What Distance Should you Zero your AR 15? 

It had been three years since I last shot my rifle. Moved out into the sticks, built a home shooting range and now I am blowing through 100 rounds a week. This video is very relevant to me in trying to figure out the best way to set up my rifle. Thank you.

Man I cannot stress enough the appreciation of you doing this video! Thank you!

I like how you understand physics. Whether an object is travelling or standing still, they all drop at the same speed. Thank you for this video.

Just doing a "quick video" at 2 am while drinking coffee..... 77 minutes later. 🤣 Awesome!

not only do you know exactly what your are talking about,you also know exactly how to explain it. well done sir.

Me: *Starts watching video* Eric, from Green Eye Tactical: "I wanted to do a quick video..." Me: *Looks down to see 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 38 seconds left in the video*

Man you knocked it out the box again. Really appreciate all the hard work and time you put into collecting all this data.

At first I thought there was no way I could sit thru such a long video. I grabbed some coffee, sunk into my chair, and was completely humbled at the complexity of the topic. I totally appreciate the over simplification of asking such a complex question of “what zero should I use?” I also appreciate the data driven discussion instead of opinions, anecdotes and “trust me” advice. Of special note is your acknowledgment of this information being used by people with nefarious intentions and breached the notion that some information is sensitive and shouldn’t necessarily be in the public domain. Personally, I completely agree!! Thanks for a reasonably deep dive into a complex topic and simplifying where possible.

Excellent Job! I am a retired Police Firearms Instructor/ Taught at Police Academy in Buffalo, area Eire and Niagara Co. NY for 7 Years. CRITICAL THAT ALL ZEROS, were documented on targets, out to 300 yards, serial # of AR Rifle, and ammo , manufacture, lot number, weather conditions and Instructor who zeros the AR rifle signed on each target. Zeros completed yearly.

An excellent detailed thought provoking video. Your extemporaneous delivery of an hour and 20 minutes explanation of your thought process shows that you know the subject at a level most do not.

When he asks his wife for a quickie, she just give him "the look" and walks away. Great video, lots of good information. Nice to see some actual data and science applied to the subject. This video is criminally under viewed. I guess with everyone wanting a quick fix, one size fits all answer or battling their own cognitive dissonance it always will be. Well done sir, well done.

Ive been watching a lot of videos and reading articles/books on this subject, and this is the first video that was grounded in logic and did not parrot the bad information of others. Thank you!!

I liked this instructional video so much that I put you to the test. I got my 11-year-old daughter, who loves to shoot, to watch this instructional and you explain things so well that she had grasped all of these considerations. I asked her questions and she answered correctly. My point is that you explained things so well that even a preteen child understood the factors that go in through sighting in a rifle. This is an absolutely outstanding video! Thank you for uploading it!

"Just woke up at 2am and gotta do a quick video."

I zeroed 4 rifles, made coffee, fed dog, and made it back in just enough time to get the summary info. 😂 Good fun.

Thank you sir for teaching me why my bullets were hitting 2 inches low at 2 car lengths. Now i understand holdover. Most importantly, because of this video, i now know how to shoot accurately. "Love, Peace and Soul"

Well done. Very informative with a nice dose of wisdom imparted at the end..... data / facts really do matter and are essential to zeroing.....and to having constructive conversations as a whole. Keep up the great work!

Thank you for taking the time to make this video . Extremely helpful.wrapping my head around the fact that gravity effects. The bullet right away was helpful. I fly as a hobby so I know that the bullet has zero flight properties. Great info. Thanks from the ATL. Mike.

Excellent presentation with focused content. You've explained the topics at a level of detail so we didn't get lost in the weeds. I'm going to sub and go back 8 episodes and devour them. Thanks for a job well done........

Just watched this for my 3rd time. Always a treat to watch, thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us.

I loved this video.. lots of information .. I had just watched a video about the 36/32yrd zero .. but hie you broke down the yards and Bullet drops at different yards with a standardized zero was very helpful.... i had to subscribe to watch later videos lol... thanks again ..

Ty sir for this new shooter no military experience, really appreciate the knowledge.

This was phenomenal. Great job.

Great info, thank you very much!

This is a man who takes this work extremely seriously.

I just found this tonight by accident. You’re spot on. This was the best video I’ve seen in a very long time.

Excellently presented. I firmly believe one should custom sight each weapon for its task and its ammunition… mission specific. ( former military and current state certified instructor)

Thank you for your service to our country and continued service to our community in your education of safe effective use of their firearms.

M855 and XM193 , I’ve had the flattest trajectory at 36 yrds. (W/noveske 14.5” barrel)Less deviation in point of impact over about a 300 yard range. After that drops pretty quick. Nice info and video. Many variables go into this that people don’t realize

wow, great video! Thank you so much for the information.

Been watching you for a little while very informative thank you very much.

I’m definitely going to check out those books you have on your table.ive been reloading for 8 years and feel like I’ve just scratched the surface. That being said I’m starting to understand much more about what I’m doing.

Great video. Very informative

Very interesting. Thank you.

Thanks this was very informative. A little over a year later since this video and with a dramatic change in ammo cost and availability how do you feel about zeroes in the current state? For instance, I can't go out and just buy the .223 ammo I would like to use but rather I have to settle for something that is close. Then of course my range ammo is different from defense ammo. Again not necessarily by choice, just availability or cost limitations. Do you think having a generalized zero is acceptable right now?

Thanks man, enlightening clip.

That was great info. I am kind of an odd shooter. I use the cheapest ammo I can buy. This way is usually always equally bad. I have my AR's zeroed at 100 yards and can be close to 100 yards ( within a dime sized group). My .308 I hand load but still zero at 100 yards. there again to 100 yards I am of by a dime. my .243 again 100 yards and again within a dime. I have an 8mm Mouser and zeroed at 100 yards. I do this because my property you longest shot would be 100 yards. If I go to another place I know my guns and the ammo and can cover 200 to 400 yards depending on the rifle. Like you I served and used the military method but for my state and the environment I am never going to surpass 400 yards. so I keep it simple. My method works for me. It may not for someone else.

Damn. This was really good. It put a lot into consideration with my new rifle optic and backup sighting. Really big thanks. :) I have a laserlyte bore sighter im using as well. Two different guns. Ruger SR22 and the optic ready M&P15 Sport II.

Great video, thank you!

Do you mind whipping up some sort of sheet we can use with all the information you deem necessary to find our zero that we can fill in and use on our own?

excellent video. Yep quick on the amount of info. But covered very well to understand i have a lot more work to do .. Thanks..

This just makes the point that range days are meant to gather data to refine your understanding of your weapon, optic, and ammo. I've also heard a good philosophy for zeroing is to look to have the smallest poa/poi variance for the practical distance you and your rifle will be shooting at and that requires getting out and testing your equipment at those distances.

Good understanding of ballistics, nice chronograph on background 👌

Anyone else notice the "This documentation is confidential.." warning at the bottom of the data screens? :) Great video by the way. I had one of my new shooters watch this to try to get him to wrap his head around a rifle "Zero".

I'm impressed. Subbed

So I have a 16" barrel with 1/9 twist what do I zero at with a vortex 1×6×24 eagle?????

Hello. I'd like your opinion on something. I had zeroed my rifle with and optic at 100 yards with anticipation of a flatter trajectory from 25 to 100 with little hold over. However, when I fired my rifle at 25, I found that my shots were about 3 inches below from the bullseye. I'd figured if anything at closer ranges my shots would have been high and I'd have to hold lower as I was taught using the 25meter/yard zero that's what's to expect but the opposite happened when it was zeroed for 100. I know there's a lot of factors (ammo, barrel length, etc), but what are thoughts on actual bullet trajectory?

So, every time I buy/find ammo, especially different weights, I have to calculate a new zero? Recently, with the situation, I bought at least 5 different makes/wieghts of 5.56, so what should I do? BTW, I use a scope presently zeroed at 100 yards. TIA

Great video

what do you recommend for a lpvo with a bdc? i realize the manufacturer wants you to zero at a specific distance (usually 100 yards) and then their holdovers are supposed to be "close" at the ranges, but with all the variables it seems like it might actually be better to have a custom zero and be within 3" at 300 yards or so and just ignore the bdc rather than relying on a bdc that might be wildly off depending on the factors.

You should have way more subscribers. Great info.

Thanks for the class...Go Army! Will your optic zero be different fron your hard sights zero?

Hey Green Eye Tactical thanks for a knowledgeable video, very helpful. I believe at 38:24 TSX is Barnes ammo. Thanks again mate. Cheers - Stu 😎

Great info! I enjoy iron sights (while I still can) and my intended target is relatively small and can be located at close to moderately long range. I choose a 36 yard zero so my max bullet rise is about 4” at 200 yards. I like this zero with iron sights because I can lollipop a small target out to 300 yards. The closer the target, the easier it is for me to aim inside my target. At 300 yards I just put the very small target on the front post. At that distance I must confirm it’s really a groundhog and not a clump of dark earth. 😁

I understand, for CQB-work, we used a 100/Yd0, as this would be best, as it gives the tightest grouping from 25/Yds out to 250/Yds (well beyond the range for any working CQB team). If there is anticipated engagement beyond 250/Yds, then a 36/Yd zero would be best, as it produces a tight grouping from 25-300+/Yd’s @ around a 6” spread, slightly larger than the diameter of a CD. ***This is a generalization for any grain 5.56 NATO/7.62x39/.308*** ~Former USMC STA Platoon and US Department of State (CIA), Contractor

I like how you said things like quick video and real quick and short in reference to this video buuuuuut is over an hour long

If I laser bore sight my gun at 25 yards, where should I hit at 100 yards? Will I be low or will I be high at 100 yards.

Thank you for this video🙂🙂👍👍+🤝🤝

Thanks. An Hour and 17 minutes later and I don't have an answer except "it depends". With a 1x6 on a 16" AR-15, would you say 100 yards? Seems like part of the issue would be what one might consider expected distance of engagement more than things like barometric pressure and how many grains the bullet is?

Very well presented with variables to consider and why they play a role. Liked and Subscribed. You and Mountain Mullets Merica should collaborate

Excellent. You certainly have your feces cohesives!! Best way to say ,"Thank you"... Liked & SUBSCRIBED

How fast is a .223 going at 100 and 200 yards, how many yards until it gets to 1000fps? (I have Aquila .22 rnds and wanted to know at which point are these bullets equal?) (55grn .223 vs 60grn .22) ***found it...700 yards is 981fps...***

I chose RIBZ, since it seems like the most practical. On the range I know where 100 yards is, set the disk back 6 clicks from 6/3, then at 6/3 - 6 zero for 100 yards adjusting the front site. At this given distance I then switch to the various number of clicks up and note how close they are to the markings on the drum.. Plus I'm zeroing a 20 inch barrel with the carry handle sight, and standard F-marked front sight. Otherwise, I've always zeroed at 100 yards, using a mildot scope, at the specific location, note the various hold overs for various distances. That's why I love the mildot scope.. There's no fixed BDC's on the reticle so you can always note what the drop is when you zero at specific locations. Of course for a given event the same ammo is used, as was used to zero, and note the hold overs.

My God. Reminds me of asking a engineer what time is it and he tells you how to build a watch !! JMO

I'm a big fan of looking up the ammo ballistics you will be using and type of optic. Just match up the intersection. You can even use shorter ranges to simulate the distance.

So 32yrds is the sweet spot for a “combat zero” ? Will it do the same on a 16” barrel?

Woooo daymnnnn! Lookin good daddy green eye! 😍 Great video!

In the example you used, did you zero the rifle at 32 yd and then determined the drops on the target? Did 32 yd come out from ballistic calculations? Sorry, maybe I missed that in the video. Thanks.

this video is money, thanks for explaining it better.

I'm a fare weather target shooter but now I'm wondering if there is data for foul weather. Just how much does mist, light rain, heavy rain, or snow, effect a bullet at a given range?

Don't forget that for the Santos 36 yard zero, the factory setting for the rear elevation needs to be reset on where it bottoms out. It should bottom out 2 clicks past where factory set it at on the M16a2.

Great video. Without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable and LOGICAL trainers I've ever seen. Can you please add to the comments or link which items we need to purchase in order to create a tailored zero? I have access to AB software and a good rangefinder, I know I need a chronograph and maybe a kestrel meter but what else? THANK YOU AGAIN, INCREDIBLE VIDEO

Dude, great video. I hate all the crazy claims that this certain "magic zero" will keep point of aim at point of impact to 500 yards. Thanks, subscribed.

About half way thru this. Holy flip. Holy tihs. Making coffee Back up 20 to 15 minutes (time index not angle) and continue. Thx so far

What the best to sight in a 30/06? to keep it on up to 300? Thanks

Excellent instructor,Keeps it all straight,a little fast kinda hard to keep up with,if your not on top of everything,good to watch video and return after you get familiar with some terms.but my kinds instructor.

Correct me if im wrong but i could swear 36 yard zero is equal to 300 yard zero. Is it the meters-yards throwing me off?

Have you ever cryogenically treated your barrel ?

Can I get a quick 2hr video on dot size , good info I liked it

If you're an occasional shooter (once a week) and you primarily shoot the same ammo and you really don't have a chrono or radar, how would you go about zeroing? - would you zero at 200 and then work back to find if you're zeroed at 32 or 36? super informative video - thanks for being so through!

Outstanding. Hats off to you for pointing out the LE 50 yrd zero. My agency does that. However most of us who are in a state agency can cover cities (urban) and rural areas. Great point about the large schools and malls. I am baffled by this. Policy is policy and it's in place because it has to be CYA the agency. But we are responsible for every round that goes down range. Should be up to the individual who knows his/her patrol area. Like you pointed out in Texas. What part of Texas? Flat ranch for miles or Dallas? Policing and deadly force via firearms is complicated. Can't just lay down cover and maneuver on the bad guy (99.9% of the time). My agency is just getting around to mounting red dot on our rifles!! I've been qualifying with irons forever. Thank for the video good info and well explained. Felt like I was in training, without falling asleep.....

All I can say is excellent excellent excellent

So basically they should make sights that have maybe 3 saved settings that can quickly be dropped into, kinda like having personalized driver seat settings in a car. You click person 1, 2, or 3 and it moves the seat to that saved position..

For a 36 yard zero, how low are the rounds at 25 yards?

Great video… one comment on the Urban Tap ( I’ve never used it) but it’s my understanding it is designed for LEO in “Urban” areas Ie not shooting at 300 or even 200 yards so it’s performance is not spelled to apples and whom ever brought that ammunition to that venue obviously didn’t know what they were bringing. Mission specific ad you’re definitely award if applies to all things related.

I sighted my M16 dead on at 200 yds with bottom sights. Anything between 300 and 500 yds I'd flip up long range and either aim dead on for 300-400 or shoot for the head at 400-500. Totally contraditive to what USMC was teaching me and it worked for me.

I understand most of what you said and found it very informative. My question is when I zero should I be in prone or is shooting off a table sufficient? Should target height be the same as barrel height?

I want a 2.6 (hob of A2 sites) eventually. Trying to dial it in at 64 (with so many approximated variables I figure guess and check will be the best way to find the zeros that give me that)

When I sight in my Big Game Rifle I use a 8 inch MPBR so with my 6mm Rem so at 100 yards I’m 3 inches high at 200 yards 4 inches high and it’s 1 inch low at 300 yards. For what it’s worth my take is sight in at range, what do I mean above Rifle I go to 300 yards and sight it in there. What I have noticed is even sighting in at 100 yards on the bench you think you are dialed in but go to 300 yards on the bench and it’s not uncommon to be off a few inches off left or right even if you though it was correct at 100 yards, so I feel it’s very important to shoot at distance to know if you really are on. Bad news is you have to wait for a calm day. I do believe in MPBR because for Coyotes I use 3 inches so no higher than 1 1/2 inch. I just picked up a AR15A4 and plan on putting on a LPVO with ACSS reticle and. will sight it in at 300 yards on the correct post and closer will be verified at the 200 and 100 yards.

Holyshit awesome fucking video my man definitely got a new subscriber here

The first sentence I had to pause and come down to the comments. " I just wanted to do a quick video here...". Quick? It's an hour 17 minutes long! Lol.

Thought I own several AR-15s & AR-10s, I'm not a really a "tactical" guy, just an avid rifleman who shoots several calibers from several different rifles in each caliber, in several platforms, chasing the best performance I can get out of each weapon for the sheer fun and technical learning I get from it. Of course I also do it to fill the freezer but in all honesty I've never taken an elk past 115 yards so how fussy does one have to be hit vitals on a critter that large that close? That said I do try to record as much data as possible when I'm working out a load for a certain rifle/optic setup. Weather is a factor that plays heavily, making my data collection less consistent, my work more drawn out in time and rounds. I've never shot at an indoor rifle range which would eliminate the weather variable. As far as I know we've only had one in all of Montana and it didn't last long before the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office bought it out for their sole use leaving the shooting public out in the cold, LITERALLY.. Our tax dollars at work, the purchase wasn't even put up for a vote which caused much resentment in the local shooting community for being shut out on two weeks notice, some losing money on their season passes.. Whining aside, you did a great video here that likely opened many eyes and minds. I congratulate you on your fine work well presented and wish you the very best of success in your business.

Remember, a slower flying bullet gives gravity more time to pull on it. Fast ammo like 5.56 just has less time of flight ✈️ 🙃

RIGHT!!!

If you want a bullet drop compensation function that syncs with the carry handle sight then zreo at 25 meters.

"quick video" look down and see over an hour, and im like "how much time does he need to talk about zeros" watches video, ohhh thats why.... why dosent this video have more views!

I did the 36 300 and so far is accurate enough at 200 to plink off clay pigeons.. so I'm cool with that

49:30. Did you publish that study? I feel that's something for academia, that should be out there. LIke through ALERTT or COPS (DOJ) or something. Great video, a level beyond. Actual science backing it up. I feel that's a big gap in a lot of tactical whatever-shooting, CQB, etc. But at the same time it's then open-source knowledge. It's difficult to weigh up.

So what should I zero my Ar?

Newbie to Ar-15's here and can't decide where to zero, so bear with me...just built my first AR and plan on using irons only (plinking/home defense/protection in a shtf scenario) so realistically will not be shooting at anything beyond 200, worst case. For those of us who don't have chronos or people who shoot a particular ammo because it was on sale in bulk and can't really flip flop between ammo brands, would the following process be viable to get a precise zero for irons? Step 1...zero irons at whatever distance..25, 32, 50, whatever. Step 2..mount a cheap scope, whatever is lying around..and zero that to whatever your irons are zeroed to. Step 3...strap the rifle (safety checked of course) into a lead sled or something of the sort and have a buddy out at 200 set paper (clipped top and bottom, no backer) so the bull is centered in the crosshairs, then again at 150, 100, 50 and zero distance without moving the rifle. Shoot at your close target and you get impact points on all your targets at the same time under the same wind conditions and so on, and can tweak your zero accordingly. Yeah, it's a bit tedious to set up but avoids shooting multiple groups at varying distances under changing weather conditions. Would this be a viable way of doing it or am I pissing into the wind with this idea?