NRA America’s Rifle Challenge: Zeroing Your Rifle Tips @ShootingUSA

Published on March 3, 2026
Duration: 7:43

This expert guide from NRA America's Rifle Challenge, featuring Kyle Lamb, details how to zero an AR-15 rifle for various shooting scenarios. It covers initial zeroing at 100 yards, understanding height over bore, and advanced dialing techniques for longer ranges using specific ammunition and scope adjustments. The instruction emphasizes practical application for competition divisions.

Quick Summary

Learn to zero your AR-15 rifle with expert instruction from Kyle Lamb. This guide covers initial 100-yard zeroing, understanding height over bore, and advanced techniques for dialing scope adjustments using ballistic data for distances up to 384 yards.

Chapters

  1. 00:19Introduction and Setup
  2. 00:35Rifle and Ammunition Overview
  3. 01:33Prone Shooting Technique
  4. 02:33First Target and Adjustments
  5. 03:44Confirming Zero at 100 Yards
  6. 03:54Transition to 10 Yards and Height Over Bore
  7. 05:10Longer Range Zeroing
  8. 06:14Engaging Targets at Range
  9. 07:20Conclusion and Training Advice

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you zero an AR-15 rifle for different distances?

Zero your AR-15 at 100 yards first. For longer ranges, use a scope with adjustable turrets and a ballistic data card. Calculate the necessary MRAD adjustments for each distance (e.g., 161 yards requires 0.2 MRAD) and dial them into your scope before engaging targets.

What is height over bore and why is it important for rifle zeroing?

Height over bore is the distance between your rifle's bore and the optic's line of sight. Understanding this is crucial for predicting bullet impact at various ranges, especially when transitioning from a close-range zero to longer engagements, preventing misses.

What ammunition types are discussed for AR-15 zeroing?

The video mentions 55-grain ball ammunition for a standard AR-15 with a red dot, 73-grain ELD-X for a limited category rifle, and Black Arc 80.5-grain ammunition for an open category rifle with a higher-powered scope.

What are the key scope adjustment principles for long-range shooting?

For long-range shooting, you need to know your ammunition's ballistic data and your scope's adjustment rate (e.g., 0.1 MRAD per click). Inputting this data allows you to dial precise corrections for elevation and windage at specific distances.

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