What range to zero shotgun with red dot?

[HK Dave]

Hey guys

Recently mounted an aimpoint micro on my Rem 870...

Was thinking about how to zero it and realized I don't actually know what distance to zero it at...

I shoot bird shot, buckshot and also slugs...

I'm guessing i should zero with slugs but at what range i wonder?

Any suggestions?

[9unknown]

Depends on its main purpose really. What length barrel? For anything defensive I would say 25 out of a 18.5" barrel, doubt you'd be using buckshot too far past that range in a defensive situation. I'm not very well versed on slug trajectory out to 100 with a 25 yard zero.

I have more experience zeroing for .223 / 5.56 though, maybe even closer to 15 now that I think about it. But once again, it all depends on how you want to use it.

[hlcarbine]

I usually set it@ 50 with 3in slugs, cause they are very effective after 75 yds

[BigDogatPlay]

With a smooth bore tube shooting rifled slugs I'd go with 50 yards if it's my gun. You would still be able to reliably plant them at 100.

[MossbergMan]

50 yard zero

Great question!
In my experience a 50 yard slug zero will suffice for most any shooting situation you should experience. At 50 yards (depending on the ammo) you should hit a couple of inches high at 25 and a couple of inches low at 100 yards ("minute of man" accurate). Standard velocity slugs shoot "flatter" than the tactical loads past 50/60 yards. Tactical slugs drop like a rock at 100 and are primarily for shooting humans in crowded urban environments where the ranges are fairly short.
Please understand that sighting in for slug placement may affect your "shot load" placement. Most times the two are pretty close (to the point that it doesn't matter), sometimes they are not. You will have to pattern and group your gun and ammo combination.
If the two are vastly different to the point it's either or, change ammo manufactures. A good balance should be attainable with the right ammo/gun combination. The easist way to change the performance of your SG is to change the ammo first before dumping money into the gun that may have just had a preference for one brand over another.
If shooting slugs is going to be an occassional event then consider the realistic scenarios and go from there when sighting in. If shooting slugs is the primary ammunition and/or application (i.e.deer hunting), pick a distance you anticipate your shots to be mostly taken at and just know your "dope" for that ammo at different distances.
I've found 100 yard zeros affects shot load placement inside the gun's/ammo "B zone". IMO the primary ammunition for the SG is "shot", not slugs. Slugs only allow us to extend the range at which our SGs are effective.
They (slugs) in no way make our SGs rifles, a mistake alot of people make.

[aippi]

Good post by Mossberg Man and has the info you need and is dead on accurate. The post could only be made better if he changed his name to Remington Man

[HK Dave]

Great question!
In my experience a 50 yard slug zero will suffice for most any shooting situation you should experience. At 50 yards (depending on the ammo) you should hit a couple of inches high at 25 and a couple of inches low at 100 yards ("minute of man" accurate). Standard velocity slugs shoot "flatter" than the tactical loads past 50/60 yards. Tactical slugs drop like a rock at 100 and are primarily for shooting humans in crowded urban environments where the ranges are fairly short.
Please understand that sighting in for slug placement may affect your "shot load" placement. Most times the two are pretty close (to the point that it doesn't matter), sometimes they are not. You will have to pattern and group your gun and ammo combination.
If the two are vastly different to the point it's either or, change ammo manufactures. A good balance should be attainable with the right ammo/gun combination. The easist way to change the performance of your SG is to change the ammo first before dumping money into the gun that may have just had a preference for one brand over another.
If shooting slugs is going to be an occassional event then consider the realistic scenarios and go from there when sighting in. If shooting slugs is the primary ammunition and/or application (i.e.deer hunting), pick a distance you anticipate your shots to be mostly taken at and just know your "dope" for that ammo at different distances.
I've found 100 yard zeros affects shot load placement inside the gun's/ammo "B zone". IMO the primary ammunition for the SG is "shot", not slugs. Slugs only allow us to extend the range at which our SGs are effective.
They (slugs) in no way make our SGs rifles, a mistake alot of people make.

This was what i was looking for. Thanks!