Sighting in

Sighting in or zeroing a firearm is the goal of adjusting sights so bullets may be placed at a predictable position within the sight picture of that firearm. The iterative procedure involves firing a group of bullets from a cool barrel, adjusting the sights to move the point of impact to the point of aim, and repeating the process until a group is centered on the point of aim.

Bullets discharged from a firearm immobilized in a device such as a Mann rest may not always land in precisely the same spot. Some of that variation may be caused by wind conditions or ammunition differences; but individual firearms may have differing abilities to place bullets consistently. Bullet impact positions at a measured distance from the firearm muzzle are evaluated as groups. Each group consists of a given number of shots with increasing numbers of shots providing greater statistical confidence. Each group is described by the minimum diameter circle perpendicular to the axis of bullet movement including the impact point of all bullets in that group. A firearm consistently placing bullets within a 1 inch (25 mm) diameter circle on a target 100 yards (91 m) from the muzzle might be described as capable of 1-inch groups at 100 yards. Groups may alternatively be described by the angle of dispersion. A one-inch group at 100 yards is approximately equivalent to one minute of angle, indicating that firearm would be expected to place bullets within a two-inch group at 200 yards, or within a three-inch group at 300 yards. Terminology may be confusing. Groups should not be confused with the patterns traditionally used to describe the positioning of a specified percentage of the multiple pellets from an individual shotgun shell.

Firearms carried by individuals may be positioned differently from one shot to the next. Most firearms have sights to assist the shooter in positioning the firearm so bullets will strike the desired location. Precision machining used in manufacture of modern firearms and testing prior to distribution have improved the probability these sights will be correctly positioned; but various factors may cause bullet placement to be different than expected:

Sighting in a firearm is an important test of the ability of the firearm user to hit anticipated targets with available ammunition. Pictures or silhouettes of intended targets are less suitable for sighting in than high contrast shapes compatible with the type of sights on the firearm. Contrasting circles are commonly used as sighting in targets. Some targets include a faint grid for easier measurement of horizontal and vertical distance from point of aim. These circle targets are especially suitable for peep sights, aperture sights, dot reticles, and bead front sights; and are most useful when the apparent diameter of that sight feature matches the apparent diameter of the contrasting circle at the selected distance to target. Firearms with blade front sights and notch rear sights may reduce vertical dispersion by using a sight picture visually balancing the target circle on a horizontal sight surface like the top of the blade or horizontal notched surface.

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Wikipedia