Improved Battlesight Zero for the M4/M16/AR15

This used to be an HTML how-to guide hosted by the Maryland AR15 Shooters site but the document was missing the last time I tried to search for it. So I revived a copy that I had saved, cleaned it up in MS Word and then saved it back off as an Adobe PDF file.

You can download it directly from this post.


Summary:

1.The current 300 meter battlesight zero is a function of the sights on the rifle and I personally find it shoots too high for the vast majority of combat targets, including the Army's qualification ranges. The procedure listed here takes better advantage of the flat trajectory of these rifles as well as the use of civilian ranges, which are seldom surveyed in meters.

2.When zeroed at 200 meters, a distance twice that of normal combat engagements, these rifles have a very flat trajectory that is less then 2" from line of sight at all intermediate distances; a distance that's smaller than the normal dispersion of arsenal or factory loaded ammunition. This tiny trajectory arc allows very precise shooting out to 250 meters where the bullet is only 2" below line of sight.

3.A 200 meter zero has the happy coincidence of an initial trajectory cross-over at 50 yards, a distance available on almost all civilian ranges including many indoor ranges. This makes it easy to achieve a 200 meter battlesight zero without recourse to surveying your own range. If 200 meters is available you can fine-tune the zero at the real distance. And should when you get the chance.

The lowest sight setting, however, on these sights is 300 meters so the sight needs to be modified to preserve the markings on the sight

Good info.There ia also an excellent article about the battle sight zero in the current issue of SWAT magazine.

Pat Rogers has an article a few months that discussed Zeroing at 50 yrds or meters..

Thanks for sharing this! Very good info.

We recommend a 50/200 zero for defensive ARs (optics and iron sights).
With a 50/200 zero, point-of-impact will never be more than 2.5 inches low or high from 0-225 yards/meters. That's pretty good for a 16" AR.

16” AR-15 with 55gr. 5.56mm M193 (approx.)

50/200 YARD ZERO* (recommended)

Range (yards) Point of impact
0 -2.5”
25 -1.1”
50 ZERO
75 +0.9”
100 +1.4”
125 +1.7”
150 +1.6”
175 +1.2”
200 ZERO

25 YARD ZERO
Range (yards) Point of Impact
0 -2.5”
25 ZERO
50 +2.2”
75 +4.2”
100 +5.9”
125 +7.3”
150 +8.3”
175 +9.0”
200 +9.3”

IMO, use the "Improved BSZ" if you want, but the 50/200 zero is easier and more realistic (since the "range elevation wheel" was a silly addition to the A2).

Very cool, Todd. I am going to give your way a shot this weekend when I go to dial-in the new rifle. It looks like a lot less work.

With the short bbl... you might experience more bullet drop at 200yd, at least that's my guess. Might end up being a 50/175 or 50/150 zero.

Will the 50/200 zero work the same for an M4 with an Aimpoint mounted on the flat top since the line of sight is different (lower) than a A2 sight? Right now I just have it zeroed at 100 yds.

Thanks

Originally Posted by ibavol

Will the 50/200 zero work the same for an M4 with an Aimpoint mounted on the flat top since the line of sight is different (lower) than a A2 sight? Right now I just have it zeroed at 100 yds.

Thanks

Sorry for the late response (never got a post notification).

I imagine your Aimpoint is either set-up for "Co-Witness" or "Lower 1/3 Witness." Either way, yes it will.

You might just keep your zero at 100 yards. It's just as good as a 50yard zero. The trajectory is flat like the 50 zero, but the trajectory is different from what's listed above.

I spent three years (1963-1966) in SE Asia with MACV. I was trained to zero my Winchester 70 in 30-06 (Remington 700 in .308 didn't become available until 1966) at 200 yards. I think the actual mathematical zero was supposed to be 196 yards, 200 was close enough! This kept the bullet in the 4" kill zone for COM shot from the muzzle to 225 yards. For 99% of our shots , all we had to worry about was windage! Since there wan't normally that much wind, we could actually make most of our shots without touching the drums! I still do this with my Mossberg ATR in 30-06 for deer.