Need help zeroing AR iron sights

[Jeff Bergquist]

I'm not an expert but have some experience, and IMO what Fast351 described was the worst case scenario because of the ultra light profile pencil barrel. A standard profile barrel should be less variable, and a bull barrel should be even better. The problem isn't with the manual grip or the sandbags, but in the difference between the two holds, i.e. the sandbag is at a different position on the handguard, and is less yielding than a manual hold. A free float handguard should take those differences out of the equation completely.

Lastly, remember that that worst case scenario was still just 6" off at 100 yds, which translates to 1.5" at 25 yds. A heavier barrel will probably be less, maybe .5 to 1" variation or less at 25 yds. So the question is, how accurate do you need your rifle to be?

FWIW I've free floated both of my AR's, even though it might have been overkill on the carbine.

[westberg]

jgalt,

After your shooting today, it appears your well on the way mastering those iron sights. Great job.

[jgalt]

jgalt,

After your shooting today, it appears your well on the way mastering those iron sights. Great job.

Aww, shucks - thank you very much! You weren't shootin' half bad yourself...

[Fast351]

I guess I should have expanded on that

I hold my ARs by the front of the magwell. Aside from the non-effect on zero, it's also universal in that it works for every rifle you pick up. I've shot rifles with broom handles and that's the same idea (vertical grip) but dependent on the rifle of course.

When zeroing, you could also rest the rifle on the magazine, and put sandbags under the stock to get a steady platform. A correctly made lower and magazine shouldn't have any issues shooting like that.

Holding it by the handguard isn't that big of an issue either, since most people tend to hold the rifle much closer to the receiver than all the way at the end of the handguards.

And of course the point someone else made, at 25 yards, it makes almost no difference. I just thought some might find it interesting, as until I observed this phenomenon, I probably wouldn't have believed it myself, how big of a shift in zero it causes.