Scope dialing and zerostop question.

[EvolutionGSR]

I was reading about how zerostop works and how to set it. I dont own the scope yet but I plan on a 3.5-15x50. It was suggested that you dial the scope "down" a few clicks to have some adjustment past your zero, but this confuses me, because dont you need to dial it down for further ranges? Or does dialing it "down" really mean moving point of impact up? Im confused.

[G-forceJunkie]

"Zero" is not a fixed number that never changes. Whne you zero a scope, it is only accurate at those weather conditions such as altitude, barometric pressure, humidity, etc. Basically, your 100 yard zero you set a sea level in the winter will be different when shooting in Denver in the summer. So leaving a little room below your zero when you set the zero stop makes sense as you may need to get a few clicks down later to rezero. Also, depending on the range, caliber, etc. there may be times you want to dial for a distance closer then your zero. Typically at some point before your zero (usually the second time the bullet crosses your line of sight on its way back down) the bullet is above the line of site. If you wanted to dial in a correction at that distance you would need to dial the scope down. If your zero stop was locked at your zero, you would not be able to do this.

[EvolutionGSR]

I understand why its done, but my confusion is if I only have 4 clicks down before I hit the stop, and i have a current zero that is at 100 yards, what if i want to adjust to a 500 yard shot where the bullet drops more than the 1 moa (I plan on getting moa adjustments) that the 4 clicks gives me?

[EvolutionGSR]

Typically at some point before your zero (usually the second time the bullet crosses your line of sight on its way back down) the bullet is above the line of site. If you wanted to dial in a correction at that distance you would need to dial the scope down. If your zero stop was locked at your zero, you would not be able to do this.

Im re reading your post, particularly this part. So "dialing down" is for when the bullet path is at a point when the bullet is higher than zeroed? This isthe info I'm looking to confirm, if dialing "down" means the crosshairs move up.

[HK Dave]

Imagine your scope is zeroed at 100 yards. Lets say your bullet trajectory brings you to 2" above target by 150 yards. You want it to hit dead on. Lot of people set their scopes zerostop to go as low as the 100 yard zero... some people set it a few clicks below that, so they can hit the 150 yard target dead on instead of 2" high.

Zerostop does not stop you from dialing up for further ranges like 500 yards 700 yards etc... it only keeps you from dialing down in other words, keeps you from making the scope point down so your bullet goes down.

It's a simple and intelligent tool to keep you from losing where you are since many turrets aren't that simple. I mean imagine if a turret is 6 mils per revolution... you dial up 11 mils for 800 yards... then you need to get to 300 yards and have to dial down to 3 mils... lets see you spun the turret once then added another 5... so i guess you have to go back.... see what i mean? Can get confusing.

Zero stop just lets you wind back to zero as fast as you want and then you can make adjustments again.

[HK Dave]

No disrespect intended if you didn't know this...



Just putting it out there for people who might now know to make this all easier for them to understand.

[EvolutionGSR]

My only confusion is with the terminology that i think everyone is answering for me inadvertently. The use of the terminology of dialing "up" or "down" is what confuses me. Both posters use dialing "up" for the case when you shoot long distance, where the bullet below the line of sight for the second time. This means to me, dialing "up" (counterclockwise on a NF) means pointing the crosshairs down, so that the bullet at that longer distance meets with the crosshair for its second time on its path again?

I have owned scopes before, but i zeroed it by just turning the knobs until it went the right way, and never did adjustments. I am scopeless right now, unless u count the acog.

[Ziggy91]

Don't think terminology.... just go shoot and find out for yourself. Just forget the science behind it and play with the scope in little adjustments... just not too much or you'll start shooting off target. This happened twice or me

[HK Dave]

Dialing Up means you turn the turret of your scope so that the crosshairs will compensate for the bullet drop... in other words, the reticle moves so you aim higher.

So imagine you're shooting at 100 yards... you aim for bullseye you fire and it hits dead center bullseye. For fun, you want to hit 10" above your bullseye, you dial UP on your scope... so turn the elevation knob/turret towards the direction that says UP 10MOA... or 10 inches.

You now aim at the bullseye and the bullet will hit 10 inches above the bullseye.

[JaeFern]

I see your confusion man. For terminology, just think that dialing up is moving your POI up (crosshairs down), and dialing down us moving your POI down (crosshairs up). Make more sense?

-Jae from my Photon 4G

[Santa Cruz Armory]

I see your confusion man. For terminology, just think that dialing up is moving your POI up (crosshairs down), and dialing down us moving your POI down (crosshairs up). Make more sense?

-Jae from my Photon 4G

Best, simplest explanation yet.

[EvolutionGSR]

Thanks guys, that is what I wanted to confirm. Dial up to move poi up. Crosshairs move down to move poi up. K.

[SGGear]

Ok good thing this came up. So I zero my 308 rifle to 300 yrds, how much depression (or below zerostop) should i set? I set mine at 1 mil.

[EvolutionGSR]

Ok good thing this came up. So I zero my 308 rifle to 300 yrds, how much depression (or below zerostop) should i set? I set mine at 1 mil.

From my understanding of how zerostop works and is used, I wouls set it enough to have a zerostop zero at 100 yards, and remember how many clicks up (did I use the right one?? Haha) you need to get back to 300.

[HK Dave]

Ok good thing this came up. So I zero my 308 rifle to 300 yrds, how much depression (or below zerostop) should i set? I set mine at 1 mil.

This depends on your bullet and load.

If you're zeroed at 300 yards at 100 yards you could be as high as 1.3-1.5 mils.