Took my BPM Patrolman AR, some 55gr .223 and my new Strike Eagle II (1-6x24) scope to Frontline Defense this afternoon to sight it in then bang some steel on their 500 yd range. I sighted in at 25yds, knowing it should be about right at 300 yds. If you are not familiar with their AR BDC reticle, it has hash marks under the crosshairs that, theoretically, allow you to be on paper at 100 yd increments.
Anyway, took it to the 500 yd range and, after 3 elevation clicks, was hitting the 300 yd steel with the crosshairs in the center of the target. Transitioned to the 400 target, put the next hash mark on the target and pulled the trigger. No ding, no dirt, nothing. Started playing with sight picture but never got close until I put the center crosshairs on the upper third of the target, then was hitting steel. Hmmm, okay. Transitioned to the 500 target, put the next lower hash on the middle of the target and same as the 400 yd, nada to go by. Played with position of the crosshairs and was able to hit steel if the center crosshairs where lined up with the top of the target. After playing some more, I found that holding the crosshairs a little below the target worked for 200, center worked for 300, upper third worked for 400 and top of the target worked for 500.
I (now) know the center crosshairs are meant to be zero’d at 50 yds and you should be good from 20-200 yds. Then the 4 lower hash marks are supposed to be close enough for 300-600 yds. But, to my feeble mind, I shouldn’t be able to hit steel from 200-500 yds with minimal change of the position of the crosshairs on the target when using a 25 yds zero, right? Magic bullets, lucky SOB or clueless wonder that has no business owning anything more powerful than a .22 and only if shooting out to no more than 100 yds are the only things I can come up with
Anyway, took it to the 500 yd range and, after 3 elevation clicks, was hitting the 300 yd steel with the crosshairs in the center of the target. Transitioned to the 400 target, put the next hash mark on the target and pulled the trigger. No ding, no dirt, nothing. Started playing with sight picture but never got close until I put the center crosshairs on the upper third of the target, then was hitting steel. Hmmm, okay. Transitioned to the 500 target, put the next lower hash on the middle of the target and same as the 400 yd, nada to go by. Played with position of the crosshairs and was able to hit steel if the center crosshairs where lined up with the top of the target. After playing some more, I found that holding the crosshairs a little below the target worked for 200, center worked for 300, upper third worked for 400 and top of the target worked for 500.
I (now) know the center crosshairs are meant to be zero’d at 50 yds and you should be good from 20-200 yds. Then the 4 lower hash marks are supposed to be close enough for 300-600 yds. But, to my feeble mind, I shouldn’t be able to hit steel from 200-500 yds with minimal change of the position of the crosshairs on the target when using a 25 yds zero, right? Magic bullets, lucky SOB or clueless wonder that has no business owning anything more powerful than a .22 and only if shooting out to no more than 100 yds are the only things I can come up with