At what distance do you set your CQB sight at? - Page 2

Mike38 · August 11, 2013, 11:01 AM

My Saiga 223 (AK) is zeroed at 100 yards. I figure if I aim center of mass, I can hit anything from zero to 200 yards.

My handguns are zeroed at 25 yards, should be good from zero to 50 yards.

A human sized Silhouette is a real big target when you stop and think about it. Plus or minus a couple inches is just fine.

Bartholomew Roberts · August 11, 2013, 11:26 AM

Realistically, with the height over bore of the AR, there is only so much you can do. At short ranges, even with the sights cranked, you are still going to have holdover. So rather than have a zero that is useful only in a very narrow range and then still have holdover worries, I just use a 50yd zero and holdover for close range shots.

Striker1 · August 11, 2013, 02:09 PM

100 yds or meters for me. I believe it gives me a good trajectory out to 300 yds or so and isn't much trouble for close distances.

Bake · August 11, 2013, 02:30 PM

I zero my rifles for 200 yds., my handguns for 25 yds. and I pattern my shotguns at 22 yds & 36 yds (not the usual 30).

This will cover the "A" zone pretty well...

Metal god · August 11, 2013, 02:39 PM

If you zero that 40 cal at 25yds you will have point blank accuracy out to 75yds . At the muzzle you will be 2" low 25yds to 50yds it will be dead on , 75yds it will be 2" low again , 100yds it will be 6" low . After that the bullet really starts to drop fast

rickyrick · August 12, 2013, 09:32 AM

I guess I'd say about fifty yards incase of a rabid raccoon attack.

In my self defense range, not going to matter much

Theohazard · August 12, 2013, 10:00 AM

Jim243, don't use frangible ammo for self-defense. Frangible .223 ammo is designed to fall apart when it hits a hard surface, but it doesn't always work as well when it hits a softer surface like drywall or the human body.

If you want maximum fragmentation with excellent effectiveness, go with V-Max ballistic-tipped hollow points. These will start to fragment the moment they hit anything. You'll still have enough velocity to penetrate in the body, but these rounds will penetrate through walls less than almost any handgun or even shotgun load. I like 55 gr. V-Max .223 for my home-defense AR.

Metal god · August 12, 2013, 12:09 PM

I was just running some numbers through my ballistic calc for the AR with a 55gr bullet at 3000fps. IMHO If you want the best zero for home defense , the 100yd zero is best . Like what was said above . There is NO way to make up for your barrel being below the optic or sights with said sight . No matter where your zero is the bullet will leave the barrel 1.75" to 2" below the sights . Knowing this to be true a 100yd zero will be 1.75" low at the muzzle . dead on at 100yds and 1.75" low again at 175yds . That gives you an extreme spread of 1.75" all the way to 175yds . In contrast the 25yd zero would put you 3.5" high at 100yds with an extreme spread of 6" out to 300yds . A 25 foot zero would put you some where around 12" to 16" high at 100yds and the extreme spread would not even be worth talking about .

So it looks to me that for HD/SD the 100yd zero is best for your AR .

Boomer58cal · August 12, 2013, 12:47 PM

I voted for some other distance.

My hunting rifles are generally sighted in for maximum point blank range. Roughly 2 inches high at 100 yrds depending on the trajectory of the cartridge. This means out to your maximum point blank range you'll be either a few inches high or a few inches low. Not enough to matter on anything bigger then a coyote.

My long range rifles are generally sighted in for 200 yards and I use either a BDC or mil dot for compensation. I generally don't shoot over 500 yards so I don't spin dials much.

My SKS is sightd in for 200 yards is only a hair low at 25 yards and is 3.5 high at 100.

The only time I would sight in for 25 yards is if I was never going to shoot over that distance.

Boomer

Dr Big Bird PhD · August 12, 2013, 02:48 PM

I clicked 25 feet instead of 25 yards, whoops

But yeah my irons are at 50 yards, optic at 25 yards

Ridgerunner665 · August 12, 2013, 11:01 PM

100 yards

iraiam · August 13, 2013, 09:27 PM

My CQB rifle is zeroed at 25 meters (I voted 25 yards) with the standard 25 meter battle zero target.

I have other AR rifles that are zeroed farther out.

KyJim · August 15, 2013, 02:10 PM

My AR is set for 50 yards (mistakenly hit 25 of the poll). With m193 and m855 ammo, it will should also hit close to zero at 200 meters. Along the path, the bullet should be within two inches from line of sight up to 250 meters or so. So, practically, a 50 yard zero means you can shoot point of aim/point of impact out to at least 200 yards if using an AR-15 for defensive purposes.

Notice I use the term "should" because I seldom shoot further than 100 yards with it. It is a bit high at 100 yds and a bit low at 25 yds, just as would be expected. See http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=599 for more details.

Here's a nice chart showing the trajectory posted at http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=63618:

Justice06RR · August 15, 2013, 10:57 PM

I'm usually zeroed at 25/300yards for my AR.

Anything under 25yards should be right on target anyway. at longer distances then you can compensate for elevation.

View Poll Results: What distance do you set your CQB sights at?
25 Feet	2	4.08%
50 Feet	1	2.04%
25 Yards	13	26.53%
50 Yards	22	44.90%
Some other distance, please explain	11	22.45%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

August 11, 2013, 02:09 PM	#28
Striker1 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: TX Posts: 710	100 yds or meters for me. I believe it gives me a good trajectory out to 300 yds or so and isn't much trouble for close distances. Last edited by Striker1; August 11, 2013 at 02:14 PM.

August 11, 2013, 02:39 PM	#30
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	If you zero that 40 cal at 25yds you will have point blank accuracy out to 75yds . At the muzzle you will be 2" low 25yds to 50yds it will be dead on , 75yds it will be 2" low again , 100yds it will be 6" low . After that the bullet really starts to drop fast __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

August 12, 2013, 09:32 AM	#31
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I guess I'd say about fifty yards incase of a rabid raccoon attack. In my self defense range, not going to matter much __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

August 12, 2013, 10:00 AM	#32
Theohazard Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2012 Location: Western PA Posts: 3,829	Jim243, don't use frangible ammo for self-defense. Frangible .223 ammo is designed to fall apart when it hits a hard surface, but it doesn't always work as well when it hits a softer surface like drywall or the human body. If you want maximum fragmentation with excellent effectiveness, go with V-Max ballistic-tipped hollow points. These will start to fragment the moment they hit anything. You'll still have enough velocity to penetrate in the body, but these rounds will penetrate through walls less than almost any handgun or even shotgun load. I like 55 gr. V-Max .223 for my home-defense AR. __________________ 0331: "Accuracy by volume."

August 11, 2013, 11:01 AM	#26
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	My Saiga 223 (AK) is zeroed at 100 yards. I figure if I aim center of mass, I can hit anything from zero to 200 yards. My handguns are zeroed at 25 yards, should be good from zero to 50 yards. A human sized Silhouette is a real big target when you stop and think about it. Plus or minus a couple inches is just fine.

August 11, 2013, 11:26 AM	#27
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Realistically, with the height over bore of the AR, there is only so much you can do. At short ranges, even with the sights cranked, you are still going to have holdover. So rather than have a zero that is useful only in a very narrow range and then still have holdover worries, I just use a 50yd zero and holdover for close range shots.

August 11, 2013, 02:30 PM	#29
Bake Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Location: San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Posts: 482	I zero my rifles for 200 yds., my handguns for 25 yds. and I pattern my shotguns at 22 yds & 36 yds (not the usual 30). This will cover the "A" zone pretty well...

August 12, 2013, 12:09 PM	#33
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	I was just running some numbers through my ballistic calc for the AR with a 55gr bullet at 3000fps. IMHO If you want the best zero for home defense , the 100yd zero is best . Like what was said above . There is NO way to make up for your barrel being below the optic or sights with said sight . No matter where your zero is the bullet will leave the barrel 1.75" to 2" below the sights . Knowing this to be true a 100yd zero will be 1.75" low at the muzzle . dead on at 100yds and 1.75" low again at 175yds . That gives you an extreme spread of 1.75" all the way to 175yds . In contrast the 25yd zero would put you 3.5" high at 100yds with an extreme spread of 6" out to 300yds . A 25 foot zero would put you some where around 12" to 16" high at 100yds and the extreme spread would not even be worth talking about . So it looks to me that for HD/SD the 100yd zero is best for your AR . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

August 12, 2013, 12:47 PM	#34
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	I voted for some other distance. My hunting rifles are generally sighted in for maximum point blank range. Roughly 2 inches high at 100 yrds depending on the trajectory of the cartridge. This means out to your maximum point blank range you'll be either a few inches high or a few inches low. Not enough to matter on anything bigger then a coyote. My long range rifles are generally sighted in for 200 yards and I use either a BDC or mil dot for compensation. I generally don't shoot over 500 yards so I don't spin dials much. My SKS is sightd in for 200 yards is only a hair low at 25 yards and is 3.5 high at 100. The only time I would sight in for 25 yards is if I was never going to shoot over that distance. Boomer __________________ The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help Last edited by Boomer58cal; August 12, 2013 at 12:53 PM. Reason: Typo

August 12, 2013, 02:48 PM	#35
Dr Big Bird PhD Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 779	I clicked 25 feet instead of 25 yards, whoops But yeah my irons are at 50 yards, optic at 25 yards __________________ I told the new me, "Meet me at the bus station and hold a sign that reads: 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life.'" But the old me met me with a sign that read: "Welcome back." Who you are is not a function of where you are. -Off Minor

August 12, 2013, 11:01 PM	#36
Ridgerunner665 Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2007 Location: Upper East Tennessee Posts: 477	Re: At what distance do you set your CQB sight at? 100 yards

August 13, 2013, 09:27 PM	#37
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,057	My CQB rifle is zeroed at 25 meters (I voted 25 yards) with the standard 25 meter battle zero target. I have other AR rifles that are zeroed farther out. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

August 15, 2013, 02:10 PM	#38
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	My AR is set for 50 yards (mistakenly hit 25 of the poll). With m193 and m855 ammo, it will should also hit close to zero at 200 meters. Along the path, the bullet should be within two inches from line of sight up to 250 meters or so. So, practically, a 50 yard zero means you can shoot point of aim/point of impact out to at least 200 yards if using an AR-15 for defensive purposes. Notice I use the term "should" because I seldom shoot further than 100 yards with it. It is a bit high at 100 yds and a bit low at 25 yds, just as would be expected. See http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=599 for more details. Here's a nice chart showing the trajectory posted at http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=63618:

August 15, 2013, 10:57 PM	#39
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,360	I'm usually zeroed at 25/300yards for my AR. Anything under 25yards should be right on target anyway. at longer distances then you can compensate for elevation.