The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

tfb wrote:many thanks. I'll try the app and I'll visit the zero range

When you do - tell them what cal you are zeroing they may have other diagrams that suit the round being used. I teach TR skills for vernier sights & teach shooters to bore sight then hit a bit of card before actually using the zero range card then to put on what would be an estimate 600 yd elevation & about 4moa left or right. (so you start in the middle & dont shoot the scale out)

For 308 (155-144 grain) aim at the black & adjust till the shot is center of the 600yds bar & 4moa left or right - then slip the plates to 13 & 4(L/R) - then add the std elevation to 900 & check that & same for 1000. Then back to 600 & down to 500-300. writing down the setting for each (I use an old zero card & write opposite each elevation) - you can then reverse the offset windage : 4 right to 4 left & re-zero the rifle for a different ammunition (bullet weight or load).

That method shows up a number of poss errors:
If the line of shots are not parallel to the card scale in the middle (assuming you aligned the target vertically with a plumb line?) then your sights are not fitted properly - i.e. are not parallel between rear & fore, or you are canting the gun?
If they dont immediately go to the distance bar when putting on/taking off the std elevation then they are not MOA sights (i.e. there is not 34.8 inch between the foresight iris & rear-sight iris) & so std elevations will be misleading on your gun. (or in one case we found out the sights were Australian 1/3 moa per click! vs UK 1/4)
If they dont return to the same hole when taking off / putting back on the elevation you have backlash in the threads & sights. (they need servicing).

Assuming all is well, wind the sights to 0 wind & 3 elevation & it will hit the black at 300. assuming you put on some wind & released the shot properly. You can refine the table of settings for distances but my advise is work up form 300-600-900 then 1000. Note some FPs can introduce a 1moa error because of their angle.

Am afraid we coaches & RCOs see too many people banging away with 30rnds making a hole in the black aiming mark of the zero range card more ragged & calling it zeroed, then heading out to the ranges & homing in on the target by shooting a form of brail! that can put rounds into the range floor that can ricochet out of the danger area or over the top into what is actually a Limited Danger Area at Bisley.

How do we know - the skiff marks can be seen in the ground & stray shot holes can be counted in the target numbers -

NB There are cctv cameras on the Zero range to stop people using it as a cheap shoot & monitor safety.

How to zero a rifle should be part of your clubs SSC safety training? if you have a current SSC then you should know some of this?

I know and understand the theory of what I need to do to set the sights in preparation for longer ranges, I just didn't know what the targets were called!. The idea of winding off to the left or right to preserve the scale is a good one.
Software also has come along a long way. I've been very impressed with what I've seen so far on the freely available apps or websites.

tfb wrote:Can anyone help me with a name or a link? and are they available for different calibers?

Here's one I made earlier. This one is for the Bisley zero range, which is at 71'7".

Ovenpaa wrote:I use Bullet Flight (Military version) and prefer it to Strelok which I also have. I find BF gives me slightly better predictions, albeit at a premium.

Just looked at Bullet Flight on the app store, L1 (3.99), L2 (£11.99) and M (what you have) £28.99. At the moment I use Strelok Pro (£4.99), which is OK. I would be interested in any further comments you have on Bullet Flight and in your opinion is it worth buying if you already have Strelok Pro? I do shoot out to 1000 yards so always interested in anything which could improve my shooting. Although while off topic I am always cautious when reloading (stick to what's in the book) so my elevation is always more than Strelok states.