Cant zero sights

[Kayback]

I've had issues with the 6x scope and the Aimpoint I've got. I can't get the dot/cross hairs and the holes to meet. On paper at 25m I'm about 6" low on POI, and even if I max out the elevation on either the scope or the Aimpoint I can't get any closer than that.

This may be a really Duh! question but what the heck am I doing wrong. I'm a bad shot but not THAT bad.

KBK

 

[Fkimble]

need more info. What gun? what ammo, what scope/red dot? Are you able to move the group around on the target by moving the elevation/windage knobs? Do the adjustments appear to work correctly?

 

[Kayback]

Smith and Wesson 15-22 with 16" barrel and flash hider. With any ammo. Using bulk HVHP or standard velocity 40 grain LRN. The adjustments on both the 6x scope and the Aimpoint both work and do move the group towards the correct place, but then I run out of adjustments.

KBK

 

[Griz Behr]

I hate to say what I have done in the past by accident but make sure your windage adjustment is on the right side of your scope and the elevation is on top. I had mine turned 90 degrees to the left (I'm a lefty) and that makes your life really miserable until you figure it out. I couldn't raise my groups either until I mounted the scope properly. Kind of a forehead slap moment.

 

[Kayback]

Haha, no worries I checked that. (first thing I checked). But the Aimpoint is in a La Rue mount, so it is fixed the correct way up.

KBK

 

[Blades]

Can you try them on a different rifle? What your getting is very strange.

 

[Stryker9580]

Have you tried any other scopes on your rifle? You might have to go to what the airgunners use, an ajustable or droop mount, but the 15-22 shouldn't have that kind of barrel misalignment. Unless something is really wrong it is most likely the scope. Try what Blades said and put it on another rifle to see if you get the same results.

 

[Claymore_Dude]

Bench the rifle, have your POA at the center of the target. Shoot 1-3 shots to find the POI on the paper. Now, without moving the gun, try to adjust the reticle so that it hits POI (so that it's hovering over the group you just shot). After, take the shot at the center again, and POA and POI should now be aligned.

 

[Claymore_Dude]

Also, if you're using a 6X mag, take it off, because the magnification can mess with the parallax of your do. So that's why it might seem that even though you've adjusted it all the way, your shots are still not going where you want it.

 

[yzf128r]

Are you shooting off of a bench or free hand? I would make sure to rest the rifle on something to reduce the human error. Can you hit your target using your iron sights? I would start there. If you can, then I would say there is something wrong with the scope/sight, if your not even close then there might be something wrong with the rifle (but that's unlikely). Are you using a bipod? If so, putting excessive pressure on the front of the rifle has been known to move the POI. But start with the basics. Gently rest the rifle on a sandbag or something similar and try to get it dialed in with the iron sights. Once that's good you've confirmed that the rifle is ok then you should move to the scope/sight. Repeat the process. This should help you flush out the problem. If by chance it is a problem with the rifle, contact S&W and they will take good care of you. Keep us posted. Good luck!

 

[Kayback]

Also, if you're using a 6X mag, take it off, because the magnification can mess with the parallax of your do. So that's why it might seem that even though you've adjusted it all the way, your shots are still not going where you want it.

Yeah not a 6x magnifier, a separate, differently mounted 6x fixed zoom scope. I forget how big the objective lens is, but not very. A small .22 scope of generic manufacture.

I will try shoot it again this weekend, doing as you say. I can't(yet) use the scope on another gun. I do have another scope (a 4x one) that I can try if I can get it back on paper with the irons. The irons were working perfectly last outing.

This was not shot off a bipod, and I'll try sandbags this weekend.

KBK

 

[gotfish]

I haven't read the entire thread, but if you're using elevated mounts for either optic, I believe you're trying to zero them too close. Move your zero out to 50 yards or more, and you'll be fine. You can't zero an Aimpoint on a tall riser at 25 yards. There isn't enough elevation adjustment available.

 

[Kayback]

Ding ding ding we have a winner. Both are on elevated mounts. The Aimpoint on the tall La Rue and the scope on tall see through rings.

I did not know that. Thank you. I shall try again with the current setups, at a longer range, off sandbags. Thanks Gotfish.

Bobermo, the original irons worked the first time out, but that was ages ago.

 

[gotfish]

Ding ding ding we have a winner. Both are on elevated mounts. The Aimpoint on the tall La Rue and the scope on taller see through rings.

I did not know that. Thank you. I shall try again with the current setups, at a longer range, off sandbags. Thanks Gotfish.

Happy to help. I bought a T-1 / Larue 660 about a year ago and tried sighting it in at a local indoor range, and got pretty upset when it wouldn't work. I was ready to send it back, and decided to look into it a little, and found this out for myself then. This was on my 5.56, but the concept is the same. If you have to use the shorter distance as a zero, I'd try using a slightly shorter mount for the Aimpoint (no idea what your setup looks like). I have an Aimpoint PRO on the stock mount on a different rifle, and have had no problems sighting that in at 25 yards. I also have my Primary Arms micro dot on a mid-height American Defense mount and can zero that at 25 as well.

In the end, don't feel bad. You're not the only one who made that mistake!

 

[sonjason]

I myself have had several questions about the best way to "sight in" my 15-22 as well, and almost all of my questions seem to be answered in this thread. I love this forum.

 

[Kayback]

This is the zero target. The numbers in red are the groups I shot and then adjusted. As you can see by number 5 I was getting a little flustered and pulled some. By then the adjustment screw wasn't even engaged in any thread.

The Green ones were once I'd given up, tightened the adjustment screw a little and adjusted the windage. The flyers at the top are from when I was aiming with hold-over.

Oh and this was aiming at the center of the 8". Not the smaller corner crosses.

 

[gotfish]

Yep...exact same thing that happened the day I mentioned. Optics are often more complicated than they seem!

 

[bjb4242]

I had an issue trying to zero my 15-22. I had it zeroed at about 15 yards (indoor range), and when I was able to move back to about 27 yards my poi was way off. The rifle produced very tight groups though, and I was shooting off a sand bag.

It has to do with the fact that the centerline of the sights on the 15-22 is high above the bore-just like it is on the AR 15. So the sights on the 15-22 are at the same height as the AR 15, but the trajectory of the .22LR round is way different than that of a .223 or 5.56.

I looked at some online ballistics calculators, and saw that if I zero the 15-22 at 50 yards, then the change between poi and poa would be much less at closer ranges such as 25,20, and 15 yards.

I rezeroed to 50 yards, and the theory is correct. The difference between poi and poa was much less.

My other semiauto is a Marlin 795, and the centerline of the sights is much closer to the bore than the 15-22. I have that rifle zeroed at 25 yards, and when I shoot it at 15 yards or 50 yards, the difference between poa and poi is very small.

 

[Turdducken]

Have you tried using a .22 bore laser pointer and line it up about 25 yards? Also is your barrel free floating or have you messed with it and its sagging a tad bit or not in complete alignment? How much is it raised and can it possibly come off that mount onto just an ordinary 1911 rail? I dont mean to be rude or bad talking at all if it seems that way, stuff I checked when my scope was a bit off as well on the 15-22. Hope you find the problem, I know how very discouraging it is to go out to the range and its like *** why will nothing work or land?! Especially with the still somewhat ammo drought so to speak. Best of luck bud.