Today, we will discuss something that we noticed is highly overlooked and often poorly understood in the airsoft world: how to zero your sights.
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The first thing we want to make sure is that your airsoft gun's hopup is already set up and tuned properly to the weight of the BB you intend to shoot. We will assume you have done this already, so that won't be covered here.
ASG 3.5-10x50E Illuminated Scope
We need to install it before we begin talking about zeroing your scope. When you install your scope, follow all instructions in any included manual. Make sure your scope is level when you install it; otherwise, your adjustments will go out the window. When tightening your scope rings, do not overtighten any bolts.
A common misconception is that players think their scope might not function correctly and out of the box. They often indicate this by saying their gun shoots way off in one direction or another to their sight picture just after mounting the scope. Most of the time, it comes from people buying the scope and throwing it straight onto the gun without reading the manual. The thing about scopes is they need to be adjusted once mounted to the gun. The scopes are intended to be universal, so who is to say that setting it up for one gun would make it spot-on for another?
The procedure for zeroing your scopes and sights will generally be the same, though the controls might look different. What you are going to want to do is find a suitable place to test your airsoft gun. A good 50 feet or more is a great start. This is good if you have a suitable backyard or property. If you don't, you must reserve your test shooting to an actual airsoft field. The best time to do this is for weather conditions with no wind. Use a paper target for this exercise. Sometimes, paper targets have grids that come in handy.
NC Star 2-7x32 XRS Illuminated Scope
Scopes will have an adjustment for windage and elevation, and the adjustment usually comes in the form of a knob, key, or set screw. Sometimes, the turrets have hidden adjustments underneath a protective cap that needs to come off first. The windage adjusts your reticle by moving it left or right. The elevation adjustment takes care of up and down adjustment. Your product manual or sometimes the scope might mark how much each click of an adjustment will change at a specific range.
Now, this is the step where you have to make sure you are doing your part: shooting the gun as accurately and error-free as possible. Human error, heavy breathing, unstable shooting positions, etc., can make it more difficult to zero your scope and make the correct adjustments. If you can shoot in a way that induces minimal error, then you are good to go.
Take slow, well-aimed shots at the target. You should take about 3 to 5 shots, throwing out the obvious fluke results. Observe where they hit, which is called the point of impact. The point of aim is where you had placed your crosshairs/reticle. Now, look at the relation between the point of aim and the point of impact. Now, you can determine how far off you are and the corresponding adjustments to make, for example, if your impact is level with the point of aim but 2 inches to one side. You would make the corresponding windage adjustment, resulting in a change of 2 inches. If your shot was high and to the right by 3 inches, you would have to adjust your elevation and windage turrets appropriately to get squared away. After you have made your initial adjustments, fire another string of shots. Observe where your hits are now and if they have gotten closer to your point of aim. Then, repeat until your points of impact coincide with your point of aim.
ASG 1-4x24 DMR Short Dot Scope
When you are doing this, remember not to overdo the adjustments, or you could damage your scope. The adjustments are meant to be minute. Course adjustments are usually made in several clicks, not entire revolutions, so just be careful. You want to get into the ballpark of your point of aim and then work from there.
NC Star 3-9x40 Shooter Series Scope
Adjusting traditional iron sights is not too different, though less realistic airsoft guns might have nonadjustable sights, while other guns might have a realistically functioning set of sights.
For sights that adjust via a set screw, it is not likely you will get any tactile clicks, so all of your adjustments will be coarse, and that's okay.
Your sights should be zeroed to a reasonable range so that the gun can consistently perform the same accurate hits if the shooter does their part, and not just inside of max range where you might get some shots that do not reach.
That is how to adjust your sights in a nutshell.
