One shot zero

[kwelz]

So, in order to save a couple of bucks on ammo when I zero*, I have to drop a bunch of money on other ancillary equipment.

But don't you see. This is revolutionary. 1 Shot zeros will change the world as we know it.*

I think I will stick with 10 shot group for zero. Or 5 if I am in a hurry.

I will say the same thing about this I do with everything else. If you are going to bother to do something, then learn to do it right.














*By giving us a bunch of people with weapons that have no idea where the bullet will hit.

 

[Sky]

Wow think of all the tax payer money the Military could save us if they converted to the one shot zero. We could do away with all the targets at various ranges and a lot of range time laying in the dirt and mud. Could save on cleaning boots and uniforms too!! Bet some guys in far away lands would love us to convert; military could probably get out side sponsors.........ok ok tongue and cheek guys lighten up it was a joke!!

 

[txhoghunter]

If anyone actually uses this system...please tell me so I am a very safe distance away when you are shooting

Honestly, pay the extra buck or two on a few extra rounds to sight in the rifle properly. You owe it to the safety of other people, and ethically you owe it to the animal you are hunting to make a well placed shot the first time....

 

[Pistol Ranch]

So, in order to save a couple of bucks on ammo when I zero*, I have to drop a bunch of money on other ancillary equipment.


*Presuming there is any such thing as a one-shot zero.

Justin:
Some other method includes a cardboard box (available at your local grocers for free)
Of course you probably need a knife to cut slots in the box (or you can use your teeth..also free !!)
You have obviously never tried it so you don't know if it will work or not..another genius in his own mind..

P.R.

 

[jmorris]

What is it with people getting bent out of shape lately? It can work but is not for everyone. Next topic...

 

[Joe Vaquero]

I think the value of this method is in getting rid of the "uuuhh, let's see, 4 clicks up and uuuhh 8 clicks to the right" then fire again and see where you are at. I think some final zeroing would be needed to make me comfortable with where its hitting, but I'm always looking for an excuse shoot more In a nutshell, instead of bringing the poi to your crosshairs you bring your crosshairs to your poi. I don't see what all the controversy is about. Guess I'm too young and dumb

 

[rc109a]

I actually tried this today. I placed my savage 308 on some bags. I fired one shot and then adjusted the sights to the impact point. I was going to leave it at that, but the thought kept coming across my mind...Does it really work. So I fired two more rounds. They were close, but not exactly where I had hoped. I know the gun was steady, but there were other factors at play such as the wind and me. These were new reloads so that might also play a part. I took the rifle out to the hundred yard line and was not happy with the results. It was approx 4" high. I am sure there was a lot more variables working against me. Just thought I would share...

 

[Robert]

another genius in his own mind

Personal attacks are childish and not in keeping with the spirit of THR. While you system might very well work, it would cost more to set up than what the 20 odd rounds would cost for me to do it the old fashioned way.

 

[Justin]

Justin:
Some other method includes a cardboard box (available at your local grocers for free)
Of course you probably need a knife to cut slots in the box (or you can use your teeth..also free !!)
You have obviously never tried it so you don't know if it will work or not..another genius in his own mind..

P.R.

I prefer a decent sling and maybe my range bag when zeroing a rifle. Other than that, I have little use for shooting from the bench.

Rifle marksmanship is, at it's very base, an activity completely and utterly dependent on the ability to produce consistent results. There is no fundamental way to truly know how your rifle performs simply by firing a single shot.

If you are concerned with making hits at distances other than the one you zeroed at, then things are going to get even more complicated because you will need to know how far to hold over at those distances. Certainly one can use a drop table to see what that is, but without actually firing rounds and practicing in order to ingrain that information into your memory, that data becomes useless.

I see that you claim to have used your advocated technique to "zero" a rifle, and then successfully taken a deer with it.

Good for you.

But one anecdotal tale is hardly proof of anything substantial.

I find it tremendously amusing that my advocacy for traditional rifle zeroing practices somehow means I'm a "genius in my own mind."

 

[eddism]

How about using a cartridge laser? Put the dot on your target. Set your scope sights. Don't need to take a shot.

So doing that makes a Zero Shot Zero.

 

[slowr1der]

I've got a buddy that does this sort of. He shoots his rifles at 60 yards, and he takes one shot. See's where it hits, adjust the crosshairs to the bullet poi. Then he will take another shot to see if it's close. If it's close to where he wants to hit he leaves it alone. He likes to sight in 2" high at 60 yards as he hunts mostly at 100-120, and he figures that it should be dead on at those ranges. However, I've found when trying to zero at 50 yards and then shoot at 100 yards, the bullet usually isn't 2" higher at 100 than at 50. So I highly doubt his rifles hit anywhere near where he expects them to at 100 yards, but I can't verify that for sure as I've never shot them at 100. I'm also not super confident in this, because what if you pulled that shot and all the others are going to hit somewhere else? Or what if as said above it's a 2moa rifle and that bullet is on the outside edge of the group? I'm just not comfortable enough to take 1 shot, make adjustments then go hunting.

 

[kwelz]

LOL @ Eddism. Good point. I think I will do one better. Just look down the barrel and see where it is pointing. Then put the crosshairs on that. Should be about as accurate.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

If you look closely, there is another thread on HR where the shooter took 39 shots to get "zeroed".
One shot short of two full boxes
Question is "How did he know he was there with shot #39" ??

Thats the guy that I don't want anywhere near me when I am hunting.

P.R.

 

[kwelz]

So wait. You don't want a guy near you hunting who took the time and expense to make sure his rifle was zeroed as perfectly as possible? I have fired that many rounds to Zero before. It is called doing things the right way.

The more I see posted the more I am thinking Troll or 16 year old kid.
Either way you have a lot to learn.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

kwelz..
We certainly have a difference of opinion on doing things the "right way"
Maybe we need a poll on how many shots it takes to get zero'd.
If it takes you 39 shots (or more) to achieve a satisfactory zero, how do you know you are there ????

P.R.

 

[heeler]

If it takes someone 39 shots to zero a rifle there must be issues with the scope/rings/base mounting or someone is a heavy duty flincher.
I could understand 5-10 shots at the very,very most but certainly not 39!!
Unless your having equipment issues and have experience shooting a rifle,and you should if you are heading into the field to shoot a living breathing animal capable of feeling pain,then most should have little problems sighting in a hunting rifle in 3-5 rounds.
I wont even comment on the one round approach.

 

[Abel]

Pistol Ranch. You are not going to sell this.

The one shot zero!!!! Yes!!!!! It works!!!!! Save shells!!!! Save time!!!!!!! Its awesome!


(Laughin')

 

[Pistol Ranch]

Abel:
I am not trying to "sell" anything. If you look at the original post, I said that it is possible to zero a rifle with one shot.
I have done it with a hunting rifle (not a benchrest rifle being readied for a match)
You would be surprised at the number of P.M.'s I have recieved from HR members that use the "One Shot" method..
Then, there are others who prefer to shoot many more times before they are happy with the result..
Decisions, decisions

P.R.

 

[Justin]

I am not trying to "sell" anything. If you look at the original post, I said that it is possible to zero a rifle with one shot.

As I previously stated, marksmanship deals with one's ability to make hits at distance with measurable repeatability.

You cannot suggest that it's possible to measure either your or your rifle's abilities to make repeatable, accurate hits simply by firing a single shot without expecting people to cry foul.

Also, I find it peculiar that there are people who are sending you PMs, but don't want to actually share their experiences with the rest of the membership here.

 

[kwelz]

39 shots is only 4 groups. Well 1 round short of 4 groups actually. So it isn't that out there.

PR. Please. Share these PMs. And while you are at it how about sharing your qualifications.

 

[AK103K]

I have a question.

Ignoring the one shot zero thing here for a minute, if you mount the gun in the lead sled, and shoot it once, see that youre on paper, somewhere, then shoot it again, without touching anything but the action to load the next round (even very carefully), will the second shot go "exactly" where the first shot did?

If it didnt, how will or can the "adjusted" zero make it happen?

Im not buying you can lock the gun in a vise and not have it move under recoil. If somehow you can, then you have to be interfering with the guns harmonics when fired.

Im suspecting that what some call "accurate", aint.

 

[AK103K]

Oh, and as far as taking a few (or more) rounds to zero, thats whats called "chasing" your zero whle adjusting your sights.

Iron sights, SAR1 AK, 200 yards, Wolf 154 grain SP's (sorry, Im old, and cant see the holes at 200 yards to do the one shot zero thing).....



Bottom group, zero confirmed from a rest, the group above, shot from cross legged sitting position, at a steady cadence.

 

[Pistol Ranch]

The reason that folks send P.M.'s is that they are private so I will not share them..
For the record:
1. I am 75 years old (not 16)
2. I am not a troll
3. I am a gunsmith and operated a business called "Guntuner". My specialty was accurizing hunting rifles.
4. I own a substantial collection of pre-64 Winchesters
5. I have been reloading since the 1960's
6. If you have any doubt about my abilty to do as I say/post, P.M me when you are in the Houston area for a demo.You pay the range fee.
7. I CCW
The ball is in your court..

P.R.

 

[MCMXI]

Maybe we need a poll on how many shots it takes to get zero'd.

I used six rounds this past Sunday to "zero" a Mark 4 that I mounted to an AR15 using a LaRue QD LT-104 mount. The scope had been zeroed on one of my .308 Win rifles so I figured it'd be close on windage, but elevation was anyone's guess. I didn't bother to bore sight and the first shot was 4.5 mils low and 1.5 mils right at 100 yards! The second shot was with the first so I made a correction, took two more shots, made another correction and that was good enough with two hits in the center of the target. I could have done it in three or even two since I was close after the first correction.

 

[Geno]

Pistol Ranch said:

1. I am 75 years old (My impression, you're a kid-at-heart)
2. I am not a troll (My impression, noted, and believed)
3. I am a gunsmith and operated a business called "Guntuner". My specialty was accurizing hunting rifles. (My impression, I'm envious)
4. I own a substantial collection of pre-64 Winchesters (My impression, I hate you because I'm envious!!!!!)
5. I have been reloading since the 1960's (My impression, you're a smart man)
6. If you have any doubt about my abilty to do as I say/post, P.M me when you are in the Houston area for a demo.You pay the range fee. (My impression, I would be honored to shoot with you next time I come to your area, and I'll pay both fees)
7. I CCW (My impression, good choice...so do I)

Geno