Sighting in an AR 15

[Mohave-Tec]

On my long range bolt rifles I'd set the reticle cross-hairs in the middle of the rifle bore if I could. Setting any sights, scope, red-dot, iron sites etc on an AR is going to be lark in comparison. I understand that.
So, I have an Aimpoint Pro for my 18 in barrel. The red dot is about 3 inches above center bore. With an 18 inch barrel and living in the desert where I'll likely be shooting long as much as short, at what range do I center the red dot? I assume I sight in the BUIS at the same distance? I also have a light and laser combination. I'm still looking for a rail for this combo light/laser but I'm thinking it the laser will be 2.5 inches off the barrel bore. I'm also thinking the laser won't be of much use outside so...at what distance do I sight in the laser? Choices choices choices.

 

[gotigers]

You can sight it in with a zero of 50/200(yard/meter) or 25/300(meter/meter). There are others. The procedure i use is the same with either my AR or bolt. Zero is zero.

For most shooting, I prefer a 50/200 zero. I start by looking down the bore, putting the center of bore and crosshairs/dot on the same point. Then i zero with a few groups at 50 yards. Then i zero at 200 yards (not meters) That will put me within 2" from 15 yards to 230ish yards.

Shooting past 300 yards, i like a 300 yard zero.

Here are a few helpful links. With irons or optics the zeros are set up the same:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/328143_.html

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=208

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=659

 

[Mohave-Tec]

On my deer rifles, the center of the scope and bores are much closer than on the AR so I just set everything at 100 yards. With 3 inches between center of the red dot and center of the bore I was wondering if people sighted in ARs much closer or much further than would a traditional rifle. I would have thought much closer.

It's too hot to go out in the desert today so I did a bore sighting from my living-room. There are two power lines that cross 133 yards from here. I bore sighted on that which gets things close to zero so I won't have to hunt on paper when I get to the range. Bore sighting a red dot is MUCH easier than a scope.

As far as the laser, I just decided to split the longest line-of-sight in my house by half. That way, in my house I won't have to worry about holding over or under when the most it could be is an inch or a tiny bit more.

 

[rcmodel]

I sight in every rifle I own for maximum point blank range.

For an AR-15 shooting 55 grain FMJ, that would be approximately:
1.2" high at 100.
0 at 200.
3" low at 250.

In other words, you don't have to hold over or under out to 250 and the bullet path will not be more then 3" from the POA.

rc

 

[bhk]

On my long range bolt rifles I'd set the reticle cross-hairs in the middle of the rifle bore if I could. Setting any sights, scope, red-dot, iron sites etc on an AR is going to be lark in comparison. I understand that.
So, I have an Aimpoint Pro for my 18 in barrel. The red dot is about 3 inches above center bore. With an 18 inch barrel and living in the desert where I'll likely be shooting long as much as short, at what range do I center the red dot? I assume I sight in the BUIS at the same distance? I also have a light and laser combination. I'm still looking for a rail for this combo light/laser but I'm thinking it the laser will be 2.5 inches off the barrel bore. I'm also thinking the laser won't be of much use outside so...at what distance do I sight in the laser? Choices choices choices.

I sure hope you are just talking about 'bore sighting' before properly sighting in at your desired range with real ammo. It is hard to tell from your post.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

RC, that makes plenty good sense. I used the same logic for the laser this morning.

I've never messed with an AR nor a red dot. When I get a little bit of range time under my belt I will do the same from the red dot. First, I'll want to know what the maximum is I'll be shooting this rifle. I pretty much figure 15/200 yards sense I have other guns better suited for 200/500 and other still for beyond. Then I'll find the median.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking bhk. I generally shoot at an 1700 yard stretch of an old mining road out in the desert but when I sight in brand new optics I always bore sight first. I do a very rough bore site on some crossed power lines at 133 yards from my living room then I'm usually good for paper at the range. I do go to the Clark County shooting range when I have serious measures to do like ranging, chrono and round development and nailing down a new scope but usually I just go to the desert. The park as 200 yard ranges with shuttle service.
The wonderful thing about living in Las Vegas is we've got an Olympic grade shooting range and about 500 million acres of public land to shoot at. No excuses to not do it right.

One of the desert spots - 1700 yards




Clarke County shooting park at the 200 yard range

 

[bhk]

Sounds like you are doing things right.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Oh yeah. I was curious about how you guys might tweak your preferences as they might pertain to an AR, that's all.