What is a respectable distance (with a red dot) to find how your AR shoots?

[Jitterbug]

I find that with a red dot you can't really find out how well your ar will shoot. All you can find out is how well you shoot with a red dot.

To a degree I agree.

However, I've found that using a 4 MOA red dot at 50 yards with a black bull were I center the red dot equidistant in the center, my results have been the same as with a scope. This is off a bench.

At least with about 6-7, 5-shot groups, this surprised the heck out of me and I admit it may have been a coincidence?

But, since I agree with the above statement I don't shoot "groups" any more with the Red Dot.

For checking load accuracy with that particular AR, I pop the red dot off and mount a Leopold 4.5 x 14 in a Larue mount dedicated for just this purpose, when done I put the Red Dot back on and double check for zero...it's usually close.

Right now I'm using an inexpensive Vortex Strikefire, saving my penny's for a better one in the future and it will be 2MOA at most.

 

[Aaron2091]

Ok so simple answer.....100 yds any less that 4.2 inch group and you are shooting at the max capablitiy of your sight to gauge accuracy.

 

[CraigC]

First off, dot size has very little to do with the ability to shoot accurately. As said, using a properly sized target will allow any dot size to be accurate. Go look at the guys shooting iron sights in highpower. Maybe you'll lose the last few tenths of an inch, but with proper targets you would be surprised how accurately you can shoot a nonmagnified rifle.

Exactly!

 

[henschman]

When you're shooting for accuracy, you are measuring your groups in MOA, which is a measure of angle... so it doesn't really matter what distance you shoot them at. A 1 MOA group is a 1 MOA group no matter whether it is at 25m or 300 yards. Of course a 1 MOA group will measure 1/4" at 25m, and 3" at 300 yards. And of course your zero will be different for different ranges... but you didn't ask what range you should zero at -- which is the question a lot of people are trying to answer -- you just asked what distance you should test marksmanship at.

I would not recommend doing it any less than 25 yards/meters. The people who developed the 1000 inch and later the 25m targets for the military used that distance because it is about the shortest distance at which the bullet is fully stabilized after leaving the barrel. Anything that far or farther will be fine.

As others have said, it really helps if your target is wider in MOA than your dot. If your dot is smaller than your target, it is hard to tell whether the dot is perfectly centered on the target. Oh well, red dots weren't made for shooting small or distant targets... they were made for putting rounds center mass at close range. So shoot at a target that is over 4 MOA at whatever distance you place it at.

 

[blackops]

but you didn't ask what range you should zero at -- which is the question a lot of people are trying to answer -- you just asked what distance you should test marksmanship at.

Some people have higher reading comprehension levels. You are in the top percentage.

Thanks all for the advice. I think I'm going to keep it at 80 yds with an "6 plate painted white. I'll post the new rifle and the groupings this weekend.

 

[230therapy]

I do 25, 50 and 100 yards. I shoot five round groups and try for repeatability. Even if the point of impact is off, if I'm getting the same results between two groups, I have confirmed that either the sight is off and/or I'm repeating the same mistake.

If you try to shoot through the CENTER of the dot, your groups will wander about and probably open up. If you zero the sight for the very TOP EDGE of the dot, you can get pretty tight groups.

 

[longdayjake]

Let me clarify my statement. What I was trying to say is that a red dot scope will most likely not be able to tell you the full ability of your rifle. Learning how to use and shoot a very expensive and powerful scope will help you find out for sure what your rifle is capable of. Either that or put it in a vise that cannot move at all. Also, trying several loads with different grain bullets and different powders with that really expensive scope will probably help you find the very best your gun can do. A red dot is for fast shooting and relatively accurate for how fast you are doing it. Its not for extreme accuracy.

















Okay I guess you dont need an expensive scope. But it sure helps.

 

[bbuddtec]

Im just gonna say, your rifle can be more accurate than your dot... zero at 250 and most likely all your shots will be covered by the red.

 

[Beentown]

W.E.G.

I would like to have a chart like the one you posted (bullet path table) for other calibers for teaching purposes. Where would I find it?

Thanks in advance,

Beentown

 

[blackops]

Im just gonna say, your rifle can be more accurate than your dot

I agree.