zero.

Back to pistols, you absolutely can do the same thing.

Go to JBM - Calculations - Trajectory (Simplified)

Select your bullet, velocity, height over bore, and any other options you want.

Set the range increment to one yard and set the maximum to something reasonable.

Check the checkbox for maximum point blank zero.

Execute.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#40 ·
Using the ballistic calculator I linked to above I punched in 950fps and chose the 147gr XTP with a 1.0" sight height. If I enter 15 yards as the zero it cross again at 33 yards.

I have no idea how close those specs are, but the reality is, as shown in those photos above, is that 25 yards it's pretty much a safe bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#43 ·
I got mine factory installed with the P320 RXP XCOMPACT. I think I zeroed at 10 yards and have never felt the need to adjust it again. When I go shoot I can pretty reliably ping steel at 30 yards. I feel like it’s accurate to how far I can see a target clearly and how steady my hands are.

Just make sure you shoot from a rest when you zero it. I brought a little folding step stool to the range, put an ammo can on top of it and threw a towel over it. I also had someone who worked there take a couple shots and double check my zero since I was new to the gun. Worked out pretty well.