Zeroing Home Defence and Self Defence

[Styx]

I carried an M16A1 in the early ‘70’s for a living - I own two AR’s at present; it seems like crossing some strange boundary to carry it’s likeness around in my neighborhood for SD. I guess if I am anticipating a semi-auto firefight in my neighborhood, I have much, much bigger challenges than what my zero distance should be. Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid shooter and gun owner - this subject just seems very strange to me.

Robberies, murders, and violence can happen anywhere nice neighborhoods included as well as supermarkets, churches, elementary schools, military bases, etc. I won't walk around with an AR pistol on my person, but I do keep one in the trunk of my verhicle. More ammo, easier to be more accurate vs a pistol especially at further distances, and will more likely put down a threat with a hit vs a handgun round in which the overwhelming majority of shooting victims survive from. With that said and if I have the opportunity to deploy it, I don't see anything strange about reverting to an rifle caliber pistol, rifle, or a shot gun for self defense inside or outside of the home.

YMMV... Some feel that it crosses some boundary if you feel the need to own a gun at all let alone carry one in public. That if you're anticipating a gun fight, you should just move to a better neighborhood or dail 911 and let L.E. handle it. That you are a parinoid nut for wanting to own a firearm for self-defense. I'm just greatful that we all have the freedom to make our own choices thanks in part to people like you...

 

[entropy]

50 yd. My AR is not just for in-the-house scenarios. But, in the house, I could just put the micro red dot on the target without the dot turned on, and it would suffice.

 

[Archie]

As usual, I seem to digress.
"Point blank" is the maximum distance one can line up the sights and hit 'the' (whatever one is using) target. For defensive use, I consider that target to be a six inch circle. The 'target' may be more or less as one decides.
I was taught in Marine Corps basic training rifles in combat were to be sighted in for 'battle sight zero'. That is a somewhat elastic figure, is based on the idea of trajectory. The bullet rises (relative to line of sight) to the highest point in the trajectory then falls (relative to line of sight) until it hits the ground. The idea of 'battle sight zero' is the rise and fall of the bullet is the determining data for the sight setting.
For all shots to fall within the assumed six inch circle, one adjusts the sight (either by cranking the elevation adjustment or fiddling with the front sight with a file or such) until a hold on the base of the circle will strike the target at the bottom of the target and as range increases, the strike moves up the target to the top and backs down to the bottom again. When the impact 'bottoms out' on the target, adjust the aim to the top of the target area; subsequent shots will drop down the target until they strike too low to 'count'.
Which means the sights will NOT need moved until that distant point.

A modicum of thought will reveal this distance is much different between a handgun and a rifle. The total range will be shorter for the handgun. Also, low velocity rifle rounds (or loadings) will have a lesser range than higher velocity rounds. Still, a .45 ACP "hardball" round from a Government Model pistol will do this out to at least 60 yards or so.

Please note, this is NOT dependent on shooting at an adversary at extreme distance. With this sight setting, one can be assured of an impact at any distance out to maximum range. Simplifies matters to me.

 

[Steve S.]

Styx, your point is well taken; I guess I don’t see that firepower carry need (yet) and I am somewhat disappointed to find out that I never really ETS’ed out of the jungle - my DD214 says I did but I guess I am still there - that is a really strange boundary.
Anyway, we zeroed at 25 meters on the firing range and I was good out to 300 meter green pop-up silhouettes (hold the head on top of the front sight and the round would drop in nicely every time). I found the platform to be rather accurate and effective - with plenty of firepower.

 

[FL-NC]

I zero at 50 with a RDS. The ballistic rainbow has been covered with this zero. If I am being engaged by someone at 50 yards (or more) -esp if I am in my house- I will return the favor and leave it to my lawyer. For folks that live in the country- particularly those at the most southern parts of our country- having a rifle ready to shoot 50 yards or more (and the skill to send the bullets effectively that far) just seems like a no brainer, whether it is at the ready in the home, on the tractor or 4 wheeler, and so on. Maybe even more so lately. Besides, you never know when you may come across a coyote that needs to be removed.

 

[IdaD]

50/200 - 16" barrel, chambered in 556.

 

[herrwalther]

25 yards. Mostly out of old habit.

 

[md7]

50/200 zero on all 5.56 for me. Little to no holdovers for any likely distance in my area

 

[trackskippy]

This isnt rocket science unless you want it to be.

The key here is to get your zero, and then practicing realistically and how you will likely be shooting from any distance.

Holdover at the closer distances for precision shots, what most consider to be handgun distances, is something you have to understand and why you need to do it. Its not trajectory-related.

 

[entropy]

Technically, it partially is. But a very small part. (As in millimeters.) Mostly it's a consequence of having your sighting system mounted @ 2" above the bore. I see little need to ever have to shoot a precision shot with such a rifle at such close quarters, unless going for a "t" shot on a hostage holder hold that close, which most non-SWAT types will not encounter. And that's what they have precision shooters who are further back, (and train specifically for such shots as well as the long ones) for.

 

[Zerodefect]

I guess that I should clarify. I'd use a 50yd zero if I was a soldier or shooting an AR10.

I use 100y because that's my practical range limit, and beyond that I only need to account for drop. Never have to worry about being high at 80-125 yards.

 

[Riomouse911]

50 yard zero here, this is why:



Central torso strikes can be made out to a fair distance with zero holdover or guesswork needed.

Now the biggest issue I’ve seen investigating rifle shootings at short range with an AR isn’t the zero distance, it is the effect of sight height above the bore at close range. In situations where cops or home defenders have shot behind a low barricade like a car hood/trunk, a short fence or even a kitchen island; the shooter will see the suspect through the sights and fire… but the rounds hit the barricade because the bullets are exiting nearly two inches below the sights.

Stay safe.

 

[briansmithwins]

50 yard zero here, this is why:

View attachment 1019882

Central torso strikes can be made out to a fair distance with zero holdover or guesswork needed.

Now the biggest issue I’ve seen investigating rifle shootings at short range with an AR isn’t the zero distance, it is the effect of sight height above the bore at close range. In situations where cops or home defenders have shot behind a low barricade like a car hood/trunk, a short fence or even a kitchen island; the shooter will see the suspect through the sights and fire… but the rounds hit the barricade because the bullets are exiting nearly two inches below the sights.

Stay safe.

I've seen exactly this happen at our local shoot and move rifle match shooting over cover and shooting to the side of cover. LOS of sight is clear but the muzzle is obstructed.

The usual result is a very confused shooter who isn't seeing hits on target because they are focused on the target, not the intermediate barricade that is deflecting all their bullets.

And that level of target fixation is under the stress of a timer at a friendly match with no prizes.

BSW