Can a scope be zeroed with usual shooting stance?

[subscriber]

One inch groups at 25 yards is not very good. ...  With a scope, rested it could be 1/2 inch groups.

If I am shooting 1" groups at 25 yards while standing on my hind legs, using equipment that will hold 1/2" off a steady rest; then my error is only half an inch at 25 yards.  That would be 2 MOA offhand.  Not very good, if I was an Olympic competitor.  For an old fart, it is not too shabby. 

Perhaps what you meant was that if my target were a rat brain at 25 yards, I am not good enough to hit that consistently, offhand.  That point I concede.  But then the rats around here are 5 yard brave - or stupid. 

[Bayman]

This has been an interesting thread and a lot said here rings true with me. Like shooting too many airguns to get really good results. I've taken notice that each time I pick up a different gun it doesn't initially shoot as well as I remembered. Then it starts to come around. In reality it's me relearning the gun. When I was a kid I had one pump gun and could shoot it freakishly well. Now the more guns I shoot, the worse I do. To the original thought when I pick up a different gun my zero often starts off different and the POI wanders back to the original zero. I used to blame the equipment but it seems to happen more often when switching guns than coming back to the last one I shot a day later.
As far as springers and rests go. I've never done well off any kind of rest. Improvised or other. My normal shooting arrangement is Walmart folding table and a stool. I set the table at an angle on my right side so I can get both elbows on it. So although I'm technically shooting off a bench it's really not rested. It's more correct to say I'm shooting supported. I feel this is a close enough replica of improvised field positions where I'm going to brace at least my left elbow or arm on a knee, rock, tree or anything nearby. I know my limits shooting standing and offhand that I won't take those shots on anything but beer cans and spinners.

[Bayman]

One inch groups at 25 yards is not very good. ...  With a scope, rested it could be 1/2 inch groups.

If I am shooting 1" groups at 25 yards while standing on my hind legs, using equipment that will hold 1/2" off a steady rest; then my error is only half an inch at 25 yards.  That would be 2 MOA offhand.  Not very good, if I was an Olympic competitor.  For an old fart, it is not too shabby. 

Perhaps what you meant was that if my target were a rat brain at 25 yards, I am not good enough to hit that consistently, offhand.  That point I concede.  But then the rats around here are 5 yard brave - or stupid.

I wish I could shoot 1" groups at 25 yards free standing. That's actually very good. Most people claiming better (without special slings and jackets) are lying. Or they get yards and feet mixed up. There's a lot of bologna on forums, it's nice to hear some reality once in a while.

[Damo666]

Some really good & detailed informative replies, so many thanks guys.

I'm off to a local gun club tomorrow & they have shooting ranges from 10 yards up to 100 yards, so I'll be getting it zeroed in there.

My garden is just too small for doing this as it's only about 8m long.

 

[JeffB1961]

experiment with the suggestions given her and use what works best for YOU .
everything isn't for everybody ....

[lefteyeshot]

First time I have heard of anyone zeroing standing.

That is because you have too many airguns

Seriously, if you have that many airguns and actually shoot all of them in rotation, then you probably won't develop the skill with any particular one required to zero it standing.  And it won't matter, because you would assume any deviation from bench zero is your fault.  I am also going to wager that most of your shots are taken off the bench...

I also have too many airguns, but only shoot one or two over any given month.  There are few I have not taken out in years...

Another reason why people don't zero offhand is because they are using high magnification scopes.  These exaggerate wobble so much that they give up on shooting offhand. Here, kit that supposedly improves accuracy is hurting it.  So, I grant you this:  If you can't shoot offhand, you can't zero offhand.

I'm a bit of a collector. I shoot maybe 12 to 15 of my guns regularly. I don't care to sale any. Too much trouble. I have probably given away more guns than I have sold or traded. But I can never have to many pellet rifles.

I only shoot off a bench. I can hit cat food cans and such off hand but not tight groups. But the gun has to be zeroed. I don't hunt or pest, I just punch paper. Kill a cat food can or wine bottle cork now and then. I'm not developing skills. I just like to shoot. Hopefully a little better this week than last. The goal for some of my cheaper guns is not that it drives tacs but shoots the best it's capable of.

My list of guns maybe show it doesn't have to be German to be fun to shoot. I love them all rather it's one of my Dianas or one of my B3's or Mendozas. This is fun stuff not work.

I zero the same way I did in the Army, off a bag. Three rounds and adjust. Later.

[Yogi]

First time I have heard of anyone zeroing standing.

That is because you have too many airguns

Seriously, if you have that many airguns and actually shoot all of them in rotation, then you probably won't develop the skill with any particular one required to zero it standing.  And it won't matter, because you would assume any deviation from bench zero is your fault.  I am also going to wager that most of your shots are taken off the bench...

I also have too many airguns, but only shoot one or two over any given month.  There are few I have not taken out in years...

Another reason why people don't zero offhand is because they are using high magnification scopes.  These exaggerate wobble so much that they give up on shooting offhand. Here, kit that supposedly improves accuracy is hurting it.  So, I grant you this:  If you can't shoot offhand, you can't zero offhand.

I'm a bit of a collector. I shoot maybe 12 to 15 of my guns regularly. I don't care to sale any. Too much trouble. I have probably given away more guns than I have sold or traded. But I can never have to many pellet rifles.

I only shoot off a bench. I can hit cat food cans and such off hand but not tight groups. But the gun has to be zeroed. I don't hunt or pest, I just punch paper. Kill a cat food can or wine bottle cork now and then. I'm not developing skills. I just like to shoot. Hopefully a little better this week than last. The goal for some of my cheaper guns is not that it drives tacs but shoots the best it's capable of.

My list of guns maybe show it doesn't have to be German to be fun to shoot. I love them all rather it's one of my Dianas or one of my B3's or Mendozas. This is fun stuff not work.

I zero the same way I did in the Army, off a bag. Three rounds and adjust. Later.

Yes Tim,

I bet that when you hit that cat food tin your heart skips halh a beat and when you miss it doesn't.
I like to hit what I'm aiming at.

-Y