Hold over or under?

[max it]

My various pistols and rifles with red dots got me bamboozled.
I have to shoot them to remember what distance is set.
Each one is different. I can't make them all equal. too much work. What is the simple form?
So maybe I need to keep my shooting book with me?
Much obliged, Max

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I zero a handgun RDO at 10 yards, allowing me to make head shots to 25 yards, and torso shots to 100 yards.

For rifles, determine the max point blank range of the cartridge you're shooting and zero your optic to that.

 

[shafter]

There won't be a hold over at defensive handgun distances.

 

[jmorris]

Each one is different. I can't make them all equal. too much work. What is the simple form?

Is it more work to set them all equal or remember where they are all set?

 

[Jim Watson]

You do not say what guns or what ranges or what application.
If for target shooting at 50 yards pistol or 500 yards rifle, say; yes, take your book of sight settings along.

If for hunting, defense, or most action shooting calling for a dot, there is a "maximum point blank" range at which trajectory does not matter on the target zone. The old Tackhole Dot could be ordered in a size for that, all shots would land within the dot out to the stated range.

 

[bearcreek]

I have to shoot them to remember what distance is set.

When you say "what distance is set", are you referring to the distance at which that weapon is zeroed?

Each one is different. I can't make them all equal. too much work.

Unless you have multiples of the same gun, in the same caliber, with the same barrel length, with the same optic, it wouldn't matter how much work you put in, you wouldn't be able to make them "all equal".

What is the simple form?
So maybe I need to keep my shooting book with me?

From muzzle to first zero, you hold over (although it's usually not enough to bother considering, until we start talking about shooting from behind cover or very precise shooting at very short distances), from first zero to second zero, you hold under, and from second zero and beyond, you hold over. The distance at which all those things happen varies depending on the firearm and optic setup in question, meaning, there is no "simple form" that works with all of them. The basic idea is the same for every firearm and every sighting system (other than under barrel mounted lasers) but the distances vary widely.

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend's red dot pistol sights are only 1" above bore line. Feeding that and a 9mm 115 gr at 1200 fps into JBL shows that you can zero at 50 yards with POI an inch below POA right off the muzzle,
0.4" low at 8 yards,
first crossing center at 14 yards,
0.4" high at 32 yards,
center at 50 yards,
0.4" low at 56 yards.

So it will be within a total vertical of 0.8" over a 48 yard bracket from 8 to 56 yards.
He does't hold over or under for anything, most of his shooting is GSSF at 5 to 25 yards.

So a quick check at 15 yards will get you started.

Similar calculations will show what you can get away with in other calibers.

 

[CapnMac]

For me, and others are free to feel differently, this is an argument for having only the one EDC, and practicing enough so that aiming is "reflexive." That you muscle and perceptive memory will put you on target is nearly no conscious effort.

That latter, again for me, not for everyone, is important as you will have enough stressors in a time of need to not want to break the OUDA loop by having to "stop" and 'remember' anything. For my 2¢ you are going to be heavily taxed as is by wanting to perceive your target, what's behind the target, all while not losing Situational Awareness.

Now, for just going to the range, I do have notebooks for things like "favorite ammo" which is handy as my Mossberg M44 "likes" differnt 22lr ammoo than the restof to the safe. That my LE9622 wants different 5.56 ammo than the other 5.56 I own. Which is more about leaving the house with ammo to make my range experience nicer. Nothing wrong with "range books" in my worldview. Does that mean documenting every range trip Dunno, maybe. Used to be a common military practice to make all your shots in a book, and keep that "dope" handy. Times change.

 

[max it]

WoW! EDC are all iron sights, some FO.
I will have to print out this page and ponder the rest. You guys, much obliged, Max

 

[max it]

For me, and others are free to feel differently, this is an argument for having only the one EDC, and practicing enough so that aiming is "reflexive." That you muscle and perceptive memory will put you on target is nearly no conscious effort.

That latter, again for me, not for everyone, is important as you will have enough stressors in a time of need to not want to break the OUDA loop by having to "stop" and 'remember' anything. For my 2¢ you are going to be heavily taxed as is by wanting to perceive your target, what's behind the target, all while not losing Situational Awareness.

Now, for just going to the range, I do have notebooks for things like "favorite ammo" which is handy as my Mossberg M44 "likes" differnt 22lr ammoo than the restof to the safe. That my LE9622 wants different 5.56 ammo than the other 5.56 I own. Which is more about leaving the house with ammo to make my range experience nicer. Nothing wrong with "range books" in my worldview. Does that mean documenting every range trip Dunno, maybe. Used to be a common military practice to make all your shots in a book, and keep that "dope" handy. Times change.

CapN' I couldn't agree more.
That's why home defense is a SW mod 19; Combat Magnum.
Much obliged, Max