How To Zero Your Rifle

Resetting Zero with a Laser Bore Sight

The video opens with a .308 rifle whose optic has been intentionally knocked off zero by moving the scope and twisting the turrets. This sets up a full demonstration of how to re-zero efficiently. The instructor introduces an AimShot laser bore sight kit, focusing on the magnetic .223 green laser module. The magnet allows the laser to stick securely to metal surfaces and to be adapted to different calibers. He inserts the .223 laser into a .308 shroud or case so it can be safely chambered in the .308 rifle, noting that other caliber options, including .50 BMG, are available. Viewers are warned not to close the bolt to avoid pinching or shifting the cable. With the green laser projected on the target, he compares the laser’s point of impact to the Leupold Mark AR optic’s crosshairs, then dials the elevation and windage turrets to correct for being low and right before removing the bore sight and preparing for live-fire confirmation.

Live-Fire Confirmation and Using MOA Targets

After removing backup sights and the bore sighter, the shooter loads a Lancer magazine and fires a center-mass shot to confirm where the rifle is actually hitting. The first live round shows the rifle is on paper but slightly low. Instead of chasing the bullseye blindly, he demonstrates a fast method: keep the rifle stable, then adjust the optic’s crosshairs to match the observed point of impact. A second center-mass shot confirms that the zero is now much closer. The instructor explains how painted targets and MOA-marked zeroing targets make this process more precise. If the group is, for example, 2 MOA low or right, the shooter can translate that directly into scope knob corrections using the optic’s click values. He contrasts how easy it is to twist knobs on a magnified optic with the slightly different mechanics of zeroing iron sights, while emphasizing that the underlying concept of matching point of aim to point of impact remains the same.

Transitioning from Optics to AR-15 Iron Sights

The focus shifts from magnified optics to AR-15 iron sights, showing that the same zeroing logic applies even though the adjustments are mechanical rather than turret-based. The instructor explains how to adjust the AR’s front sight post using either a dedicated front sight tool or the tip of a bullet. He highlights the counterintuitive relationship between front sight movement and point of impact: rotating the front sight post “down” into the base actually raises the barrel angle and moves the point of impact up on the target. Depressing the detent allows controlled clicks or partial rotations. This segment sets up an unsighted iron-sight rifle at a known distance, preparing to verify where rounds land before making corrections. The shooter emphasizes starting from a stable position, understanding which component controls elevation and which controls windage, and then applying deliberate, measured adjustments rather than guessing or cranking sights randomly.

Fine-Tuning Iron Sight Zero at 25.5 Yards

Using a rangefinder, the shooter confirms the distance to the target as 25.5 yards, establishing a precise baseline for zeroing the AR’s iron sights. Initial shots are fired to see the true point of impact relative to the front sight post. The rear sight is a KNS Armament unit with a windage knob and numbered elevation settings from 200 to 600 yards, and its function is explained in detail. To spot hits more clearly, an ACOG optic is removed from the rifle and used as a makeshift spotting scope. The shooter then works through a series of incremental adjustments: front sight post changes for elevation and rear sight windage clicks to correct shots that are low, high, or left. Each adjustment is followed by additional rounds to confirm movement on target. This methodical process shows how small, controlled changes quickly bring the group into the desired impact zone at the chosen zero distance.

Zeroing Principles, Common Issues, and Barrett M107 Giveaway

The closing section distills the core principles of zeroing any sighting system, whether iron sights, red dots, or magnified optics. Once a stable shooting position is established, the shooter must carefully observe the difference between point of aim and point of impact, then adjust the sighting system right or left and up or down until they coincide. The instructor notes that, when done methodically, zeroing should be a relatively quick process, yet many shooters waste time just trying to get on paper because they lack a structured approach. The video then transitions to a giveaway announcement for a Barrett M107 .50 BMG rifle equipped with an EOTech Vudu variable-power optic, described as a 3-12x to 18x scope on a 10-round semi-automatic platform. The host mentions having zeroed and run this rifle in a running-gun style shoot with Alex Zedra, and directs viewers to both the dedicated giveaway video and Alex Zedra’s own coverage of the event.