How To Properly Zero a Red Dot

[@bryandamkaer3646]

This guy is so polite.... makes learning something a pleasure.

[@Iamshields632]

Polite, but also very honest. But like you said I'd imagine a class with John would be a blast.

[@dukedynasty]

It’s like watching bob ross of the gun world

[@tf841]

@@dukedynasty Gold comment!

[@AllAboutSurvival]

I appreciate how you simplify zeroing for those of us who might be new to optics on pistols. A solid zero is everything for accuracy and confidence at the range.

[@DustyCookETX]

Love the humbleness John... This is why I love your channel. Can't go wrong with a good Christian family man!

[@MonkeyBoy-sd9vc]

Damn right! I love a man who worships jews.

[@MFxFM]

I was missing this gun content... thank John!

[@winston1daniel]

I really needed this earlier this year! I made every mistake I could. Wrong screws caused the optic to nail my forehead after one shot at bench rest. No spacer caused the zero to wiggle all over. And even my fundamentals are needing improvement. Wow, thanks for this video!

[@davidhartley6232]

I appreciated this very much. I'm a novice shooter, but an aging human (46yo). When I converse with people online and tell them I need 1x magnification for every 25/yd(m) for good PID, precision or "low probability" shots, I routinely get laughed at. We'll see who gets the last laugh when these 25yos are 50 😂

[@spaceman063]

You said it! Most of those in that age group think hitting paper target makes them think that they are comic characters such as Deadshot lol!

[@Z-Man1973]

I'm with you here. I'm 51 and a novice handgun shooter (been shooting rifles since I was 10). My eyes started going bad in my mid-40's, but mostly for close up vision. I'm trying to find a good first handgun to purchase, but admittedly my fundamentals need a lot of work. Poor fundamentals + bad eyesight can make for frustrating plinking at the range. I just need to be patient and get those fundamentals down.

[@hairlesschewbacca4621]

For self defense purposes I wouldn't worry so much about hitting an apple at 25 yards.

[@d0nn13m0n0]

What an awesome sponsor. Hillsdale is the best

[@josiahb55]

I love you left the unsubscribe shot in there, makes me feel better. 20 yards standing with a pistol is tough

[@markd.2337]

Your circle drawing skills are on point too

[@mfkissinger]

Exactly! Well done John! Thanks for the tutorial. Keep the excellent content coming! And I feel ya on the older eyes 😉

[@bobjaynes6821]

Hillsdale College ROCKS!! Thanks, John :)

[@freedomridermorty4459]

Perfect timing, John. I was at the range last week and could have used this advice. At 63 years old my vision aint at its best, that and two shoulder surgeries later I had a difficult time getting Zeroed. I hope to GOD I never have to take a 25 yard shot with my pistol. Thanks for the Tips !!

[@warweaponx6629]

I hope you never have to take any defensive shot. That said most defensive shootings happen at 3-7 yards from what I’ve read.

[@freedomridermorty4459]

@@warweaponx6629 That's correct 👍 I read it's between 7 - 10 ft

[@Patriot1956]

Adding optics to my EDC is a game changer! Lite adjustment was needed but minimal for out of the box at 7 yards. I was amazed at how my groups tightened up during the first range trip with multiple double punches! Thanks John for tips as I need to lower mine a frog hair more!

[@armeddiver]

John, Thank you for making the video and keeping it real. I have seen you shoot over the years, and you are a "trained" and "practiced" shooter. Most of us are not [natural] shooters. The reason I bring that up is, it should be encouragement to those that are new to shooting that they can become good shooters with training and practice. I appreciate that you didn't shot steel at 20 meters (approx. 22 yds), but actually shot paper. Many GunTubers will shoot steel at 20 to 25 yds, because they don't want us to see how bad their groupings are at that distance. Again, thank you for the video.

[@spaceman063]

I totally agree with your explanation, shooting a steel plate at long range is an false confidence builder in many cases!

[@tacrat_actual]

As a graduate of hillsdale college and someone very familiar with their pistol program, I am so happy to hear you guys are sponsored by them!

[@546people]

They have a pistol program? I knew of them but did not think they would sponsor gun channels.

[@Marlow224]

Hillsdale! Good times in the mid 70's

[@tacrat_actual]

@@546people yessir, we have won a few national championships when I was on the team

[@scotttulleners5437]

Their program on communism was pretty good. I’m going through their foreign policy program right now. I knew a guy who went to Hillsdale. I think he was the one who told me they have a gun range on campus. I got the impression they have shooting classes and everything. I don’t know if that’s accurate, but that was the impression I received.

[@ryfish5]

James Yeager had the perfect 1-bullet zero for red dots but it requires a bench and a pistol vice. Put the gun in the vice, fire one shot, make sure the gun didn't move, move the dot to the point of impact, done.

[@jdaniel11405822]

I really appreciate you showing the mess ups. I'm hard on myself when it comes to getting my zero and I think the frustration leads to more mistakes

[@user-do1fq8oy9c]

Seems like my phone is listening to me and telling John what I'm doing. His videos seem to come at the right times! If heaven is filled with guys like John, I'm on board! Can't wait!

[@marooner-martin]

6:19 GREAT point to bring up, little tips and tricks when it comes to pistols vs rifles

[@ronb6313]

Aim small, miss small. Loved The Patriot movie.

[@rccoachwenger]

Good vid John! Also nice you mentioned to do a second adjustment at distance 20m. A 7 yd zero will produce shots over bore from 7-25 yards.. so you'll miss high if you don't re-adjust to a flatter trajectory after the initial 7 yard setting. Looking at the data the 15 yard zero gives you a minimal POI over bore out to the farther distance, I think it stays pretty flat out to 90 yards. The 25 yard trajectory is more flat up close but falls of I think around 70 yards due to lower flight path.

[@davjamrid]

You are correct. A 15 yard zero with a red dot optic mounted to the slide on a pistol should be zeroed will be within 0.5" of point of aim from 5 yards to 50 yards. Just aim where you want to hit. If you have adjustable iron sights, zero at 10 yards. If you have an optic mounted to the frame of a pistol, zero at 22-25 yards. #CasualShootersPodcast

[@jimheatherton7155]

Good video sir. I’m 51 now and I started wearing 1.25 cheater glasses when I was 48 it got me back to like when I was 20. It’s heck getting old.

[@AerialFidelity]

Glad to see more of what I started watching this channel for years ago! Nice!

[@blake9908]

Perfect timing. Im from the future and I have cool guy hardware now.

[@DavidBrown-wo9ip]

Thank you sir. I’m glad you emphasized the need for solid fundamentals. I run into too many people that are under the impression that red dots are plug and play, and will clean up any shooter deficiencies. On a side note, glad to see you partnered up with Hillsdale College. I’m wrapping up my second class, and it’s been fantastic.😎✌️

[@kevins.3825]

Just sited in my wife's Holosun on her 365, did a search and this channel came up. I did it exactly the same way, so I'm feeling good about my technique. More importantly my wife is hitting the target. The only thing is I set the red dot up to shoot Navy hold which is 6 o'clock...or make a lolly pop with the front post sitting at the bottom of the circle, basically means all the shots are lower than the center of the red dot. I may adjust the dot down more to bring the which will bring the group down close to where the front site is covering.

[@gerechoppers]

I used a sandbag designed for resting the front of a rifle on to zero my Acro p2 on my Glock 45. At 10 yards I was getting 5 rounds into basically one hole like this. It’s very good to go for shooting while standing and moving. Thanks for the video, I appreciate a man of good character.

[@michaeldunne1348]

Nicely presented, John, as always. Getting a new pistol this week and the optic will follow once the "processing" by Walther is complete. That's right. What's better than a properly zeroed optic? A free, properly zeroed optic! I'll be coming back to rewatch for the zero process just to make sure I "get it." Thank you, sir!

[@TheComsicCurator]

Glad to see this type of content again. And thank you for breaking down zeroing a red dot barney style I thought I was crazy trying to figure it out on my own.

[@brucewanda9564]

Nice to see you back on KZbin!

[@Timboykee]

Nice! Warrior Poet Society Classic content. Thank you.

[@josiahclemence767]

Great video John. I know you know this just a clarification for newbies, ignore the adjustment arrows on your red dots until you are on paper. Turn it however you have to turn it to get the dot on top of that front post. Once you are on paper then adjust the impact. If you want the impact to go up, move in the direction of the up arrow (as you said in the video). Many people think their adjustments are backwards because they pay attention to the adjustments they make before they are on the paper.

[@davidmcneil1550]

Hillsdale! Great sponsors

[@1977Yakko]

I just joined the pistol optic club with my recent purchase of a G47 (my first Glock) and a Holosun SCS. The SCS is great in how low it sits in the mount. You can co-witness with factory height iron sights so aiming it is essentially no different than aiming with iron sights. It's an interesting transition from being "gun Amish" with handguns for the past 25 years.

[@rm70x7]

Thank you for explaining how the turrets work. I always end up going the wrong way before I go the right way before I go the wrong way before I finally get it to where it should've been before I shot 2 mags.

[@stonefox9124]

Not all who are lost are adjusting a red dot...

[@jasonhellyeah]

Good video for us newer folks to red dots! I've never properly learned how to do this! Thanks!

[@Josee07081966]

Hi from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. I have seen so many videos on how to zero my optics, and I finally got to the right place. Step by step and to the point. Thank you, Mr. John. Love your channel. Keep up the good work, Sir.

[@wyattblessing7078]

Just got a red dot on my Sig. Thanks for the lessons.

[@oneshoeless]

I use 2x2 sticky/post it notes on my target. You can get a variety of colors and be able to see your shot. I will place a target paster in middle to start at 7 yards. When I work on trigger control I use those 3/4" pasters a lot and work my way back. Great video John.

[@jsanchez0302]

John, great video and very helpful! I’ve hit the same point in my life, and lost the battle with age. Been shooting the same glock with irons for almost 20 years with no problems…then my sights started to get blurry and I had to start using reading glasses. I can still hit well at defensive ranges of 7-10 meters because I point shoot instead of relying on sights,, but finally had to get a new pistol with a red dot. Found out I had astigmatism also. It happens to everyone I guess. Your video and explanation made the process much faster to get it zeroed. A red dot makes me a safer and more capable shooter at distance now. Wish I had made the change sooner, but age and stubbornness !

[@fredgilbert2032]

For astigmatism try a green dot many say that is better for them. I don't have astigmatism, but I wear readers in the +1.5 to +2 range and for me the green dot is crisper than the red.

[@marine_0311]

Good to know someone else zeros like me! The past 3-4 dots ive zeroed have been absolutely perfect after adjusting the dot to cowitness irons

[@Willis2515]

Nothing has screwed up zeroing more for me than trying to cowitness with my irons.

[@marine_0311]

@@Willis2515 damn bro😂

[@Rooster-q3x]

​@@Willis2515correct. Co witnessing defeats the purpose of a dot. The dot should be in the center of the window which creates visibility.

[@johnjhp4482]

I like the quick zero to the irons. I also like a confirmation group at distance as well. I use some zeroing specific targets. There is one by arma dynamics which is a 10 yard zero. Has grids for adjustments and really helps me dial in. But again a confirmation group at 25 yards is also necessary. Great video.

[@mtnride4930]

I was at a practical pistol 2 class and my first shots up and to the left and I was pissed than I looked at my sight and oops 1 screw was missing so I switched to just using my irons and was fine but switched to a different pistol later without a dot. Rest of class went well. Now I know how to re zero my dot when I get new screws. Thanks John.

[@ryanf2110]

Thanks for bringing back some training videos!

[@venomgt7299]

Great video John..... Love the humor, makes it fun. I usually zero on my laser academy app then i bench rest at 15 meters with any adjustments needed.. Then i reconfirm standing up. Usually gives me awesome accuracy out to 36 yds or 25 shooting inside

[@TheBoosteddub]

I like that paint dot idea

[@other4819]

YES to the impatience ..... I feel ya on that ...

[@spudtaters8419]

Perfect timing, got my first red dot arriving today in the mail. For a rifle, but I'm sure the same concepts apply.

[@Joreel]

Mostly, you just need to concentrate on keeping the rifle still when pulling the trigger. I had to really focus on keeping the rifle from moving when I adjusted my new red dot. I did like his idea of cushioning the rifle while you're adjusting it.

[@zero8xkira]

Thank you for this. I just bought a new gun with a red dot (never used a red dot before) and my groupings were all lower left. I asked the range dudes if i should correct my dot to how I'm shooting and they said i shouldn't do that. It's probably me but after watching this i feel better about making that adjustment. I will grant that i could improve on my recoil anticipation tho

[@boonedog1457]

You are so great! Thanks John!!

[@bmitchellcco]

He has two different pistols in the video. Love you John.

[@jasoncw1440]

Thanks for the video John. I'm use to sighting in my rifles and knowing I got a great zero. But when I sighted in my first pistol red dot at 20 yards I kept chasing the zero and finally after tons of rounds I realized I'm not gonna get a rifle type zero. My OCD was getting the best of me.

[@jetfirers5139]

WPSN subscriber here. ❤ For the algorithm

[@CoreyFPiazza]

Thank you for the video, brother. Keep doin' the Lord's work!

[@scottkelly7051]

I sure wish you would have put this video out a couple of months ago. I switched over to red dots on two of my pistols and zeroing them was challenging for sure! As always, great content John From the Future!

[@decastring]

Even on a makeshift rest (bench, barrel, etc.), grip and trigger still make or break the shot. That's been a hard lesson for me to learn. Thanks for this excellent video!

[@MRJBRIZZLE81]

Sitting here learning how to zero a RD from this guy is dope asf. Ty

[@guidoyanovich01]

Always loved your WP intro John! 👍

[@richardmmarcus1]

Kool guy gear! Love it!

[@ScottB-xz8zj]

Great video, I am going to the range tomorrow and apply your tips.

[@nco_gets_it]

important note: all of the shots at 20m were lethal. Good enough is good enough for combat shooting. You are not competing for points...

[@crosswalkguy435]

Fantastic video, as always. You always provide such useful info.

[@Harrery]

I just installed a new red dot and did my initial zero using irons cowitness while in my house. I could visibly tell it was off by at least 12 inches at anything passed about 25 yards. Just zeroed to the irons and had a good quick 10 yard steel shooting session without ever using paper and was off by maybe less than 2 inches at that distance Also maybe a rule of thumb, the optic adjustment mechanisms use springs that sometimes won’t move or will get stuck and won’t adjust the dot. So either give the optic a tap, or what I do is go 1-2 clicks passed then backtrack those 1-2 clicks

[@justhavingfun0736]

Thanks again, John

[@jimleffler7976]

I appreciate that he admits he/ we will have some that didn't go where we wanted. I expect perfection Everytime and thats unrealistic. Thanks for bringing me back to Earth

[@spaceman063]

You and me both brother, sometimes I go to the range and have one off course flyer that will ruin my day 😢

[@jamescrumbaker3169]

I find a green dot is easier to see for me personally. I'm rocking a 508T with a green reticle, and I love it.

[@ghostshadow9046]

use a chamber laser bore sighting tool to get it close before going to the range locally 338 Lapua is $160 for 20 rounds, with ammo costs that high how many shots would you fire for a group? 460 S&W is $60 for 20 rounds $26 for 50 rounds of 9mm 115 & 125 grain fmj

[@rrr3r2]

$12.00 for 9 mm. 🤷‍♂️

[@freedomridermorty4459]

I second that !! .24¢ per round. Blazer $12 /50 box.

[@jsinclairinthe919]

Thank you for accurately describing "calling your shots" ;-)

[@leviransom9910]

"perfectly good zero, destroyed" I felt that. 😂

[@MrDilarius]

I can shoot 50-100 yd, very good groupings at low ranges 10-20. And I found out a trick for myself. I change my hammer spring to an insanely light one when I'm zeroing. Hope that helps others ! Cheers

[@Jesus-eg3yb]

Love your content brother. Keep up the good work.

[@MasterBetty69]

Just got my first green dot, a 407k, 3 days ago. Thanks for the upload, this is exactly what I needed. Should've switched to dots a long, long time ago. Such a difference.

[@johnthornley6168]

Be sure to watch John's 1, 2, 3 draw to pistol presentation so you "find the dot" EVERYTIME. I have the 407K on my EDC too.

[@erictorres6649]

The holosuns come with a 25YD zero supposedly… at least that’s what my fookin instructions said….

[@mikechampion1614]

Getting a 407k green dot for my Springfield mod 3. What brightness did you go with as default?

[@erictorres6649]

@ that depends on the distance from target… the further away the lower the brightness… closer the brighter the dot… try your best to find a happy medium @ a 25YD range, I mean odds are if u ever had to use your concealed carry you will be within 15 yards at the max

[@MasterBetty69]

@@mikechampion1614sorry bro I'm just seeing this. I keep it on 6. 7 if it's a sunny day. I have astigmatism

[@richardclark4031]

Good to see you posting again. How did ya'll weather the Hurricane? Is the Lovel family alive and well?

[@sammystull4985]

Great video WP! Only thing i would add is that on all optics... rifle, 11:04 pistol etc. You should give the optic a couple of light taps after you make every adjustment and before you shoot the next round of shots. Oh and i know what your talking about John when you say "old eyes" lol

[@AG-pm3tc]

Technical question. What is the distance to which the iron sights built in on a glock 19(or something similar) are “zeroed” to? What is the distance at which the point of aim is the point of impact on such a gun with standard 9mm ammo? (And shouldn’t there be two such points, considering the ballistic trajectory?)

[@seanpellegrino2989]

Great video. You sort of confused me a bit by talking yards and then switching up to referring to meters for distance.

[@bobloy1070]

Good man!You take credit for your good shots AND your bad one!I am blessed with a 100yd range in my back yard.I have made shots so good no one would believe!And sometimes a couple so bad I was glad I was the only one that saw it/them!A lot like life don't you think?I watch a number of shooting videos and find myself asking!His shooting skills LOOK awsome!But why don't they show his hits???Great job!May THE GREAT "I AM!"bless you my brother!!😊

[@RocksNRuts4]

yup n tons of guys ding steel but that hit was the targets hand, i dont feel thats a hit.

[@oorahjoe]

Hey John good shooter as well as good instructor, rare find, thanks. One thing I like to do is set my heavy rear bag on my tripod and rest my wrists in it. Works amazing. I've experimented with locking the pistol itself into the tripod via the rail and just minimal input claw squeezing the trigger but ironically this resulted in horrible groups. My suspicion is the polymer frame doesnt translate to what locking in a metal free-float rail on a bolt gun does

[@jmenkejr]

Call me crazy, but that holosun sure looks like a vortex! Great video, and I appreciate you sharing your skill, and tricks of the trade with us!!

[@Hunt2-pr5ku]

Started with a Holosun and finished with a Vortex. Two zeroes for the price of one😃

[@TheMrgrimm1]

6:26 we love you too! God bless you and yours.

[@scottlehman9738]

Great information, and thank you.

[@carolexo7269]

Thank you 🇨🇦

[@small-town-southern-man3573]

I absolutely love watching a gun-gear video by someone who doesn’t cuss like a fourth grader who just learned a few new cuss words. Thanks, John!

[@fishbone470]

Mark the screws!!! Brilliant.. I just put a Holoson on my glock and was wondering how to tell if the screws moved!! thanks

[@jayb7675]

I use a cheap bore sight laser (looks like a 9mm casing) in my living room at 7 yards. Just line up the bore sight red dot on the wall to the green optic dot on the pistol. It’s that easy. I then go to the range and literally shoot out the bullseye section. Not sure why you would waste ammo to sight in an optic when bore sighting works great.

[@J20Jeepster]

Good stuff.👍

[@aliceburte9278]

Thank You sir 👍🇺🇸

[@boroberson475099]

6:26 🤣 You guys are the best

[@genxhippy9999]

Always great content

[@kevinclause4p55p5]

Does "up" on red dots mean the opposite of "up" on scopes? At 8:00, with a rifle, i would have turned the dial 3 clicks up and 1 click right, so that the reticle is adjusted to line up with where the holes actually are.

[@kurttles]

Most handgun red dots are adjustments on the turrets adjust the point of impact for the rounds. up = bullet impact goes up, right = bullet impact goes right etc So at 8:00 John does go down and left on his optic turrets to shift the point of impact. Not sure how well I explained it there or not, but hopefully it will make sense and seems to be opposite of how you indicated you'd zero a scope

[@DropItLikeItsScott]

This was excellent! Thanks John🤜🤛

[@sg51psd04]

Love you John from old Christian Ranger. I'm a 1st gen post MOG (93) 3rd bn Guy...Love you my brother in Christ.....3rd Bn is the best Bn. Stay front sight...love your effort and work

[@bilbsk.2510]

Awesome videos thanks

[@ashtonfrancis112]

Just got my p320 legion im going to the range tomorrow to practice my fundamentals before i get my optics.

[@christoFlair777]

Cool 😎 zero session brother!!

[@chrisclark5204]

I zeroed mine using a pistol rest, that way when shooting I know that if I'm off it is me and not my zero being off.

[@Caleb-12-05]

Thanks for this Great info

[@frankcastaldi2531]

Thanks, this is very useful info

[@splithoof9567]

In spite of your dislike for the 1911, I find your videos very well done and useful. Carry on!

[@Jabullz]

This dudes hair piece is premium, you can barely tell.