Handgun Zero Question

[okie john]

Thanks for your participation in this forum, and thanks in advance for answering my questions.

1. At what distance do you zero a handgun?
2. Do you zero it at the same distance when you carry a long gun as your primary and when the handgun is your primary?
3. Do you zero handguns chambered for different cartridges at different distances?

Thanks,


Okie John

[MP01]

1. At what distance do you zero a handgun?
I zero it based on the application but as a rule of thumb combative or sport guns are zeroed at 20m and bullseye guns at 25m. On a sport or combative gun I want a low center hold on a head/head plate and on a bullseye gun I want point of POA/POI.

2. Do you zero it at the same distance when you carry a long gun as your primary and when the handgun is your primary?
They are two different weapons systems and the above rule of thumb is used. It makes no sense to zero the two for the same since the height over bore and trajectory are so radically different.


3. Do you zero handguns chambered for different cartridges at different distances? Only if there is an extreme application i.e. if I plan to use a pistol for 50m practice or I feel like shooting out to 100. Other than that the practical ranges for an iron sight pistol are 50 and less. Yes you can hit things at 100 and I routinely shoot out to 100 with my match grade guns but that is for practice and mental conditioning.

For me zero's are arrived upon by establishing the most likely engagement range for the weapons system and then managing the gun/cartridge RE ballistics to get the flattest shooting combo therein.

[okie john]

2. Do you zero it at the same distance when you carry a long gun as your primary and when the handgun is your primary?
They are two different weapons systems and the above rule of thumb is used. It makes no sense to zero the two for the same since the height over bore and trajectory are so radically different.


I should have been clearer with this question. I meant to ask whether you zero it at the same distance as in Question 1 when you also carry a long gun, not whether you'd zero it at the same distance as a long gun. It appears that you do.

Thanks,


Okie John

[MP01]

Yes, as I stated in response to question #2 they are completely different weapons systems with radically different ballistics. Zero's are tailored around the most effective application of the individual weapons system based on the flattest trajectory possible within the most likely engagement range.