The exact number of clicks required to zero a scope is not a fixed value; it depends on several critical factors, primarily your scope's click value, the distance to your target, and how far off your point of impact is from your point of aim. Zeroing involves adjusting your scope's turrets (windage and elevation) to make the bullet's point of impact align with your point of aim.
Understanding Scope Clicks for Zeroing
Each click on your scope's adjustment turrets moves the point of impact by a specific amount. This amount is typically measured in Minutes of Angle (MOA) or Milli-radians (MILs). Most hunting and sport shooting scopes use MOA adjustments, with 1/4 MOA per click being very common.
Key Factors Influencing Clicks
To accurately determine the number of clicks needed, consider these factors:
- Scope Click Value: This is the most crucial factor. A 1/4 MOA scope moves the point of impact 1/4 inch at 100 yards per click. If your scope is 1/2 MOA, it moves 1/2 inch at 100 yards per click, and so on.
- Shooting Distance: The impact of each click changes with distance. A 1/4 MOA click that moves 1/4 inch at 100 yards will only move 1/8 inch at 50 yards, and 1/16 inch at 25 yards. The further the target, the greater the effect of each click.
- Amount of Correction Needed: This refers to how far your bullet's point of impact is from your intended point of aim. You'll measure this in inches (or centimeters if using metric).
Calculating Clicks Based on Scope Type and Distance (Using 1/4 MOA Example)
For a scope with 1/4 MOA clicks, the number of clicks required to move your point of impact one inch varies significantly with the shooting distance. The principle is that at half the distance, you need double the clicks to achieve the same physical movement of the bullet's impact.
Here's how clicks translate to movement at different common zeroing distances for a 1/4 MOA scope:
| Distance (Yards) | Clicks to Move 1 Inch (for 1/4 MOA Scope) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 4 |
| 50 | 8 |
| 25 | 16 |
As you can see, zeroing at closer ranges requires a greater number of clicks for each inch of adjustment. For instance, if your shot is one inch off at 25 yards, you will need to adjust your scope by 16 clicks to correct it, whereas at 100 yards, it would only take 4 clicks for the same one-inch correction.
Practical Steps to Zero Your Scope
Follow these steps to effectively zero your rifle scope:
- Initial Shot & Assessment: Fire a group of shots (e.g., three rounds) at a target at your chosen zeroing distance (e.g., 50 or 100 yards).
- Measure Deviation: After firing, carefully measure the distance between the center of your shot group and your aiming point (the bullseye). Measure both horizontal (left/right) and vertical (up/down) deviation in inches.
- Determine Click Value for Distance: Based on your scope's click value (e.g., 1/4 MOA) and your shooting distance, determine how many clicks are needed to move the point of impact by one inch. Refer to the table above for a 1/4 MOA scope.
- Calculate Required Clicks: Divide the measured deviation (in inches) by the adjustment per click (in inches) to get the total clicks needed.
- Clicks Needed = (Deviation in Inches) × (Clicks per Inch at Your Distance)
- Make Adjustments:
- If the shots are low, turn the elevation turret UP (or counter-clockwise on most scopes).
- If the shots are high, turn the elevation turret DOWN (or clockwise on most scopes).
- If the shots are left, turn the windage turret RIGHT (or clockwise on most scopes).
- If the shots are right, turn the windage turret LEFT (or counter-clockwise on most scopes).
- Always turn the turrets in the direction you want the bullet to move on the target.
- Confirm Zero: Fire another group of shots to confirm your adjustments. Repeat the process if further fine-tuning is needed.
Example Calculation
Let's say you are using a scope with 1/4 MOA clicks and are zeroing at 50 yards. Your first shots impact 2 inches low and 1 inch left of your aiming point.
From the table, at 50 yards, it takes 8 clicks to move 1 inch.
- For Elevation (2 inches low): You need to move the impact up by 2 inches.
2 inches * 8 clicks/inch = 16 clicks UP
- For Windage (1 inch left): You need to move the impact right by 1 inch.
1 inch * 8 clicks/inch = 8 clicks RIGHT
By understanding your scope's specifications and applying basic calculations, you can efficiently zero your rifle for accurate shooting.
