How To Sight In A Red Dot On Your AR15?

Whether you are getting ready to fit a red dot scope or the case where your AR15 red dot needs a re-zero during an upgrade, it is important to fully understand what it takes to sight in a red dot. A correctly zeroed optic will guarantee that at the range, in competition situations, or using your rifle in self-defense, your rounds will go where your red dot points. In this guide, we shall discuss the step-by-step process of zeroing your AR15 red dot with and without shooting practice, by which you can successfully apply it in any given scenario.

What Does A Red Dot Mean, And Why Is Zeroing So Effective?

A red dot sight is a non-refractive optic that shows a red dot reticle used as the aiming point. The red dot scopes are popularly used in acquiring targets quickly, especially on rifles like the AR15. In order to ensure that the red dot is effective, it should be zeroed-making it just in line with what you want to hit and the point where you hit it.

Zeroing is an activity of adjusting your red dot scope to fire your bullet directly hitting the object at the distance at which you want your dot to target. Another common misconception is that since red dot sights are regarded as set it and forget it optics, then the same, even the most superior AR15 red dot, needs to be correctly zeroed.

Common Zeroing Distances

Your next challenge is to decide what zero distance to choose depending on your intended use.

• 25 yards: This is preferred in indoor ranges and fast-action shooting.
• 36 yards: The zero distance of the AR-pattern rifles is 36 yards in the Army.
• 50 yards: This is an all-purpose gun that can be used for self-defense or any scope.
• 100 yards: This distance is best used in long-distance fire and accuracy.

Both will have their benefits and demerits, though 50 yards is often the middle-ground between the two most of the time when it comes to dealing with the AR15.

What Is The Process Of Sighting A Red Dot In The Range?

1. The Red Dot Scope Should Be Mounted Correctly

• Ensure the quality of the mount you are using is perfect and appropriate to your weapon.
• With AR15 rifles, putting the red dot on the upper receiver instead of the handguard will work because the red dot will always align.
• Recoil drift is to be prevented by making sure that all screws are torqued to the proper specification.

2. Stabilizing Your Gun

The weight of your gun is on your side, and you want to make sure that your gun is steady enough before you can hit a target. But how do you make your gun steady to ensure it does not move easily? Stabilizing your gun is called locking off your gun.

Put the firearm on a sturdy shooting surface, i.e., a bench rest, a bipod, or sandbags. Being stable is very important when zeroing any optic, especially a non-magnified red dot.

3. Cluster Your Target And Distance

Put a target at the zero distance of your choice. When zeroing, the higher levels of interest are 25 or 36 yards.

4. Fire A Group: 3 To 5 Rounds

• Again, hit the same mark.
• Take an example of the point of impact (POI) grouping.

5. Do Adjustments On Windage And Elevation

Turn the jack by using your red dot turrets or adjustment knobs.

• Windage: Adjusts the dot to the left and the right.
• Elevation: Moves the dot in the upward and downward direction.

Red dot optics normally adjust 1 MOA at a time (approximately 100 yds).

MOA Adjustment Reference:

Correct the changes and sack another team so that it can be validated. Keep repeating until your POI bears the relation to your point of aim (POA).

6. Verify Your Zero

• Fire many more groups to maintain consistency.
• Relocate to a bigger distance (should you wish to) to test your progress.

What Is The Zero Of The Red Dot?

Use live-fire, but at times, you might not be able to reach the range. When you are in such situations, you can then use any of these no-shoot methods to make your red dot close to zero.

Method 1: Laser Bore Sighting

• Place in the rifle the little box called a laser bore sighter.
• Take a target at 25-36 yards distance.
• This should be adjusted by aligning the red dot to be at the same point as the laser point.
• This will provide you a very close match of a real zero, and you can make adjustments in the range.

Method 2: Visual Bore Alignment

• Differentiate between upper receivers and lower receivers.
• Pull out the bolt carrier.
• Fix the upper receiver to aim at a target of a certain stationary position.
• Just bring the barrel or focus it on the center of the target.
• Adjust your red dot as it is in the same place without moving the firearm.
• It is not as precise as laser sighting, but it is free and is of use in pre-alignment.

Pros And Cons Of No-Shoot Zeroing

No-shoot makes the best work as a pre-zeroing technique.

Red Dot Zeroing Bonus Tips

• Load the Same Ammo: You can get inaccurate results by using a variety of grain weights or manufacturers and zeroing on those loads.
• Write down your settings: Write down your windage and elevation settings in case the optic is removed.
• Train at different ranges: If you are targeted out at 50 or 100 yards, then understand your holdovers at close range.
• You should frequently check your zero: After transportation, drops, or optic removal.

Final Thoughts

One of the main aspects of possessing an AR15 and any other gun with a red dot is the sighting. Having known that you have a zeroed AR15 red dot is invaluable whether you are training, at a competition, or just plinking at the range.

Go slow, use the same methods, and never forego range confirmation; even the best laser bore sight can not be an alternative to live fire confirmation. Once your red dot is zeroed in, you will enjoy how fast and confident one can be with the red dot optics as they are known. 

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