Clamp for zero?

themica

themica

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Realistically, is a clamp for getting a solid zero the quickest way.

Clamp the rifle, take a shot, see where it lands and move the reticle so it's on the hole?

This sounds too simple.

If it's so - What clamp?
 
I'm not very experienced but it makes sense to me that you replicate the circumstances of shooting to zero a rifle.
 
As above - Def not for zeroing as you need to repeat what you’ll be doing on the range/in the field when taking the shot.

But it’s something I’ve imagined may work for pellet testing as it removes human error.
 
Greylag80 said:
As above - Def not for zeroing as you need to repeat what you’ll be doing on the range/in the field when taking the shot.
Click to expand...
But if you go onto the gun in the same way you would, surely what you're doing is ensuring that the reticle is centred on the point of impact. It's no different to holding the gun yourself, except you're removing the variable of movement.

And I agree, not for springers.
 
Archer50 said:
Do you normally shoot your gun using a clamp? If not, why would you zero it that way?
Click to expand...
Why does it matter?

When you zero, you hold the gun and aim at a point, take a shot and then adjust the scope. Then you hold the gun and take aim again. By clamping it, all you're doing is ensuring that it's still pointing the same way. As long as you get your eye to the same place you would if you were holding the rifle, I don't see what the difference is.
 
Genuine question here, as a newbie to all of this, but why would this be a bad thing?

I get the idea is to replicate your normal shooting conditions, but, if the rifle is zeroed perfectly using the clamp or a stand then why would this be seen as a bad thing?

And why would removing human error for zeroing purposes be a bad thing? I completely get that when shooting without the clamp/stand then human error would come into play, but the rifle is still going to be zeroed as close to perfection as it possibly could.

Genuine question and I’m sorry if it’s a silly one or one that has a blatantly obvious answer.
 
All zeroing is, is the process of getting the point of aim in the scope to match the point of impact at a given distance. By clamping the gun, you ensure a consistent platform for the gun. Shot to shot, the clamped gun will not move (unless you're not using a crap stand or using a decent one badly) so you can truly measure exactly where the gun is putting the pellets and adjust the scope to suit.

However, I'd argue that for most shooters, zeroing from a bench with a bag or bipod would be good enough, even accounting for the lower consistency, human error factor and a less precise zero. Unless you're a competition shooter right at the sharp end, a 'human zero' will do the job, whether you're doing FT, HFT, hunting, plinking etc.

If you're doing benchrest or serious target disciplines, you probably will want to zero a clamped gun, just to be certain you've squeezed every drop of performance out of the gun that you can.

Zeroing from a clamp or stand isn't a tough job, if you have the space to do it.
 
themica said:
Realistically, is a clamp for getting a solid zero the quickest way.
Click to expand...
Theoretically yes, realistically no.
Best way is to hold the gun as you usually would and fire 3-5 shots. Hopefully you have a group then and can alter the scope accordingly.
Then as soon as you hold the gun in a slightly different way the zero has changed.
However, if you intend to only ever shoot your gun when it is held in a clamp it is absolutely the best way.
 
I never understood why people say "aim at the bull/centre, take a shot, then move the rifle so the reticle is on the hole, then adjust. That just makes the POI twice as far away. Just aim it at the bull/centre again, then adjust the scope so the crosshairs land on the hole... simple, in which case, a clamp or firm way of holding the rifle is helpful.
 
Clamping a rifle could actually be detrimental to zeroing as it will introduce various silly harmonics which will affect the point of impact.

Believe it or not, even the positioning of a rest can affect the POI.
It can be a delicate process to discover the finer details of our equipment. . Don't be afraid to experiment.
 
I have clamped my gun, but for pellet testing , for Benchrest I expect the gun pellet combo to literally stack pellets through a one pellet hole, once I'm sure of what the gun/pellet can do, i then practice to attempt to match that degree of consistency
 
If you want to test pellets, to see which suits your gun...and at what distance, then a clamp is good idea.
However...when you are shooting normally (without a clamp): Gun behaviour, weight distribution, hold, springer or PCP...etc, varies and the zero you set with a clamp is no longer valid.
Set you zero for each set-up as you would use it.
 
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