Rifle Zero — 25 Yards (Battlesight Zero)
A 25-yard zero is the classic "battlesight zero" (BZO) taught for 5.56/.223 carbines. Because of how the bullet's arc rises above and falls back through your line of sight, a rifle zeroed at 25 yards will also land close to point of aim again around 300 yards — a practical one-zero compromise for close-to-long range. The tradeoff: from roughly 100-250 yards the bullet flies noticeably high (often several inches) above point of aim, which you need to account for with a slightly lower hold.
Before you start
Zero from a stable, supported position (a rest, bags, or a barricade) — zeroing measures the relationship between your sight and your bore, not your own unsupported wobble. Confirm every zero with a second group after adjusting, and re-torque and recheck your mount once you're done. Click values (MOA or MRAD per click) vary by optic model — check your specific optic's manual before converting inches to clicks.
Step-by-Step Zeroing Procedure
- Mount and torque the optic or confirm iron sights are tight. Check eye relief and cheek weld — a shifting cheek weld changes your point of aim even with a perfect mechanical zero.
- Shoot from a supported position at 25 yards — bipod, bags, or a solid rest. Fire a 3-5 shot group at one consistent point of aim.
- Measure the group's offset from your point of aim, in inches and direction.
- Convert to clicks and adjust. At 25 yards, 1 MOA is about 0.26 inches. Many rifle red dots are 1/2-MOA per click (about 0.13 inches per click at 25 yd); many precision scopes are 1/4-MOA or an MRAD value instead — check your optic.
- Re-shoot and confirm with a second, then a third independent group at the same point of aim.
- Remember the mid-range rise. This zero is optimized for close range and roughly 300 yards, not for the flattest possible impact at 100-150 yards — expect to hold slightly low in that band if precision matters there.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is 25 yards called a "battlesight zero"?
- Because of 5.56/.223 trajectory, a rifle zeroed at 25 yards will also cross point of aim again near 300 yards, giving a single practical zero that covers close range through long range without holdover for most engagement distances — the classic BZO taught in military and many civilian carbine courses.
- How much does a 25-yard zero rise above point of aim at 100-150 yards?
- Typically several inches high, depending on your specific load, barrel length, and optic height over bore — this is the tradeoff for the 25/300 coincidental zero. If your priority is flat impact at 100-150 yards specifically, a 50-yard zero is usually a better fit.
- What MOA-per-click conversion do I use at 25 yards?
- 1 MOA is about 0.26 inches at 25 yards. For a 1/2-MOA-per-click optic, that's roughly 0.13 inches per click — divide your measured offset in inches by that figure to get the number of clicks.
Print the matching zeroing target
Range Coach includes a printable target built for this exact zero, plus shot-group logging to track your offset and confirm each adjustment.
Printable Targets Open Zeroing Tool