Checking zero vs. Shooting Groups
Key Takeaways
Always Check Zero: Travel can knock your rifle’s zero off, so confirm accuracy before heading out.
Testing Process: Fire one shot at a target (100-150m for rifles, 50m for the .22). Adjust if necessary.
New Pistols: Test for reliability and accuracy with the ammo you plan to carry, especially +P loads for 9mm.
Firearms Used: .416 Rigby, .30-06, Ruger 10/22 for pests, and new Glock 19s and a Springfield P35.
Practicality Matters: Ensure all guns are "dead nuts on" and ready for real-world use, whether for hunting or self-defense.
Transcript
Rifle and Pistol Zeroing in South Africa
Hi folks, Kim and I have just arrived at our game preserve in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. We traveled here from Idaho this time, and what I’m going to do—and show you how I do it—is test the rifles for zero.
Testing a rifle for zero after transit is important. Going through airports—four in the last two days—you encounter "gorilla luggage handlers" who throw your bags all over the place. So, when we arrive, I test for zero. Testing for zero is very different from working up load development for a rifle. The loads I brought for these rifles were developed a long time ago. I’ve shot dozens of groups, and they shoot tiny little groups.
I’m not even going to shoot a group. I’ll put targets up at 100 meters or 150 meters and fire one shot. If the bullet lands at the point of aim, I know that the handlers didn’t knock off the zero. If the zero is off, I’ll make scope adjustments and probably fire a group. But this is not load development or accuracy testing—that was done long ago. These aren’t new guns; they’ve been to Africa and all over the world. I know the loads, and I know how well these rifles shoot them.
Every time I go to Africa and don’t check zero, I end up missing the first thing I shoot at. Then I go back to the range and find the zero is off. It’s a habit I’ve developed, and it’s a necessary thing I always do.
Here at our little African shooting range, we’ve got targets out to 200 meters. The concrete shooting bench is stable, and I lay down a towel so the rifles aren’t laid directly on the concrete. Then I set up targets. Kim stops filming while I put targets up, and then we start shooting.
I’ve brought a .416 Rigby that I use all the time, Kim has a .30-06, and we also brought a Ruger 10/22 for pests. That 10/22 probably gets the most use. I’ll check them all for zero. If everything is fine, Kim might show me shooting a little. If all is well, the rifles are ready to go. We’ll load them and head out hunting, as we have a lot of culling to do.
This year, our ranch manager acquired a couple of Glock 19s and a Springfield Armory P35—a Browning Hi-Power copy. I’ll run all these pistols through their paces with the ammo I plan to carry. I brought plenty of spare magazines, and I’ll test every one of them to ensure reliability and accuracy with the chosen ammo.
I don’t take anything for granted. I’ll probably shoot these pistols at 15 yards, as that’s the most likely range for a self-defense situation. These are new guns, so I’ll make sure they’re functional and sighted in with the ammo.
Testing the Rifles
I’ve set up targets at 100 meters for the .416 Rigby and the .30-06, and a target at 50 meters for the Ruger 10/22. I also set up some swinging steel targets for close-range fun with the pistols.
I started with the .416 Rigby and fired one shot. It’s dead nuts on, so no adjustments were needed. Next, I moved on to the .30-06, which was also dead nuts on. Both rifles are ready for the field.
The Ruger 10/22 required a little adjustment. At 50 meters, the first group was high and to the left. After a couple of scope adjustments, the final group was centered in the bullseye. This 10/22 will mostly be used as a "porch rifle" for pests like cobras and puff adders.
Testing the Pistols
I’ll spend an hour or two with the pistols, testing every magazine and ensuring reliability with the Winchester Ranger 127-grain +P ammo. I’ve used this ammo before, and it’s excellent. I don’t see the point of shooting 9mm unless you use +P ammo—it makes the 9mm so much more effective.
At 15 yards, I started with the Glock. Off-hand, I shot three rounds and found the gun hitting slightly to the right. The rear sight was drifted too far right, so I’ll adjust it later. For self-defense guns, I prefer to shoot off-hand to stay sharp. It’s very different from shooting off a bench, and it reflects how these guns would be used in real life.
Final Thoughts
By the end of the session, all the rifles and pistols will be fully functional and sighted in. Everything needs to be reliable and dead nuts on, whether for hunting, pest control, or self-defense.
Thanks for watching, and we’ll show more as we continue our time here in South Africa!
