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1/8/2014 11:17:05 AM EDT
Hey, I got an Aimpoint Pro for Christmas to go on my Colt LE6920. When I went to my local range I asked about zeroing and an employee actually did it for me free of charge. He zeroed it at 100 yards because I told him that I was going to be using this gun at the range on a regular basis. However, after it was zeroed I seemed to be completely off on my close up shots, but accuracy did improve slightly as I moved the target further back. I put about 300 rounds through the rifle using iron sights only and became proficient with them, before getting the aimpoint. My question is how are you supposed to shoot with a red dot and does it work at all distances or is the optimum distance 100 yards? Thanks.
1/8/2014 12:09:57 PM EDT
[#1]
No optic works at all ranges, they are sighted in for a certain range & then you can dial, hold over, etc but if you sight in for 100 yards you are going to be high at say 50 yards & low at say 200 yards.
1/8/2014 12:53:34 PM EDT
[#2]
remember, you are shooting up at an angle, the RDS is viewing a straight line, and the bullet is coming back down at the POI at 100 yards.
1/8/2014 2:35:57 PM EDT
[#3]
here's a good article with discussion at the end that might help you, if 100 yds is going to be your max, you might do better with a 50yd zero


 
1/8/2014 4:57:20 PM EDT
[#4]
With a 100 zero, you will likely be low all the way up to 100 yards, then low again soon after.  You should not be high at any range with that zero.
1/8/2014 6:33:11 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
With a 100 zero, you will likely be low all the way up to 100 yards, then low again soon after.  You should not be high at any range with that zero.
View Quote


My optic is low all the way out to 100, and then an inch high at 125. starts comming back down after that. 150 is the same hold as 100, then goes lower after that. Mine is zeroed at 100 as well. The dot inside of the sight can be 2" to 3" higher than the bore. All you have to do is shoot those ranges (point blank, 25, 50, 75, etc) and learn your hold overs.
1/8/2014 7:19:49 PM EDT
[#6]
You have to aim above the target at distances closer to your zero distance.   It's basically fast guesswork, but you can assume it's pretty much a straight line from putting the red dot about 2.7" above the actual point of impact (POI) at point blank to put to aiming exactly at your target at your zero distance.  So at 50y for you your dot will be 1.4" above your bullets impact.  At very close distances you really need to think about aiming high or you"ll miss a small target low.

Even with a 50y or 25y zero you still need to remember to aim high at very close ranges.  Most guys don't zero an AR red dot at 100y, but if that's the distance you usually shoot its a perfectly fine thing to zero at 100y.
1/8/2014 10:54:30 PM EDT
[#7]
I am learning more about red dots myself as I just got a Vortex Sparc. I stumbled across this site last night. It has a diagram showing point of impact changes at various distances as well as other useful information.

http://www.thenewrifleman.com/the-rifleman-part-iii-the-ballistics/

Good Luck!
1/10/2014 6:03:10 AM EDT
[#8]
I zero mine 1" low at 25 yards then confirm zero at 50 yards.  Good out to 200 within 2 inches I believe.
1/10/2014 8:11:50 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:
I zero mine 1" low at 25 yards then confirm zero at 50 yards.  Good out to 200 within 2 inches I believe.
View Quote


Me too. I do a 50 yard zero for RDS(and everything else to be consistent). This will keep you + or - 2" POA-POI all the way out to 250 yards. here's a little cheat sheet, some print these out and tape them on there stocks.

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