I use a rest to get more steady. But your question needs more info to get the correct information. Are you running an upright mount or one of the sideways mounts.
But here is my formula. I start out at 15 yards, get it pretty good then go 20-25 yards. I like to verify the left to right at the longest range I can find up to 50 yards.
I'm using the side ways mounts. I found that if I zero in at under 20 yards then at 40 or 50 yards it hits a foot over the target, but when I go at least 20 yards everything works, withing an 1", from close to 50 yards.
Once I have it perfect on the rest I shoot some free style to verify, again, and I may or may not adjust it slightly up or down but never left to right since I did that at 50 yards, and its perfect any change closer is human error.
I think i'm going to try this process. I just replaced my Cmore mount and my gun needs to be zeroed in.