How to find Optical Zero part 1

This video is about achieving Optical Zero. (This is a re-post of a previous video. I edited some of the video content for better illustration.)

[@Sertao2013]

You would not believe how many people don't even know what optical zero is let alone set it . I have sent so many people to watch this video because I think its the best and easiest to follow and understand . I'm a air gun shooter and setting a scope to optical zero is one of the most important thing to to do . You should add that you need to set your scope to the least power setting and if you have a parallax set it to infinity before you start to center the cross hairs .

[@Atoyota25]

Thanks Steve! I appreciate you sharing this with your friends!

[@brianusa394]

Tom I’ve watched a few of these explanations your is by far the best one.

[@jackagain8346]

I don't have illuminated reticles, so I just used a glass digital scale and placed it over my mirror which gave me a 1" gap. Then I lit a flashlight shining to the place between them. I was pretty close before using the click count method, but this got right on. Thanks.

[@rayozyry7255]

OMG..what..really....mate more than 7 hours searching just you show me the way. I love you mate

[@Atoyota25]

I'm incredibly happy to have helped you end your searching! LOL! Happy Shooting!

[@dukeman7595]

Very nice indeed. Quick, easy, accurate and I learned something I didn't know. Thank you..

[@SK-me9by]

yep yep

[@wilfdarr]

You put bookmarks in a 5 minute video? I love that you value my time! Also, didn't use them, video is packed. Exactly what I was looking for!

[@Woodgate425]

Brilliant! I’ve watched many videos on this and yours is definitely the best. Many thanks, Mike UK.

[@airgunnuub8741]

Wow!! I just been counting the turret turns from max right or left turn and just set to middle of the turn count total. Great information!

[@Atoyota25]

Counting clicks is a perfectly acceptable way to find optical zero as well. I'm glad you got something out of my video! :)

[@nishantkundu6210]

That's not good idea to calculate totat click of Turret .... because Turret spring which is below the tube that lost its performance if you over burden it ....don't tight too much both windage and elevation... optical center method is best for cheap scope ....click count can be good for tectical military grade scope.

[@dandyer8351]

Amazeing u have totally simplified the process . Im new to the sport and couldnt get my head round it doing the click method. 👍

[@dannyhavner2162]

Great tip i never touch a turret on a new scope,but i was talking to someone about the scope and noticed i was turning the turrets back and fourth.When i went to sight in i had no more up on my dial.Thanks to you im now center again

[@Atoyota25]

You have found your ZEN! LOL! Glad I could help!

[@rahalwidanagamage]

Very helpful video … thanks a lot

[@davidhagerman7165]

Pertaining to the adjustable scope mounts. Burris scope company in Greely, Colorado also has adjustable scope mounts that use inserts the allow elevation and windage adjustment without using the scope turrets adjustment. The insert come in different thickness from zero to 0.20 plus and minus thickness. This allows you to keep the optical center which allows full turrets adjustment range and help ti provide a clear optic. The shims will bring you to near zero within 1" or less, once you get to this point the scope turrets can be adjusted to the final point. I have this system on 2 of my air rifles and it work great. My scope picture is clear and have 99% of the turrets adjustment left. Also used Tomcats optical centering method, which works great, prior to mounting the scope. This insured that i was starting with a scope that was adjusted to the true optical center.

[@tonyrolls8566]

Great video Tomcat, streight to the point, well done.

[@jefftate01]

An old Marine armorer taught me this. I work in a gun shop and mount scopes and he showed me this trick.

[@mughram]

you welcome, thanks for mention me, keep it up :)

[@ducksalotful]

I recently got a UTG scope and the top knob doesn't adjust enough to get the cross hairs down in line. Any idea why this might be?

[@domingoscesar7387]

Good morning I would like to know which zoom and parallax setting the scope should be on for this to work. I saw in another video that the zoom must be at least, and the parallax must be at infinity, does this work or whatever? Thanks...

[@dannygrey6621]

Or if you use a piece of glass on top of the mirror to enable a little light to come through. This will help if you don’t have an illuminated recital. That way you will see a lot better.

[@Atoyota25]

I thought of doing that but, never actually went ahead and tried it. LOL! Thanks for the tip!

[@hankvana2149]

Thanks! A piece of 1/4" glass on the mirror and a flash light for extra illumination let me see the "ghost" crosshairs clearly.

[@138FrOsTy138]

Great video, thanks!

[@tshooter4419]

Nice Job Tom! thanks for sharing.

[@Atoyota25]

My pleasure! I just finished recording 2 other methods for doing this, the "Click" method and the "Spin" method. I hope to have that video edited and up very soon. :)

[@ramvan2284]

did this the hard way w/o the illumination ret. However, knowing the tip of the illumination... Now Ill do the other scope too. Thanks Tom, Thanks ArabAirgunTV

[@jackagain8346]

I elevated a piece of glass above the mirror and then lit a flashlight in the space between.

[@masterpiece0327]

is it advisable for FFP SCOPE?

[@cornfields-crosshairs4182]

Great tip Tomcat! After learning from Cyclops (hats off to him) about the internal workings of the majority of scopes if seems it would only make sense not to have those springs inside your scope all bound up from a turret cranked all one way or the other.........😫 Now I'm wondering if theoretically the scope can handle some more of those unexpected bumps without losing zero?......Hmmmmm......?

[@rogerchandler9737]

Outstanding!

[@ironhead320]

After zero set hooked up laser sighted man got lucky.Hits target at 12 o' clock just have to turn it up a few clicks.

[@slimtheowl]

Is it not possible to do this with the scope mounted on the rifle??

[@Atoyota25]

Yes, it is. Remember to take your scope caps off.

[@topdragster365w]

Yes ya can

[@Szion20]

What if your reticle is asymmetrical like Primary Arms LPVO ACSS Aurora BDC reticle? Where do you line it up exactly?

[@rshettle123]

What good is optical zero when you're not in zero once you adjust for target zero. Unless of course, you employ a fully adjustable mount whereby, you can set an optical zero on target by a D justing the mount. Then tweak it in using the turrets that is already close to optical zero via the adjustable mount.

[@everetthunt6140]

Really Cool! Thank you!!

[@cchgn]

That works on every scope? I head it doesn't work on 2nd focal plane scopes.

[@hsnmzpak6730]

Very useful video. So this method isn't useful for non illuminated scopes?

[@Atoyota25]

This method will work for non-illuminated scopes. It's just a little harder to see and was extremely hard for the camera to pick up. I've heard putting a piece of glass between the mirror and the scope will allow more light to enter and make it easier to see.

[@stevenrowe5047]

thank you.

[@johnbanahan7569]

how do you do it with a photon n/v ?

[@alanparker4258]

I this work for an etched FFP or SFP scopes or both. I tried with my FFP scope with the Illumination on and it did't work.

[@cpt_lucky]

Thanks man 💪🏼👌🏼

[@cainm8808]

using the illumination great tip bro

[@James28R]

Great video, thank you!

[@Fuji_4]

How did you get the reticle so clear I have played with the parallax and eye relief and it still really blurry and moves about

[@Atoyota25]

Try focusing pointed at a wall. The wall will be out of focus so, the camera should focus on the ret.

[@williesims8655]

One problem.... The ugly mug reflecting back at me... Thanks Tomcat

[@thakurnileshprakashsingh]

I have a Diana 56th and i am running out of windage and elevation,the riflebis shooting 7o'clock 4" from the center of the target.....any advice ?

[@Atoyota25]

All I can think of right now is to get yourself some scope mounts with adjustable windage and elevation. Sports match makes some but, they carry a high cost.

[@ottisthomas2490]

That is amazing!!

[@j2112c]

Thank you!

[@michaelb.42112]

Thank you !!!!

[@ironhead320]

Great tip work great on this AIM scope which was way off.

[@Atoyota25]

Terrific!

[@mr.trevino.4356]

TOM, PLEASE HELP ME. I have a sightmark cbr illuminated scope and I tried your method and and can't find the second set of cross hairs. I even tried with illustration off and still can't find it. Tom please let me know what I'm doing wrong

[@Atoyota25]

It's hard to assist without seeing what you're doing. Try zooming all the way out. If that does not work, I would refer you to this video and to using the click method. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZvcoIycl5yVmZY

[@mr.trevino.4356]

@Tomcat Airguns I tried the methods you sent me yesterday, and still nothing. I have a sightmark with illuminated cross hairs, I turned on the illuminated cross hairs like you did but the second set of cross hairs that should pop up when you put a mirror at the other end ,don't pop up. I turned both knobs hoping they would appear but nothing happens.

[@mr.trevino.4356]

@Tomcat Airguns It's a sightmark core sx 10-40x56 CBR

[@Atoyota25]

@@mr.trevino.4356 If you use the counting method, you don't need to worry about seeing the crosshairs. It works just as well as the mirror method. Out of curiosity, do you have a scope cap or anything else installed on the front of the scope?

[@mr.trevino.4356]

@Tomcat Airguns no I don't have a scope cap or nothing on it. Ok I will retry the counting method. Quick question my scope has illumination just like yours, why can't I see the double on the mirror. I did everything like you did?

[@lowandslow3939]

Fucking brilliant! THANK YOU! I bought a used scope and fought with the knobs to zero it. Got it close but knew there was a problem. I’ll find a small mirror and check it out.

[@Atoyota25]

LOL! I appreciate the compliment and comment! Hope you get it sorted out.

[@lowandslow3939]

@@Atoyota25 ​​⁠ Thanks for getting back to me. It’s a Vortex LPVO. A 1-6x24 PST Gen 2. I put a mirror in front of the objective and saw the faint shadow crosshairs, but they appear really well lined up with the brighter crosshairs. I put the red dot on a low setting and that confirmed it. That said, I did it with the scope mounted on the rifle and may have not had the mirror completely flat against the scope. This is my “go to” rifle so as it is dialed in well enough right now, I don’t want to mess with it until I have another set of optics on hand to replace it with, in case I have to send it to Vortex. A friend of a friend has an EOTech and magnifier for sale…

[@Atoyota25]

@@lowandslow3939 My experience with Vortex has been very good with their warranty system. Good luck!

[@lowandslow3939]

@@Atoyota25 I’ve heard great things about them, and I have other Vortex scopes but I didn’t buy this one new, so I’m not sure how that will affect a warranty claim. We’ll see and if you like, I’ll get back to you n

[@dennispeltier6142]

😊

[@rulebraking]

This method doesn’t work for the cheap Gamo air gun scopes. Tried all suggested approaches mentioned in the thread and no can do - no ghost reticles show up!!!!

[@gingersnap7793]

nice waaaay easier then the other ways with a v cut box lmao.. v cut box.....

[@Atoyota25]

I'm glad you liked it! I think I do something similar to the V-notch in Part 2. Each method has its own pro's and cons. I find myself using a makeup mirror the most, though. Quick and easy.

[@gingersnap7793]

thats funny i used a makeup mirror so i didn't have to unmount my scope lol

[@lowandslow3939]

Finding optical zero is crucial when you buy a used scope.

[@archangel20031]

Lets see, I press the scope against the bathroom mirror and all I see is complete darkness and only 1 reticle!

[@Atoyota25]

Turn on illumination, if possible. Also, make sure your eye is the proper distance away and you have a lot of back lighting. If none of that works, I have videos of other methods that might work better for your situation.

[@christhomas4260]

Been using it for years only way. But with out windage adjustment its pointless.

[@suapk161]

好巧妙的办法

[@johnbanahan7569]

wheres my comment gone ?

[@richardgraham65]

How about showing the same method without the illuminated scope? For most people that use ordinary scopes this is useless! You start off about how to do this with a mirror, then it seems we need illuminated scopes????

[@Atoyota25]

Richard, Do the same exact method. You'll see a shadow of the reticle. This video was originally made without using the illumination but, it did not show up well on camera. So, no, no one NEEDS illumination to do this.

[@dutchdryfly]

Point a flashlight at the mirror and the reticle becomes much easier to see