Red dots on handguns zero distance

[American_Fusilier]

Hey guys,

I picked up a PSA Dagger (9mm) with an rmr optic cut and I'm going to get a red dot for it.

What distance should I zero my dot at? I was thinking 7-10 yards.

Any pros or cons for zeroing at a certain distance?

This gun will mainly be used for idpa, but also a backup defensive gun.

What distance do you guys have your handgun red dots zeroed for?

I'm new to optics on handguns. Any wisdom you guys can offer would be awesome!

 

[DMW1116]

I zero mine at 25 yards but I’m shooting bullseye pistol. That said they shoot about an inch low at 10 yards and start to go low beyond 25 yards. For 50 yards I hold on the top of a 5.5” circle and 90% of my shots will be below that in an 8” circle.

Be sure to zero the way you’ll shoot. If I zero at that distance on a rest, my POI changes when I change to two hands and changes a lot when I change again to one hand (bullseye is shot with one hand).

 

[Telekinesis]

I zero my dot at 10 yards and then confirm windage at 25 (but leave elevation alone).

With a 10 yard zero the bullets will impact about 1-2” high at 25. I shoot USPSA (not IDPA) but if you hold at the bottom of the head A box, your bullets should land right in the middle of the head A zone at 25.

I think 10 yards is perfect for this type of shooting. Our matches occasionally have long range steel and I haven’t had any issues hitting plates at 45 yards without needing to hold over. Silhouette steel at 50 yards is easy with no holdover, 100 isn’t too tough by holding on the head and dropping rounds into the center, and 150 is doable by holding a bit over the target. It takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you’ve used irons for a long time, but you’ll be surprised what is possible once you get used to shooting with an optic.

Also, zero the gun while standing using your normal 2 handed shooting stance. As mentioned above, the zero will change moving from a rest to offhand. You’ll also probably want to confirm your zero when changing ammo, just like you would with a rifle. My zero usually changes by several inches (at 10 yards) when I change ammo brands.

 

[DMW1116]

To be fair I should probably try two handed shooting at 25 and 50 yards more often. That’s the standard distances for bullseye. I’d have a better idea of where shots go, and it certainly won’t get any worse compared to one hand.

 

[12Bravo20]

I zero most of mine at 25 yards even with my EDC pistols.

 

[Buzznrose]

I like a 15 yard zero on my handguns. But I don’t know about a hard fast rule.

Honestly, the reason for that is because all I’d seen online was 10 yards and 25 yards and both made sense so I kinda split the difference.

 

[12Bravo20]

10 and 25 yards are the most popular distances to sight in a pistol mounted red dot. I do have my G43 sighted in at 10 yards but most are sighted in at 25 yards. I do a lot of shooting at 25 yards and play around with shooting farther with my full size pistols and decided to sight in most of my EDC red dots at the same distance.

No matter what distance you choose to sight your red dot in at, make sure to shoot at other distances so you know where the bullets will impact. And make sure to get out and practice.

I suggest getting some clay birds and try shooting at different distances if your range allows it. It is fun to hit clay birds at 50 yards or more with a pistol.

 

[Jim Watson]

JBM says a 10 yard first crossing zero with a 9mm will be not over half an inch high at 30 yards, second crossing about 42 yards, half an inch low at 50 yards.

 

[.38 Special]

I sighted my one dot-equipped defensive gun for 50 yards. My reasoning was that I put together the gun and sight as a response to mass shooters wearing body armor, so I want to be able to make head shots at distance. At closer range, more typical for fights, it's less important that the gun be sighted perfectly, because speed becomes more important.

 

[Ks5shooter]

10 yd for me.

 

[herrwalther]

See what it is zeroed at from the factory. Throw it on and see where it shoots. I only had to do minor adjustments to my Holosun because I shoot 124gr +p ammo. At 25 yards it was very close to where I was aiming before I ever adjusted it.

 

[doubleh]

Zero it for the distance you plan to do the most of your shooting at.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Per Gabe Suarez:

With a 10 yard zero using most full powered ammo, [red dot] sights are good for face shots from contact distance out to 25 yards, and body shots out from that regardless of the ammunition type or bullet weight.

 

[American_Fusilier]

Per Gabe Suarez:

With a 10 yard zero using most full powered ammo, [red dot] sights are good for face shots from contact distance out to 25 yards, and body shots out from that regardless of the ammunition type or bullet weight.

Perfect! Thanks for the info!