25-Yd zero for a 9mm carbine

[Lefty38-55]

A few people asked me for this, so I thought I would post it here …

 

[mjsdwash]

i zero'd my 16'' for 25 yds and it was dead exactly the same at 100. About 4 feet of drop to 200.
115gr@1300 or so.

125's were ''close enough''

 

[jmr40]

I don't have one and have never looked at the numbers. But 25 yards is where I'd start.

 

[DMW1116]

I went with 50 yards for my Sub2K but I’m shooting 147 grain XTPs so they have the trajectory of a thrown rock.

 

[Buzznrose]

I sighted my Ruger PC Carbine for 25 yards. It was about an inch high at 50

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I went with 50 yards for my Sub2K but I’m shooting 147 grain XTPs so they have the trajectory of a thrown rock.

What velocity do you get with a 16n barrel with the 147s?? Would hot loads get supersonic or no?

 

[DMW1116]

I haven’t Chronographed it but the charge shows 900 fps based on Hornady’s data. I use 4.1 grains of CFE pistol. Out of a 16” barrel I’d guess 1000 fps?

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I haven’t Chronographed it but the charge shows 900 fps based on Hornady’s data. I use 4.1 grains of CFE pistol. Out of a 16” barrel I’d guess 1000 fps?

Hmm ok we need to do some testing on 147gr stuff as well but we don't have any 16in barrel guns in 9mm. Just handguns and AR pistols (SBRs I guess now lol)

 

[DMW1116]

I swapped out the oem front sight post. With the current post it is bottomed out. Can’t go any slower and still zero at this point.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

14m/80m zero with a prism optic.
I allow zero distance to be completely arbitrary, but set it so that maximum trajectory over POA = Height over bore. This provides the mathematically maximum possible distance where point of impact is within HOB distance of POA.
Around 90m with 147s and a prism optic is where drop = HOB = apex over POA, therefore the system is point-and-shoot within 5.5cm(HOB) out to 90m.

 

[PO2Hammer]

My Ruger is sighted at 50, slightly high at 65 according to a chart, and about -6” at 100. (124 gr)
Don’t like to sight it at 25 because it throws them high at mid ranges.
A lot depends on sight height above the bore.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I use this calculator.
https://shooterscalculator.com/ballistic-trajectory-chart.php?t=0be6a4cf

 

[DMW1116]

14m/80m zero with a prism optic.
I allow zero distance to be completely arbitrary, but set it so that maximum trajectory over POA = Height over bore. This provides the mathematically maximum possible distance where point of impact is within HOB distance of POA.
Around 90m with 147s and a prism optic is where drop = HOB = apex over POA, therefore the system is point-and-shoot within 5.5cm(HOB) out to 90m.

I generally do something similar. I don’t know enough about the load in the Sub2K and the sights are persnickety, so I haven’t done it. Usually I run a 6” diameter Maximum Point Blank Range whatever that might be.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

I generally do something similar. I don’t know enough about the load in the Sub2K and the sights are persnickety, so I haven’t done it. Usually I run a 6” diameter Maximum Point Blank Range whatever that might be.

I always forget the term. Yes, MPBR, where deviation = scope height.
Then just write up DOPE for range higher than MPBR.
It results in a number of weird zero distances, especially if done for subsonic rounds, but it's idiot proof for anything below MPBR.

 

[bfoosh006]

FWIW, I chrono'd 129 OEM factory loads from my 16" Colt pattern PCC.
The results varied quite a bit between manufacturers , the data is older but still a good read.
https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/-/16-712312/?page=1&anc=7429025#i7429025

And the 9MM out of a 16" barrel tends to have about the trajectory of the sub and sonic 22LR, after about 125yds, it starts to drop fast.

 

[omega5]

My Beretta CX4 Storm's Sig Romeo Red Dot is zeroed at 20yds, .5 inch high at 35 and dead on again at 50.
That's using 115gr Nato by Winchester. It's a 16 inch barrel and the Romeo is a 2MOA Dot. It's my wifes
go to rifle. Each gun is different as well as ammo so each needs to be sited in (25 yds is a good place to
start with PCP's) and tested at what ever range one sees the need to shoot. Ballistic calculators are a place
to start but that's all. They get you on paper but you'll need to fine tune it.
PS: Same gun but with 124gr FMJ is dead on at 25yds, with 147gr HP it's about 1/2 inch high at 25.
Dano

 

[DMW1116]

I always forget the term. Yes, MPBR, where deviation = scope height.
Then just write up DOPE for range higher than MPBR.
It results in a number of weird zero distances, especially if done for subsonic rounds, but it's idiot proof for anything below MPBR.

That's basically what I do with my centerfire rifles too. I zero them 3" high at 150 yards, which is about 2.5" high at 100 yards. Calibers like 30-30 get zeroed 3" high at 100 yards. Generically, 22s and 9mm PCC's get 50-yard zeroes unless there is a reason to do it different. Now I have a project for next range trip. Pull the red dot sight off my 22 pistol and mount it on the Sub2K, then zero for 6" MPBR. My eyes and general face shape don't play well with the Sub2K factory sight set-up, and I sort of want to go back to irons on the 22 pistol. It will be a good experiment in any case. I'm not convinced I shoot that pistol better with the RDS.

 

[flightsimmer]

I picked 124 gn as a middle of the road projectile weight and then sighted my red dot in at roughly 1" high at 50 yards and hopefully 4" low at 100 yards if I figured it correctly.

If I'm off a little it will be easy to correct.

 

[eharri3]

I initially zeroed my sub2k at 50 yards and later when I let a friend shoot it at 25 we found the holdover more than expected and requiring more thought than we were comfortable with to be precise at 25 and in. Precise meaning consistently getting into a 2 inch or 2x3 bull's eye. 50 yard zero just did not make us comfortable at common SD ranges with the 9's trajectory.

Since then I had that optic go bad and due to available mounts in my drawer and rifle compatibility the new one went on something else and one from a different rifle ended up on the Keltec. I re zedoed it at 25 today and still got decent enough hits at 50 to make me happy. For the Keltec's purpose as a backup SD/HD option likely used in the home or right near it I consider 25 better. My AR9 is set up for 50 and will stay there as that's a range toy that's more likely to he shot frequently at 50.

For the Keltec I'd rather be precise to 25 and close enough at 50 than dead on at 50
And having to think about it at 25. As set up I easily can hit a man sized target center mass at 50 but am set up to be drive tacks at 15-25 where I may realistically need to thread a needle on adrenaline.

 

[valnar]

Agreed with the OP . My 9mm CZ Scorpion with 147gr pills I zero at around 20 yards. That'll cover all use case scenarios. My other 9mm pistols with 124gr bullets I zero around15 yards.

 

[Gordon]

I zeroed this at 25 Yards and it is right on again at 100 yards. It has to do with the bore /sight axis distance . I use 147 grain ammo so it is subsonic . That is an Ecco Machine (older version) Canine suppressor on this now SBR Ruger Charger . I run the suppressor without a wipe on this gun as it is quiet enough to be hearing safe . With a wipe it is very quiet , but if I run supersonic ammo then the crack makes it not matter . This can IS easily serviced with five baffles . This gun breaks quickly down into two briefcase sized pieces btw .

 

[TonyAngel]

When I first got into 9mm PCC, I zeroed at 50 because I figured that would be the distance where it would be most practical. At 25, my sidearm would be faster out of the holster and on target. Once I started running it, it quickly became apparent that a 25 zero was the way to go. With a 25 zero, I could still hit golf balls at 100.

 

[DMW1116]

As though I needed a reason to shoot my Sub2K, I think I'll change to 25 or maybe 20 as well. 20/100 or 20/90 sounds pretty useful.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm zeroed at 50 yards and can make hits (124 Gr) at 100 to 150 pretty easy on a 12" plate. 300? LOL, That's a lot of drop, doable, but not real consistent with a large dot red dot, which is what's on mine. It's really a 100 and in gun anyway. Even that's pushing the limits of delivering ample power IMHO.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

My CM11-9 is on at 50, which works for me, but the 25 yard zero makes sense. I've never shot it beyond 100 yards. The sights on it are very close to the bore.