There is a certain satisfaction that comes from being able to hit a bullseye without the use of a high-tech scope or red dot sights emitting optic.
With iron sights, this how-to guide will teach you how to get that bullseye and become an expert at aiming without high-tech optics.
How to Zero Iron Sights and Have Deadly Aim
We have created 5 steps to guide you on how to zero your iron sight. We came up with the acronym ILDAF to help you remember the steps below:
Step 1: Identify Your Target
Most people choose 25 yards as their target. It lessens the difficulty because it brings each square’s width and length at 1 MOA.
What Is Minute of Angle (MOA)?
Adjusting the back up iron sights isn’t as simple as trial and error. It’s helpful to know the basics and what a Minute of Angle (MOA) is to ensure your sight adjustment and clicks would lead to zeroing in the iron sights.
The “unit of measurement” for iron sights is commonly referred to as Minute of Angle or MOA. It’s imperative to know that sights operate in angular measurement. At short range, the bullet impact of an angle change in MOA might be minuscule.
The importance of zeroing your back up iron sights would come more in handy as you increase distance.
Visualize this: 2 people using a compass to guide them as they walk 100 yards forward. A compass contains 360 hash marks – each mark incredibly close to the next.
Person A starts to walk at the 90-degree mark, then Person B walks at 89. At the starting point, both are right next to each of them.
But they would end up a meter and a half away from each other at the end of 100 yards.
If compasses operate in degrees, iron sights come in angles. Every angle affects accuracy. Every degree contains 60 segments. Each segment or one-sixtieth of a degree is 1 MOA.
To realize the change in every MOA, 1 MOA adjustment results in an inch of diversion in every 100 yards.
Clicks highly impact accuracy thus you have to know the change in MOA of your rifle per click adjustments. For reference, most adjust at 1/4 MOA per click.
With this, the iron sight adjustments are easier to calculate as well. The target or the middle diamond measures 4 MOA wide, the accepted accuracy for the U.S. Army. If it’s US Army approved, then it’s all good.
Meanwhile, the back of the target would be 16 MOA. It’s fairly easy to get it right at this distance. Working with a similar accuracy standard, one can move the target further back to 100 meters. You can check if you have sight zero if the results are fairly close.
You can use papers with readily printed targets for practice. Otherwise, you can mock up one by using an old paper plate with a target marking in the middle. You just need to check the measurements to help you with your accuracy.
Step 2: Load Your Rifle
This is pretty self-explanatory but an important step. Achieving iron sight zero is affected by the rifle, range, shooter, and ammunition.
Many times, some have a “practice ammunition” which is different from what they really use outside training. Although it helps the shooter practice the rifle, it is not a recommended practice if your goal is to confirm and lock in your sights.
The thing is, each ammunition cartridge calls for a different zero. Thus, if you want to know the actual sight zero of your firearm, practice with the ammunition you would be using.
Pro-shooter tip: If for some reason, you prefer to have a practice load and “real” load, you can record and measure the difference in sight adjustment using colored markers.
This can help you determine and estimate the bullet impact of each load. It can help you adjust to the difference when you switch to another load.
Step 3: Determine Your Shooting Position
More important than identifying your practice range would be your position.
A shooting bench might seem tempting as it can easily help you sight in and gain stability when shooting.
Take note though: This won’t be your real position when shooting outside the training course.
If you aim to zero the sights, we recommend practicing in a prone position.
When it comes to shooting, it might be better to start with this position. It would be easier to adjust to a bench than to adjust from a bench to a prone position.
If one gets too used to shooting from a bench, it might be hard to adjust when shooting in an actual field. Remember, you’ll only get your zero outside your comfort zone. Practice it from where you actually plan to use it.
So, should you go with a cross ankle sit position? Aside from the prone position, others fire from a cross ankle sit.
You can try both and see which one works better for your chosen range. After determining your position, take note of your natural point of aim. This helps you achieve and enhance your level of accuracy in your back up iron sights.
Step 4: Adjust Rear Sight
This is only applicable if your rear sight is adjustable. If not, proceed to the last step.
Most sights have a “zero” setting. This is common especially for those with adjustable carry handle rear sight. Some even come with a guide to get the right number settings.
For back up iron sights with BDC, it is helpful to set these on a specific setting before beginning to align the sights.
This is true for KAC Micro, Magpul MBUS Pro LR, the carry handle sight, or a Matech.
These usually come with instructions, so adjust the rear sight elevation to baseline before proceeding to the last step.
Adjusting the rear sight requires that the aperture is strictly centered in the housing. You can achieve this by moving the aperture all the way to one side.
Record how many clicks it would take to reach the other side. Divide this number by half. This would indicate the number of clicks you need to put in the center.
Step 5: Fire and Adjust
Others go for three or five shots before they do any front or rear sight adjustments.
While three is easier to remember the aiming position for each round, five gives you a more accurate group of data points. Depending on your level and objective, choose which one works better for you.
If you’re a beginner. expect to have a spread of points in the first few tries. You need a tight group of shots before you can effectively adjust as needed. Otherwise, you might end up like a dog chasing its tail and achieve nothing.
When you have a good set of sh