Zeroing your rifle is no joke—It will make or break your shot. If your rifle’s not zeroed, you're gonna be lost in the sauce, not knowing if you need a high hold or a low hold for your shots in different situations. Check out the video with Jared, who’s in the special operations community and one of our top-notch instructors, here to drop some knowledge bombs on why zeroing your rifle is crucial. So, get ready to soak it all in!
Why Should You Zero Your Rifle?
The zero is extremely important for everything we do with the rifle. It's not just about hitting targets; it's about hitting the mark when and where it matters most and protecting yourself/family in life-and-death situations. A solid zero means you'll be on point at any range, from close quarters to long-distance shots. No guesswork, no doubts. Don't waste time adjusting your aim like rookies—get that rifle dialed in, practice till it's second nature. When the pressure's on, you'll be in sync with your weapon, reacting instinctively.
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Jared, ISP Instructor is seen here zeroing his carbine.
Bullet Trajectory: How Bullets Move In The Air
In zeroing our weapons system, we decide the distance we calibrate our rounds to hit. We’ve gotta remember that gravity and physics are in the mix, so we better understand how it all rolls. Picture throwing a baseball—going along the arc, you release high for it to land further downrange, right on your target. Bullets move the same way. So, when zeroing your rifle, you'll see two impact points. The first is for close-up action, and the second hits further down the line. This setup lets us aim right at any distance we need. When on the field, we focus on self-defense shooting from 7 to 300 yards. We need a rock-solid zero that works in that sweet range, so we keep our shooting game on point, no fussy adjustments needed.
Finding The Right Zero: Aiming For 25 yards
When we're locked and loaded for 25 yards, we're talking about that sweet natural point of hold, ya know? It's where we just aim without overthinking, no fancy calculations for bullet drop or trajectory. We're all about hitting that center of mass target dead-on as we lock in our zero. It's all 'bout that muscle memory and quick response, so when the heat's on, we don't waste time fiddling' around. We're locked, loaded, and ready to unleash a barrage of bullseyes right on that center mass. Bam! You can bet your boots, once we got that natural point of hold dialed in, no target will escape us.
ISP students on the 25 yard line with rifles in low ready and fingers off the triggers.
Military Standard: Hitting Target From 25 to 300 Yards
At 25 yards, our shots will be right on the money, and as the bullet travels further at an arc, it will still hit roughly the same point at 300 yards. The military uses this method because it allows us to hit targets within an 18-inch zone, like the size of a person, from 25 to 300 yards away. When the stakes are high and time's running out, you can trust your zero to deliver the goods and get you out of any tight spot.
Conclusion
Here's the bottom line: Zeroing your weapons system means laying down a solid foundation. Once you got that 25-yard zero dialed in, you won't be making constant adjustments at different distances. We're all about honing those essential skills—breath control, trigger squeeze, sight picture, and follow through. That's what keeps our shots on point. It's about being prepared, staying alive, and hitting your mark when it counts.
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Stay sharp, stay safe, and stay zeroed in!
About The Author
Hank Hayes is a Combat Arts Hall of Famer and inventor of the No Lie Blade. He is the founder and CEO of both Intuitive Self Protection and NLB Tactical and creator of the ISP/NLB viscous fighting system. Since 1998, he has trained well over 30,000 Military and Law Enforcement personnel via Government contract mainly at the elite special teams level and continues to train both civilians and MIL/LE how to come home safe.
