Holy buckeyes!
Sometimes, you just have those frustrating moments when you think you’ve got a perfect shot, only for it to miss.
I lost count of how many times that has happened to me, and I had to do something.
That is, until I realized that it was just a simple sighting problem! If this happens to you, it seems like your scoped rifle could have LOST zero.
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What Does It Mean for My Scope to Lose Zero?
To zero in a scope means to align the scope with the bullet trajectory. This would allow the bullets to hit the target at a distance.
Of course, there are a lot of factors that go into making sure your bullet hits its target. There’s chamber pressure, wind speed, distance, etc.
While you can’t specifically dictate a bullet to go exactly where the scope is pointing, it is possible to adjust the scope so that the crosshair will point at the exact spot you want your bullets to go.
This adjustment, if done properly, is what it means to make a scope HOLD ZERO.
If you fire a shot, and the bullet is FAR off its aim, you could say that the scope has LOST zero.
How could this have happened?
Let’s look at some reasons for why your rifle scopes lose zero and how you can possibly troubleshoot it to ensure your scope will hold zero.
Why Does My Scope Lose Zero? — 7 Possible Causes
Now that we know what it means for a scope to not hold zero, let’s look at some of its possible causes.
1. Defective Scope
The simplest reason for a rifle scope losing zero could simply be that it is a defective or poorly-made scope. There can be many reasons for this.
- Low-quality make and model
- Degraded over time
- Abuse of the rifle scope (dropping or bumping)
If you feel as though your rifle scope may be defective, it may be best to get a new, better-quality scope.
I couldn’t get one of my scopes to hold zero, and I thought it was just a sighting problem.
Turns out, it’s been damaged this whole time, and I unfortunately had to replace it.
Let this also serve as a reminder to regularly do scope maintenance!
If you feel your scope is NOT defective, but you still experience issues, you might want to revisit sighting into rifle scopes properly.
2. Barrel Heat
This may be surprising, but the temperature of the barrel, especially for hunting rifles, actually plays a large role in the accuracy of the shot.
A barrel at AMBIENT temperature, also known as a cold barrel, makes the most accurate shots.
When a few bullets have already been shot, it is known as a hot barrel.
A hot barrel tends to shoot too high or too low.
The change in temperature as the barrel heats up causes it to swell and change in stresses to alter shots, causing it to shift a bit with every shot.
Additionally, a barrel can even fall off if it overheats!
This is especially an issue with rifles that have a thin barrel and a high volume cartridge.
THIN barrels tend to heat up FASTER, while high volume cartridges tend to shoot hotter.
While rifles with this configuration make for a first shot with a deadly aim on a cold barrel, the heat from this combination of factors is disastrous for any ensuing shots.
The combination of these two factors makes for a DISASTER.
I always let my barrel cool down after a few shots to prevent overheating, and you should as well!
3. Dirty Barrel
Dirty barrels are quite normal on the field as some debris is leftover from each bullet that leaves the rifle.
However, a dirty barrel can also affect the accuracy of your shots.
Rust and debris inside the barrel can cause BLOCKAGE and cause the shot to lose accuracy, even if the rifle scopes are accurate.
Additionally, any corrosion or copper fouling inside the barrel may also cause a misfire or a failure of shooting.
I forgot to clean my barrel after multiple days outside, and experienced inaccurate shots as a consequence.
With a dirty barrel, your shots may be missing even if you’re doing everything else right.
I always make it a point to clean my barrel after an outdoor session to have it ready for next time.
4. Wrong Ammunition
Some bullets may have variations and inconsistencies that may cause your rifle to lose zero.
For example, in my case, I once had misshapen rounds, so they shot differently from my rifle.
Your rounds may also have an incompatible weight.
Some bullets may also be corroded or dirty, thus contributing to a change in direction and shot.
It is important to note, also, that different rifles are suited for different rounds.
Using the wrong type of bullet may damage the shot and the rifle if it is not made to sustain such heavy recoil.
5. Mounting Problems
Faulty scope mounts or bad mou