The 36 Yard Zero
The 36 Yard Zero Target
In the recent carbine courses we have discussed various yard lines to zero your rifles along with the pros and cons of each yard line. For those that have attended the courses now know that when it comes to your go-to 5.56 caliber carbine rifle that you would pick because it is best suited for all possible scenarios, the 36 yard zero seems to be the perfect fit. Of course, this is a matter of opinion, but when it comes to making accurate shots from point blank distance all the way out to 300 yards you really can’t argue that the 36 yard zero makes thinking about your hold overs and unders a breeze, which is especially the case when you’re under extreme stress. There’s a problem though, the majority of shooters do not have regular access to a gun range where they can get much distance outside of 25 yards. So how do we get the 36 yard zero with only 25 yards to work with?
I created a 25 yard adjusted zero target for the 36 yard zero based off of a specific set of specs. The majority of our clients use some type of red dot holographic sight whether it be EoTech, Aimpoint, Trijicon, or Vortex optics. All of these sights sit approximately 2.5 inches above the bore of an AR-15 rifle. Most of our shooters are also using basic 5.56/.223 55 grain FMJ for their range ammo, which is also what they zero their rifle with. I figured somewhere there would be a 36 yard zero target for the 25 yard line but there was nothing. They have 25, 50, and 100yds but no 36. So I put the time in, gathered as much info as I could as far as what shooters are using when it comes to optics and ammo, and I calculated where the bullet would impact at the 25 yard line with a 36 yard zero and made a target out of it.
How To Use It?
If you take a look at the target you will see thick gray vertical and horizontal lines that intersect at a black circle. This is going to be where your point of aim is. Center your red dot here. If you look below that you will see thick black vertical and horizontal lines that intersect at another small yellow dot on the 0:0 axis point surrounded by a yellow faded dot. This is going to be where you want your bullet impacts to be. With this being said, your impacts will not hit where you are aiming. The bottom dot on the 0:0 axis is where the bullet would hit if you were aiming at a target 25 yards away with a 36yd zero which is approximately -.72″ below your point of aim. The bullet is still rising to meet your point of aim at 36 yards, this is why the impact point is low on the target. The faded yellow circle around the black circle is there for variables such as sight to bore distance and bullet weight. I use .77 grain for a truer flight, more accuracy, and more knockdown power. The hold under for that round is -.70″, and if your sight sits only 1.5″ above bore then you are at a -.41″ with 55 grain and -.40 with 77 grain. If your round is inside the gray faded circle you are good. The dashed circle is for acceptable human error and it’s generous. All of your rounds should really be at least touching the faded circle. The numbers on the side are adjustments for a .5 MOA sight. For example, if my round hits at vertical line marked 16 above the 0 then I need to adjust my Eotech 16 clicks down.
See Image Below
To Print the Target:
- Click on the image at the bottom of the page
- Save image to desktop
- Go to print set-up
- You MUST scale image to 100% for accurate results
- Click print
Stay Vigilant,
Shawn Ryan
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Shawn Ryan
Comments on this post (33)
Quick info for the guys having issues with print size. Make sure your print resolution is set to: 300dpi. This will give you an 8.5×11″ letter sized target. That is a common detailed print resolution. Also, none of the lower dpi settings give you a page that fits common paper size (11×14, 11×17, 14×17). The video definitely looks like a standard sheet of 8.5×11.
— Jon
If I calculated it correctly in my ballistics calculator for a 5.56×45mm 55(grain) Federal FMJ the distance from the Point of Aim and the Point of Impact should be .71" So the drop at 25 yards is -.71".
I also have a MacBook and it does some strange things when scaling to fit the image to the 8.5″×11″ layout.
— Nate
Shawn… when clicking on the image at the bottom of the page nothing happens— no download? Tried both images with not result.
Please advise…
Special thanks,
Ric
— Ric England
Thank you the information, I have always wondered which is the best all round zero. This fits the bill for me. Awesome videos.
— Howard Newman
Would this be a same using 62 gr. 5.56?
— Chris Sharrard
You wrote out the holds in the video, but could you please add them here too?
— Rob
What is the paper size to print it on? My printer wants to print it on something veeeeeeeery large
— Bart
Could you do this for the 7.62×51 I’m a navy guy running a scar 17 would like to use your advice on my rig but I know ballistics would be different
— Robert
Shawn,
Does this target go on letter-size paper? The mac I’m using wants to make it much larger. Would be good to put a scale or some measurements right on the target so we know if it’s printed out correctly.
Great stuff! Thanks!
Yoda
— Yoda
This zero target looks really helpful. But I’m not able to save image. Is it possible for you to email me the image?
Appreciate the help.
— Kingsley
Hi,
Could you please advise what size paper should I use to print this target?
I really appreciate your videos for set the optic to zero.
Cordially yours,
Miguel Amador
— Miguel Amador
Sir:
Could you give me the diameter of the red circle,plus the small yellow circle on your 36yd target,
Thx for your time
Howard
— Howard
Hello
Just watched the video and downloaded the zero target. Was AD MP for 10 years so really all I know is the 25 yard zero. However, recently moved back to my home of record and the range that went to since I was 18 is no longer letting people zero at 25. They are telling people you have 6 rounds to get on target then move to the 50 yard line. Currently running a primary arms red dot. Basically like a aim point. What would you suggest using your target to the 36 yard zero at the 50 yard line. Im guessing It wont change. Point of aim will remain the same but should I adjust .5 inch up or down based off your point POI with the eotech sight picture. Hope that made since cause it almost confused me a lil. I havent shot since 2013 so Im I doing dumb PVT things right now. If you seen my target you would see. Anyways any assistance would be great.
Thanks
Derek
— Derek Boling
good stuff here. i spent time in the Army infantry and was curious to get insight as to why the army would teach their soldiers to zero at 25m if the results come out looking like it does in the video?…thats substantial! Thanks for your time and teaching
— Eric Ryan
I’ve used the 25 yard zero ever since basic infantry training (army). I just ran this trough a ballistics calculator on my phone and you’ve convinced me man. I’ll be changing my zeros on my red dot AR. Thanks man.
— nicholas jones
Thanks for sharing this bit of information and for doing the comparisons to other zero ranges. I think it makes a lot more sense than the 50/200 yard zero, and I’ll be adjusting my scopes for 36 instead. CD size POI spread out to 300, yeah I’ll take that any day!
— Bodi
Thanks for your service.
In asking 10 different people you will most likely get 10 different opinions regarding keeping the back up sights up or down when using a “red dot” optic.
I noticed in your video your BUS were up.
Would you please share your opinion.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Dave
— David (Dave) Friesner Sgt. Ret. Leslie PD
Printed, zeroed, and works! Hits an 8” paper plate out to 300 with little thought. Love the videos and the straight up attitude. Your not the average YouTube ‘r, you’re actually informative with what I like to call “motivational language”. See you at a class soon!
— JP
Thank you for this information. Do these numbers also apply to 77 grain bullets?
— David Traub
appreciate your time and research. Would you be willing to display all yardage/impact for 36 yd zero in graph or words. Thanks
— Ron Kelly
Outstanding! Finally, a better alternative to traditional zero distances with far less spread and less guess work. Thank you so much!
— Joseph Atienza
My question is with this zero, which sounds perfect, you mentioned you clients use 55 grain 5.56 ammo. But I would only assume that when overseas you were shooting mil spec 62 grain. Is there much POI shift between the two? I know the 55 is moving quiet a bit faster. I handload all my ammunition and load mostly 62 grain FMJ. Is it something to be concerned with this zero or will there be minimal POI shift to still keep you in the sweet spot across the board? Just to add this is the same zero I use with my 300 blackout which gives me minimal POI shift as well in my SBR. Looks like the 36 yard is great in the at Platform.
— James Plemmons
I printed out the target as explained, could you give me a measurement from center of POA to center of POI so I can verify I have ratios correct. Thanks
— Shawn Hill
I printed out the target as explained, could you give me a measurement from center of POA to center of POI so I can verify I have ratios correct. Thanks
— Shawn Hill
Will this work using 123g 7.62×39
— Robert