Side focus 10X42, gunshow purchase NIB with no manual. Mounted it on my AR-10 A4 and am ready to take it to the range to zero it in.

I have read up on the mildot reticle and understand how it works, but I am not sure how I want to set the zero. I shoot mostly at 100yds. and there is no easy access to somewhere that I can shoot from 500-800yds. Opportunities to shoot 200-500yds. occur infrequently.

Should I set the 100yd. zero using the uppermost dot and learn to use the other dots for holdover by trial and error?

Should I use the center of the reticle to zero at 100yds. and use the hash marks under the turret caps to dial in longer distances? Is that what the calibration marks under the turret caps are for?

Sorry if these sound like stupid questions, but I seek enlightenment.

Still confused.

Any suggestions of a helpful nature?

here's a link to "pointblank". it is a ballistics software program. You input the needed data and it calculates you bullet drop.

Also available is "Infinity" by Sierra Bullets.

Pointblank is freeware
Infinity is not

http://www.huntingnut.com/pointblank.html


Here's another link I found with more info on ballistics programs.

http://66.14.197.40/ballistics/index.html

good luck

mike

Thanks for the links. I scanned them briefly and bookmarked them for later consumption.

I ended up using the crosshairs for my 100yd. zero. I can always change it later if I wish.

[url=http://www.swfa.com/mildot/1_5.jpg]This[/url] is what started me wondering how I want to set up the scope. In the illustration, the scope is set for a 500yd. zero with ranging out to 850yds.

Since most of my shooting is at 100yds., I don't want to set it up quite like that, because then I would be using the base of the top post as my crosshair. I was thinking of zeroing at 100yds. using the top dot, and adjusting holdover acordingly.

I'm also thinking there is an easy way to dial in the correct elevation adjustment using the calibration marks under the turret cap, but I don't know how to use them.

here's another link.

It's "shooter ready". A Mil-Dot shooting simulation/training cd. very informative

http://www.shooterready.com/

mike

That is fun, and it looks like it will help me learn range estimating. Thanks a lot!