Zeroing AK Rifle

Zero3This is the old school, Russian way of zeroing AK rifle in 7.62x39mm. In the nutshell:
1. Be at 100 meters distance.
2. Must have control target with dimensions: 25 cm wide x 35 cm toll.
3. Rear slider should be set to 300 meters settings.
4. Aim at bottom of control target.
5. Shoot 5 shots group.
6. Group location should be 25 cm from the bottom of control target.
7. Once zeroing is done, move rear slider to 100 meters settings.
Notes: 1 mm of adjustment in lateral movement of front post = 26cm at 100 meters; 1 full rotation of front post = 20 cm (screw in to move POI up and un-screw to move POI down)

WARNING: if you don’t have access to 100 meters range, for 100 yards distance, that bullet group should impact at 23 cm and not 25 cm. So it is 2 cm difference.

YouTube video

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48 responses to “Zeroing AK Rifle”

  1. Byron Avatar
    Byron

    Thank you for the great video. I have two questions.
    1. Using this method will each setting on the rear sight leaf (100 meter, 200 meter,300 meter, etc.) be correctly zeroed?
    2. I assume zeroing the AK 74 (5.45×39) would be similar to zeroing the AKM (same target dimensions). Can you tell me which setting on the rear sight leaf should be used and what distance there should be between poa and poi?
    Thanks

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Yes, if you have done your work correctly, then you rear slider settings will be covered and POA will match POI at different distance.
      @74 – we will have more info on this soon…;-)

      1. Drew Avatar
        Drew

        I hope you right about the windage. I just moved my front sight 6 thousandths of and inch or .15mm to adjust for 3 inches at 200 meters. And i feel like im going to throw up alittle.

      2. Drew Avatar
        Drew

        Putting a lot of faith in you buddy

        1. Rob Ski Avatar
          Rob Ski

          Did it work? lol!

  2. Randall Avatar
    Randall

    Used the method described for my wasr-10, got it dialed in better than the previous two attempts at proper zero. Thanks to ya’ll it is an absolute dead on shooter.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Good to hear! It is little pain to set this up at first, but it works like a charm!

  3. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    Thank you Rob for the video and all of your videos. I have access to a 25 yard range. I live in a large city and it would take me a day to get to an outdoor range, spend some time there and get home. Any suggestions for zeroing at 25 yards?
    Thanks!

  4. Cristian Avatar
    Cristian

    Ok so on the video when you say put the ak slider at 300 m It showed a picture the slider at “2” and not “3” so is “2” 300m?

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      No, “3” is 300m. “2” is 200m.

  5. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    Rob, thanks for this. This sounds very familiar to me from the official manual for the 74. Do you still plan on providing a video or a blog posting on zeroing the 74? I would like to zero some 5.45 rifles and value your input. Thanks.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Colin, yes, zeroing procedures for 74 are very similar to this. Shortcut method is to zero at 25 meters and you will be good to go to 300m. We will do video on 74 zero at some point, i just got distracted from it because of all other projects…

  6. Derek Avatar
    Derek

    Hello Rob

    Any advise for zeroing 5.45×39 at 100 yards, not meters?

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      If you will zero it at 100yds here is the data for it:

      Range Drop
      (yd) (in)
      0 -1.5
      100 0
      200 -3.6
      300 -13.5
      400 -31.5
      500 -59.7
      600 -101.2
      700 -160.4
      800 -243.6
      900 -358.3
      1000 -509.4

      1. Derek Avatar
        Derek

        I’m sorry Rob. I meant how to get a good battle zero at 100 yards, sorry.

  7. Derek Avatar
    Derek

    As far as an off set at 100 yards for a battle zero.
    Thank you!

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Derek, just do 27 yds zero, on P, no offset.

  8. Fractured Avatar
    Fractured

    Hey Rob, I know this is an older posting but i have a question. I dont have access to a 100 meter range at the moment, and ive been reading alot on the supposed “new” russian way to zero. The people saying to set the slider to the 100m and zero at 25m for poa/poi. they claim this will be correct for the slider markings and get the same results? is this correct? what would you reccomend?

    Thanks

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      If you will sight in at 25yds you will be somehow close, but right on…

  9. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    Ski,

    What is the purpose of 300 meters vs 100 meters on the initial zero?

    It seems like one could go to 100 meters and zero the weapon. From that point it would be a mater of just putting the rear sight on the desired range.

    Thanks,
    Shaun

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      This is their way of getting 300m zero – if you would think about it, it would be rather difficult zero weapon from 300m, so they created this procedure. Is it perfect? I rather have honestly true 100m instead of this, but that’s me…

  10. rakesh Avatar
    rakesh

    I want to do zero to ak47 at 25 mt. Where should be impect of bulett dowen from point of aim

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Set it to P. Do it from 25 yds. POI should 1″ higher than POA. You will have this:
      Range Drop
      (yd) (in)
      0 -1.5
      25 1
      50 3.1
      75 4.8
      100 6
      125 6.7
      150 7
      175 6.6
      200 5.7
      225 4.1
      250 1.8
      275 -1.2
      300 -5

      1. Rob Avatar
        Rob

        Thank for your hard work and advice. Most ranges max out at 100 yards. I could not find one that accommodates 100 meter zero. I will use this chart to zero my rifle. Thank you again.

  11. brandon Avatar
    brandon

    hi rob. Im about to sight in my 47 at 25 meters. What do i set the slider to while zeroing and what do i set it to after its zeroed in? I have a saiga and it doesnt have a “P”. It only has 1,2, and 3. Although the slider can still go past the 1 even though its not marked.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Set it to P. Do it from 25 yds. POI should 1″ higher than POA. You will have this:
      Range Drop
      (yd) (in)
      0 -1.5
      25 1
      50 3.1
      75 4.8
      100 6
      125 6.7
      150 7
      175 6.6
      200 5.7
      225 4.1
      250 1.8
      275 -1.2
      300 -5

      1. brandon Avatar
        brandon

        Thanks man thats what i was looking for. I sighted it in at about 27 yards and my shots were about 1 1/2″ high. What zero would that be? I cant find a graph anywhere on that trajectory.

  12. Steven Hagen Avatar
    Steven Hagen

    Hey Rob if I’m in the Army as well and I was wondering if I should use a target similar in size for 25m zero? And if so should my point of aim be the same as point of impact? And set at p ? What about after I zero what should move selected too?

  13. Eddie Davis Avatar

    Thanks for the information. I donated. Useful stuff, bro.

    спасибо за данные

  14. Matt Brojakowski Avatar
    Matt Brojakowski

    Hey Rob, I checked out this video on YouTube the other day, but I have just one question; does this method apply to the 800m rear sight leaf as well? I know the 1000m and 800m leaf cannot be interchangeably fed because the adjustment ramp angle is different. I’m hoping the zero procedure is the same. I’m also wondering if the battle zero position is still equal to the 300m adjustment?

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Yes, and you are correct, feed ramps for rear leaf on 1000m and 800m AKs are different, so you can’t mix them…

  15. Hector Frank Franceschini Avatar
    Hector Frank Franceschini

    The majority of known distance (KD) ranges in the U.S use yards, it is a fine practical substitute for 100 meters. I zeroed at 100 yards, with my rear sight setting set on 100 meters “1.” For example, chosing an alternate zero distance is specifically for a specified area of operation (AO). Using increments of ‘100 is good for the battlefield. Follow instructions.

    A 25 yard or meter zero is used, when a 100 yd or meter KD range isn’t available. It is an alternate distance. The sighting can most definitely remain. It is not the primary methodology, it is secondary. 25 yards or meters will “get you on paper,” if you have doubts out to ‘100 or have been moving your front sight’s post or drum. For example, on a Navy ship, you have no choice but to use a ’25 zero.

    An AK-47 is not an AR-15, M16 or M4. The AK will sight-in at 100 meters, while the M4 will sight-in at 25 meters. Try to avoid confusion, by mixing the methods that have been incorporated to the indvidualized weapons. I am not to high on the AK’s 300 meter initial sighting-in because it reverts back to 100 meters anyway. So, ofcourse the easier and most logical option is to start at 25 meters and [ultimately complete your zero at 100 meters on “1”.] Thank you.

  16. waqar Avatar
    waqar

    why we sit rear sight on 3 not 1 ????

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      To simulate zero at 300. Not everyone has access to range for 300m.

  17. Justin Avatar
    Justin

    Would I zero my rpk m72b1 the same way or would I need a different way to go about zeroing my rifle sense it has the longer 21 inch barrel than a standard ak47

  18. Justin Avatar
    Justin

    Would I sight in my rpk m72b1 the same way or differently because it has the longer barrel and rpk sights

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      I would do it from 100m then on 100m setting for irons

  19. Derek Avatar
    Derek

    Rob, would zeroing the sights for 300 meters on the “P” setting be the same as 300 meters? My rear leaf seems like the P and the 300m settings are the same but I’ve heard mixed things? I’d like to be able to use the battle sight instead of adjusting the rear if possible.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      No, P is more closer to like 350, which of course doesn’t exists on slider…so, zero on P from 25 yards with 1″ high offset instead. This will keep you on human size target up to 300 yards.

  20. Charlie Stone Avatar
    Charlie Stone

    I have a slr104fr, Well 2 of them. I only have access to 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges. How can i sight in the 5.45 rifle to where the ranging works. i don’t have land to set up metric distances. can only use a 25, 50 and 100 yard range targets. Pleas help, these rifles are pretty dangerous because i dont know where the bullets will hit.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Do 25 yards zero, you should be on human size target up to 300 yds

  21. Jacob Wallis Avatar
    Jacob Wallis

    Would poont of aik match point of impact? The steps say that at 100 meters that ot would be 25 cm from bottom od target? How wouls poi match poa? What zero woult that neeed to be?

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      To match POI to POA on AK, set rear leaf to 100m and zero it from 100m (point of impact will equal in this situation point of aim).

  22. Kidega Michael Banya Avatar
    Kidega Michael Banya

    Hi Rob. Am just reading this good information and watching your clip video on the youtube. I have access to upto 350mtrs range yard.
    Am yet to practically go and do exactly what is in your Video get the out come.
    Besides i have a very simple question to ask.
    How about if i put my rear slider at 3 and go on prone position to zero my weapon at 25m yard.
    What effect shall i have if am to move back and take shots from 300m yard with my slider still left at 3.?
    Thanks.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      I would just set slider at 100m and zero it from 100m man.

  23. Blake Ward Avatar

    I zero’d my 11.5 inch barrel AK at 15 yards, and it shoots exceptionally high at 50 yards with my red dot. (8 inches high). Taking it back to the range to confirm. Wondering if there is a practical reason.

    1. Rob Ski Avatar
      Rob Ski

      Do 25yds zero – report back.

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