Does your zero fluctuate in different conditions?

[drew4392]

Wondering if anybody notices a zero shift in different environments/density altitudes.

I noticed about 1 MOA shift in my zero going from ~700ft DA to ~4,000ft DA.

My practice has been to re-zero at the beginning of every shooting session, even if small differences.

Very interested to hear what others are doing.

Thanks!

[Dano3467]

Air density has much to do with POI from zero

I'm no expert but this can cause small deviations.

[maxx03]

Temperature and elevation will have an effect on point of impact. That is why reloaders Wil try to pick powders that are less temp sensitive as temp will effect pressure and velocity.

[bsumoba]

Yes, POI will change with conditions, but for me, the changes are very minor, usually around 1/8"-1/4" or less than 0.1 mil in either direction (up/down or left/right).

On my F-Class guns, it doesn't matter for me because I will get a zero for whatever yardage I am shooting that day during my sighter period.

When I see this kind of shift with my MIL scopes, which are normally used for tactical type shoots and where I might need to do cold bore shots or have long periods between stages, I will usually note the shift and then favor on the side of the shift. So say I noticed the previous day that it is hitting about 1/2 mil left. I will not make a zero change on my scope, but what I will do the next day is on a windless day, I will favor right on the target.

[ar15barrels]

Wondering if anybody notices a zero shift in different environments/density altitudes.

I noticed about 1 MOA shift in my zero going from ~700ft DA to ~4,000ft DA.

My practice has been to re-zero at the beginning of every shooting session, even if small differences.

Very interested to hear what others are doing.

Thanks!

If you are using a good ballistics calculator, you should be able to enter the conditions that your gun was ZEROED in and then enter the conditions that you are actually SHOOTING in and it will correct for the change in conditions.
You also need to be aware of what velocity your ammo makes in different temperatures and enter that into the ballistics calculator if you do not already have your temperature/velocity compensation feature setup correctly.

[thomashoward]

I check my zero when I get to where I'm hunting. Too many variables