Your Zero vs. Training Ammo

Most of us have a preferred load for our AR15 that is optimized for self-defense, and zero with that round. However, it is often prohibitively expensive to train with this kind of ammunition. It’s the same way for many professional organizations, too – at work I am issued a jacketed, soft-point load for duty and a full-metal jacket load for training. Obviously, if you zero your gun with load A and then shoot with load B, there will be some deviation, but how much? Ballistic charts are a great starting point, but ultimately you need to go out and shoot on paper to truly know.

I went to the range and conducted a very unscientific test. I used my most accurate AR15, pictured below. And because if you’re reading this, you’re something of a gun nerd, here are the specifics: It is a Geissele Super Duty with a 15” Mk4 rail. The barrel is a Douglas 18” SPR profile stainless steel with 1/7 twist and a 5.56mm chamber. The suppressor is an Allen Engineering AEM5 (aka Ops Inc 12th model) suppressor. The optic is a Nightforce ATACR 1-8x in a Reptilia AUS mount. Mounted under the scope is a KAC bubble level anti-cant device.

I currently have the gun zeroed at 100 yards for Black Hills 5.56mm 77 grain TMK.

Using a B8C target at 100 yards, I fired 5 rounds each of the following, for a total of 30 rounds. You’ll note that none of the rounds below are the load for which the gun is zeroed.

5.56mm 55 grain M193 (Privi Partizan)

5.56mm 62 grain M855 (Lake City)

5.56mm 62 grain M855A1 (Lake City)

5.56mm 77 grain BTHP (S&B)

.223 rem 55 grain FMJ (Winchester)

.223 rem 64 grain JSP (Federal)

As you can see, all 30 rounds fired struck inside the 10 ring, which is 3.36” in diameter. Not terrible for a magazine of “party mix”.

You should always zero your weapon with your chosen ammunition and regularly conduct zero confirmation, especially with changes in seasons. However, based on this target, I think most will agree that for most training purposes or in an emergency, almost any ammunition will perform adequately.

See you on the range.

— Flynn