WTK: Improved Battlesight Zero

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mpthole

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Improved Battlesight Zero

Does anyone currently use this method for zeroing their AR-15 or AR-10? I'm curious to know if its worth it or not. I plan on deer hunting this fall with the -10 and am trying to decide if its worth it or not.
 
I do.

thus far it has worked fine...though I have just zeroed it at the first point of coincidence and done 'unscientific' testing beyond that. I have yet to settle down and rreally officially confirm zero at 200. :uhoh: ...though it looks to be dead on.

Mike
 
Yes I use it.
I have fired many thousands of rounds using it out to 400 meters.
It is taught at Gunsite.
It is taught at Frontsight.

What you need to do is sit down with a ballistics software package. Punch in the numbers and look at the trajectory for yourself. Change your zero on the computer and look at the trajectory of the bullet. You will find that for any given cartridge/load there is one best zero that will give you the flattest tranjectory which of course makes it much easier to hit things without knowing the exact distance to the target. This includes targets near and far. What you want is the zero in which the bullet doesn't rise or fall more than a certain number of inches for the greatest distance. For example, you might say that you want a zero in which the bullet never rises more than 4" above your point of aim. Once you plug in some numbers you will find a distance for your zero in which the bullet doesn't rise more than 4" and then you can see how far away before it drops greater and four inches. The idea here is that you hold center of mass from zero yards out to distance "X" and the bullet will hit within an 8" ciricle (4" high or 4" low). Using that zero, particularly against humans allows you to hold center of mass at pretty much any reasonalbe distance and hit the target COM without having to estimate range.
Once you get done playing around with the software, you will use the IBZ and be confident that it is by far the best zero for the 5.56 cartridge.
 
I've used this zero with a non-elevation adjustable rear sight on a 16" 5.56mm out to 500yds and it is an excellent zero. Couldn't say how it would work on an AR10; but it will work at pretty much any conceivable range you would be firing a 5.56mm at.
 
Just remember that what's "no more than X inches below your line of sight" is the _center_ of your _group_ .

So, imagine the dispersion circle of your ammo at that range and put its center "X inches below your line of sight." You may be surprised at your actual hit probability.

Range estimation remains one of the most critical field skills--right after target acquisition and discrimination, which comes right after having the sense to keep your head down.:p

edited for typo
 
To follow up on a previous statement, what is the name of the software package you recommend? I am not a reloader or cartriage/wildcat designer so most software I have seen were a little too complicated. I tried Shoot and was happy with it but noticed when I changed the barrel length, it didn't change the numbers. I would like something that could guesstimate the info you describe plus account for barrel lengths.
 
this is the first Ive ever heard of this Improved Battlesight Zero but it seems to make sense after reading the article. I think I might give it a try, as the normal zeroing process is a major pita sometimes. Sometimes its done in 9 rounds, other times a lot longer :).
 
The improved BSZ is also almost identical to the hunter's sight-in zero I've heard described for more than 30 years. It was just "2 inches high at 100", said to be close enough to spot-on at 200 to make you good to 250 for those range estimation errors. The benefit was said to be that you're within +2 to -2 from line of sight from 0 to 250, more if you're shooting a Magnum...
 
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