Best distance to zero my pistol?

[SquibRound]

I would appreciate information from those of you who have a lot more experience than I do with this topic. I have adjustable sights on my pistol. As near as i can tell the gun is zeroed at 25 yds, which I determined by shooting groups off a rest at 10, 15, 25 and 50 yards. Is this optimal for IPSC type shooting? It seems to me i would be better to have the pistol zeroed at 7 or 10 yards, but I wanted to ask before I started to adjust the sights. Thanks in advance.

[Hi-Power Jack]

Brian, what caliber and type of gun?

Most people seem to sight in iron sighted action handguns

for 15 - 25 yards, and check how it's sighted at 5, 15, 25

and 40 yards (Just in case )

Lots of people make mistake of sighting gun in for 10 yards

or so, and feel it must be okay out to 30 yards - best to

check it at 30 yards, and 5 yards also, for those real close

headshots.

[Atlgentlegiant]

I depends on what matches you shoot most. I have mine zero'd for 15 and know holds out to 40. This past weekend we had targets from 2 yards to 34 yards.

[SquibRound]

Brian, what caliber and type of gun?

Most people seem to sight in iron sighted action handguns

for 15 - 25 yards, and check how it's sighted at 5, 15, 25

and 40 yards (Just in case )

Lots of people make mistake of sighting gun in for 10 yards

or so, and feel it must be okay out to 30 yards - best to

check it at 30 yards, and 5 yards also, for those real close

headshots.

Thanks for the reply Jack. I am shooting a HK USP Expert in .40. The headshots at 7 yds under time pressure is what I am thinking about when I ask the question, since the gun does shoot a bit low at this range. I was just interested in where experienced shooters accept the error in the sights, i.e. know the gun will shoot 1" low at 7 yds and aim a bit higher so you have point blank at 25 and a bit high at 50 yds? Or do you want to be spot on at closer ranges where the shooting is typically faster, and compensate for the higher point of impact at longer distances where one would typically have more time for the shot?

Or am I just making this more complicated than it needs to be?

[Hi-Power Jack]

Brian, Most people sight in for 15 - 25 yards, Lots of people make mistake of sighting gun in for 10 yards

or so, and feel it must be okay out to 30 yards -

The headshots at 7 yds is what I am thinking about , since the gun does shoot a bit low at this range. Or am I just making this more complicated than it needs to be?

It's a great and important question - again, I'd sight it in at 15 - 25 yards,

and check it at 5 yards - my experience is that iron sighted guns sighted for

20 yards are off by 1/2" or so at 5 yards.

My open gun (C-More is 2" higher than the bore), requires me to aim at the

top of the B zone so I don't drop into the C zone - but my BHP is fine from

2 - 40 yards.

Check it out - see how little it matters at 5 yards - don't think I'd worry

too much about it, but you should check it personally with your gear.

[XD Niner]

I zero both my Open and iron sight guns at 17 yards. I use this distance for two resons:

1. I zero by shooting off hand. Much past this and the error in my groups makes it more difficult to identify the zero point.

2. With a zero at this distance I'm good to go out to 50 yards with no adjustment. The exception is anything within five yards using the Open gun. Then I aim for the top of the B zone for an upper A hit. With the iron sights I don't bother with any adjustment.

You mentioned that you set the zero off of a rest. You may find that the gun reacts differently when held off hand and that your zero will be affected. YMMV.

[SquibRound]

Thank you all. I will try to sight in off hand at about 17-20yards. I understand the issue of sighting in from a rest vs. off- hand. I read somewhere (here?) that sighting in for this purpose would require about 10-15 round "ragged hole" drill, the center of the resultant hole should be what one would expect at a match?

[Hi-Power Jack]

I will sight in off hand at 17-20yards. I read that sighting in for this purpose would require about 10-15 round "ragged hole" drill, the center of the resultant hole should be what one would expect at a match?

I've always found a larger group is more realistic. After you've

centered your group at 17 - 20 yards, fire five shots at 5 yards,

and you should see the bullets less than an inch from where you're

aiming.

Then check where they're hitting at 30 yards - then you're all set

to go.

I 've always found sighting in at 25 - 30 yards will usually bring

me close to where I want to be from 3 - 40 yards, with iron sights.

[SquibRound]

I will sight in off hand at 17-20yards. I read that sighting in for this purpose would require about 10-15 round "ragged hole" drill, the center of the resultant hole should be what one would expect at a match?

I've always found a larger group is more realistic. After you've

centered your group at 17 - 20 yards, fire five shots at 5 yards,

and you should see the bullets less than an inch from where you're

aiming.

Then check where they're hitting at 30 yards - then you're all set

to go.

I 've always found sighting in at 25 - 30 yards will usually bring

me close to where I want to be from 3 - 40 yards, with iron sights.

Jack,

Decided to do a group at 20 yds off hand for zeroing. I've included a picture of the result. I then shot a group of 5 shots at 5 yds. The group was about 3/4 inch low. Thanks for your help.

[SquibRound]

I will sight in off hand at 17-20yards. I read that sighting in for this purpose would require about 10-15 round "ragged hole" drill, the center of the resultant hole should be what one would expect at a match?

I've always found a larger group is more realistic. After you've

centered your group at 17 - 20 yards, fire five shots at 5 yards,

and you should see the bullets less than an inch from where you're

aiming.

Then check where they're hitting at 30 yards - then you're all set

to go.

I 've always found sighting in at 25 - 30 yards will usually bring

me close to where I want to be from 3 - 40 yards, with iron sights.

Jack,

Decided to do a group at 20 yds off hand for zeroing. I've included a picture of the result. I then shot a group of 5 shots at 5 yds. The group was about 3/4 inch low. Thanks for your help.

[roostershooter]

It all depends on the caliber and make of the pistol.

For instance, a Springfield XDM 5.25 ... 15 to 20 yds. is optimal. A Ruger Blackhawk .... 30 to 50 yds. Need more info!

[SquibRound]

It all depends on the caliber and make of the pistol.

For instance, a Springfield XDM 5.25 ... 15 to 20 yds. is optimal. A Ruger Blackhawk .... 30 to 50 yds. Need more info!

Rooster,

I am shooting a HK USP Expert in .40 caliber.

Brian

[gose]

I zero at 25, and verify holds and drops at 50, 75 and 100