You are target practicing with your red dot sight; you aim and fire. But your bullet doesn’t land where you wanted it to. Why’s that? You say to yourself.
After all, you aimed perfectly, but the bullet didn’t land where you wanted it to.
This is because our point of impact does not always match our point of aim.
To fix this problem, many pro shooters zero their red dot sight. Zeroing your red dot means adjusting it so your bullet always hits where you intend it to. It includes modifying it to such an extent that it becomes as accurate as possible.
However, it is important to know that zeroing your red dot doesn’t mean you’ll never miss. It just means that your shots will land where you intend them to.
In this article, I will teach you how to zero your red-dot sight so you can improve your aim and hopefully never miss another shot. So without further ado, let’s get started.
How To Zero A Red Dot Sight?
MOA plays an important part in zeroing a red dot sight. So, before moving on to the actual zeroing process, it’s essential to learn what MOA is.
What Is MOA?
Simply put, MOA is a minute of angle, and it is equal to 1/60th of a degree. The size of your dot determines the MOA, which impacts the distance your bullet will travel. Generally, a 1 Moa red dot is 1 inch at 100 yards. The value of 1 Moa in inches changes when the distance changes. For example, if 1 MOA is 1 inch at 100 yards, it will equal 0.5 inches at 50 yards.
Step-By-Step Process Of Zeroing A Red Dot
Zeroing your red dot sight is important if you want to aim as accurately as possible. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can do this:
1. Learn To Convert Inches To MOA
The first step to zeroing your red dot sight and reaching pinpoint accuracy is learning how to convert inches to MAO. It is important because it can help you adjust your aim and shoot accurately.
To convert inches to MOA, divide the number of inches by the number of minutes of arc in one degree. For example, if your bullet drops 10 inches wide from your target at 100 yards and you want to know how many MOA that is, divide 10 by 60 to get 0.167 MOA. And adjust your red dot accordingly.
Let’s learn this by example. Say your target is 75 yards from you, and your shots land 3 inches below the target’s center. Here is how you would convert this difference in inches to MOA:
3/(75/100) = 4 MOA
2. Set Up Your Red Dot Sight On Your Firearm
You should be in a position that is as close to the real world as possible. It means that you should be standing and not lying down, positioned in a way that you would be positioned during an actual shooting scenario, and wearing your full gear. It is important because if you do not zero your red dot sight in a real-world position, you will not be able to accurately aim your firearm when using your red dot sight in the field.
3. Adjust The Position Of Your Red Dot Sight
The first step in zeroing your red dot sight is to adjust the position of your red dot sight so that the red dot is positioned in the center of the crosshairs. You can do this by adjusting the screws on the red dot sight itself.
4. Start Firing At A Target
Once the red dot is positioned in the center of the crosshairs, it is time to start firing at a target. Start by firing a target at 25 yards. Fire 3-5 shots, and then check your target to see where your shots landed.
5. Make Adjustments To Your Red Dot
If your shots are not hitting the center of the target, then you will need to adjust the position of your red dot. You can adjust the elevation and windage screws on the red dot sight. The elevation screw is the up/down adjustment in your red dot sight. You will want to adjust the elevation screw if your shots hit lower or higher than the point of aim.
On the other hand, if your shots are going far off right or far off left, you will want to adjust the windage screw, aka the left/right adjustment. Once the red dot is in the center of the crosshairs, you should start seeing your shots hit the center of the target.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until your shots consistently hit the target’s center. Once it happens, you have successfully zeroed your red dot sight.
Conclusion
If you are frustrated with your bullets not going where you want them to, then you should try to zero your red dot sight as it improves accuracy.
However, it is important to remember that zeroing your sight doesn’t mean you’ll never miss. You will still need to work hard and practice a lot to reach pinpoint accuracy.
Following the steps mentioned in this article to zero your red dot sight, you will never have to go through the mental agony of your shots not landing at the correct position.
You can now have effective training sessions and take the first step to improve your aim and reach pinpoint accuracy.
FAQs
What should I look for in a red dot sight?
There are a few things to look for in a red dot sight:
- Brightness: Make sure the sight is bright enough to see in all lighting conditions.
- Reticle: Choose a reticle that is suitable for your needs.
- Durability: Ensure that the sight is durable and can withstand recoil.
How far do red dot sights work?
A standard red dot sight without magnification allows you to aim at targets up to 100 yards.
What is a red dot sight good for?
A red dot sight is good for several things. You can use it for target acquisition, tracking a target, and aiming. You can also use it with a laser sight to help with aiming.
Is a red dot sight better than a scope?
A red dot sight is not necessarily better than a scope, but it can be more user-friendly. Scopes can be more accurate, but they can also be more difficult to use.
Do red dot sights work at night?
Red dot sights typically do not work at night but are designed for use in low-light conditions.
Why put a red dot on a pistol?
People put red dot sights on their pistols for many reasons. Some put it for added visibility in low-light situations, some put it for aesthetics, and some put it on their pistol to indicate that it is loaded and ready to fire.
Which is better, laser sight or red dot sight?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the individual’s preferences. Some people may prefer laser sights because they offer a more precise aiming point, while others may prefer red dot sights because they are easier to acquire a target. Ultimately, it is up to the shooter to decide which type of sight works best for them.
