What Range Are Military Sniper Rifles Zeroed?
I’m interested in military tactics and am curious as to what range military sniper rifles (like the M24 or the M40A1) are zeroed at. 100 yards? 200 yards? Thanks!
Tagged with: m24 • m40a1 • military sniper rifles • military tactics
Filed under: Military Rifles
300 yards is the standard zero range, then the elevation can be adjusted according to the estimated shot range.
I have been privilaged to know a couple of these guys over the years, and they don’t really zero in like that.
These guys eat and sleep their weapons. Individual as the men who wield them, they are able to set their weapons at whatever range is required for the shot.
Minute-of-angle is the catch phrase here. Shooting at a minute of angle is to place your shots within an area of 1 inch at 100 yards, 2 inches at 200 yards, 5 inches at 500 yards, etc., in a consistant and reliable manner. Those I’ve known shot under 1/2 minute of angle at 500 yds., (placing 5 shots at 500 yards in less than 2 1/2 inches),and I have been on the range to see the fabled 1000 yard shot more than once, truly awesome!
Usually a sniper has a spotter. The spotter’s job is to find the yardage, wind using a special optical device. This information is then given to the sniper who adjusts his sights according to this information and a notebook that he keeps with him. This booklet is kept by the sniper for keeping track of prior shots and important information he could apply to this shot. The sniper also to keep track of confirmed kills. The spotter, also a sniper, is there to assist and protect the sniper because most snipers only carry their sniper rifle while the spotter carries a normal weapon for defense.
600-700 yards. Carlos Hathcock’s prefferance in Vietnam.
With that zero its easier to adjust for farther shooting, but trickier to shoot closer targets under the zero range.
a 100yard zero is no good.
Marines zero their M16A2 service rifles in at 300yds (iron sights)