celticfisherman
Member
Ok... Getting my Smith ready to be my everyday carry piece. My 66 has adjustable sights though. What distance do you believe you should sight those in at?
Self defense gun sight in
- Thread starter celticfisherman
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flop-shank
US Veteran
I zero mine at 25 yards. Anything past that probably won't matter and anything closer will be "close enough for rock 'n roll". 
Seriously, a 25 yd. zero should do you fine out to 50 yards and beyond.
Of course you could always zero an inch, or two, high at 25 and keep a good zero out a little further.
Seriously, a 25 yd. zero should do you fine out to 50 yards and beyond.Of course you could always zero an inch, or two, high at 25 and keep a good zero out a little further.
It really depends on the reason for your edc. If you are a LEO type there may be an instance, but rare, that 25 yards is a possibility. Most GF situations, especially a civilian vs. bg occur 3 to 7 yds away. Better to polish your point shooting ability than take careful aim with adjustable sights.
25 yards like flop-shank says. Then you need to practice at all the distances your range allows with more time spent at the close distances.
If you can shoot at 50yds I'd do it too just to see what the point of impact is with your defensive ammo.
If you can shoot at 50yds I'd do it too just to see what the point of impact is with your defensive ammo.
Yes, this.
If possible, get some practice on moving targets, too. I've never been in a gunfight, but I can't imagine anyone standing still and letting you shoot at them. But if they do, if you can hit a moving target, you can damn sure hit a stationary one.
LuddhaBuddha
Member
I sight mine in for 15 yards using a combat hold.
Chili Vega
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Until you do!
I do a 25 yard zero with a 6 o'clock hold on a bullseye target. That is going to actually put it a little above line-of-sight, maybe 2" or so, but essentially the bullet is rising all the way from the muzzle to the 25 yard point anyway, so is going to be closer to LOS the closer it is to the gun in any case. At the typical under 7 yards that most gunfights statistically occur, it'll work just fine.
Whoa, dude, you're da man!!!!
Here's a ballistic calculator:
Handloads.Com Ballistic Calculator
plug in and see the results.
Handloads.Com Ballistic Calculator
With a model 66 shooting .38, you are only 1" high at 25 yds with a 50 yard zero.
Range Velocity Impact Drop ToF Energy Drift
0 900 -0.5 0 0 284 0
5 896 0.05 0.09 0.02 282 0.43
10 892 0.49 0.29 0.04 279 0.45
15 888 0.82 0.59 0.05 277 0.49
20 884 1.04 1.01 0.07 274 0.53
25 880 1.15 1.54 0.09 272 0.59
30 877 1.15 2.18 0.1 270 0.66
35 873 1.04 2.93 0.12 267 0.74
40 870 0.81 3.8 0.14 266 0.83
45 866 0.46 4.78 0.16 263 0.94
50 863 0 5.88
Handloads.Com Ballistic Calculator
plug in and see the results.
Handloads.Com Ballistic Calculator
With a model 66 shooting .38, you are only 1" high at 25 yds with a 50 yard zero.
Range Velocity Impact Drop ToF Energy Drift
0 900 -0.5 0 0 284 0
5 896 0.05 0.09 0.02 282 0.43
10 892 0.49 0.29 0.04 279 0.45
15 888 0.82 0.59 0.05 277 0.49
20 884 1.04 1.01 0.07 274 0.53
25 880 1.15 1.54 0.09 272 0.59
30 877 1.15 2.18 0.1 270 0.66
35 873 1.04 2.93 0.12 267 0.74
40 870 0.81 3.8 0.14 266 0.83
45 866 0.46 4.78 0.16 263 0.94
50 863 0 5.88
flop-shank
US Veteran
OKFC05, thanks for the link to the calculator! That thing is cool!
Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
Probably not, but a 25 yd. zero won't hurt at close range and while rare, things like the Von Maur and Trolley Square mall shootings make me realize that the ability to solidly connect at longer ranges might make all the difference in the world.
Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
writerinmo
US Veteran
If you are shooting someone 100 yards away, it's no longer a self defense firearm. I sight my daily carry in at 15 yards, but I shoot it a lot at both shorter and farther distances as well.
You're out hiking miles away from your vehicle, in rolling fields/valley, someone with a rifle decides they are going to shoot at you from 100 yards away (maybe you're about to stumble upon their pot crop). What is your gun then?
Look, I know that scenario is far fetched. But you do carry a gun for your protection...
I was wondering if someone would actually put up something more than a by guess or by golly. Ballistics for the rounds you're shooting will give you the best option for taking care of things in the most likely ranges you'll be exposed to.
If you know the sights will put things on target 3- to 3+ from here to there, you're good to go with that particular zero. I'm just using the 3's as numbers, not as actual facts. If you play with the ballistics programs on the computer you can easily see that some loads zero'd at 25 yards accompish that from arms distance to 50 yards, (or whatever). While other loads should be zero'd at 30 yards to do the same. The more you play, the more you'll learn.
Edit to add: Self defense is not limitted to the local thug attacking you at parking lot distances.
If you know the sights will put things on target 3- to 3+ from here to there, you're good to go with that particular zero. I'm just using the 3's as numbers, not as actual facts. If you play with the ballistics programs on the computer you can easily see that some loads zero'd at 25 yards accompish that from arms distance to 50 yards, (or whatever). While other loads should be zero'd at 30 yards to do the same. The more you play, the more you'll learn.
Edit to add: Self defense is not limitted to the local thug attacking you at parking lot distances.
Last edited:
flop-shank
US Veteran
There are 100 + yd. shots in any of the major malls in my locale.
BigRich315
Member
I don't really know about zeroing a handgun at 100 yards, but it is well worth knowing what it will do at that range. Can you take out the BG before he's in better range?
OP
celticfisherman
Member
That is a very good point.
Plus the point on the pot crop...
I've been practicing mostly at 5-10 yds. But have done some closer and haven't really gotten farther with my 66. My 4" guns I have shot out to 50yds but not really with this one yet. Guess I need to just to see.
