Common Mistakes When Zeroing a Hunting Rifle?

Inaccurate Aiming Point Selection

When aiming for small game, use a smaller aiming point to account for the larger margin of error. For larger game like deer, use a larger aiming point to ensure a clean kill. Aiming for the center of mass, rather than the heart or lungs, can lead to a missed shot. For example, aiming for the shoulder or hip of a deer can result in a bullet striking the vital organs.

Failing to Account for Bullet Drop and Wind Deflection

Bullet drop and wind deflection can significantly affect the trajectory of your shot. Failure to account for these factors can result in a missed shot or a wounded animal. Shooters should use ballistics software or a ballistic calculator to estimate bullet drop and wind deflection at different ranges and conditions. For example, at 500 yards, a 150-grain bullet can drop 35 feet due to gravity alone, and wind deflection can add an additional 10-20 feet of error.

Verifying the Rifle’s Zero Over Time

Zeroing your rifle is not a one-time process, but rather an ongoing task that requires regular verification. Shooters should re-zero their rifle every 100-200 rounds to account for wear and tear on the barrel and scope. This can be done by shooting a target at 100-200 yards and adjusting the scope to maintain a consistent point of impact. For example, if you shot a group of 1 MOA at 200 yards and then re-zeroed your rifle, you may find that the point of impact has shifted by 0.5 MOA.