Jeremy writes:
I don’t know if you guys have gotten this question before, or if it would warrant writing an article, but do you have any feedback on zeroing a rifle on a range measured in yards, and then how accuracy would be affected when shooting that rifle estimating distance based on meters? The difference @ 100m vs. 100 yards is going to be about 9′ so my assumption is that even to the max effective range of a 5.56 round, there isn’t going to be enough of a difference to see a noticeable POI shift. Do you have an opinion?
Good news for the lazy among us: for the typical zero on a 5.56 gun, it doesn’t matter . . .
Meters are longer than yards, but only by a tiny bit. For one meter or ten meters, it doesn’t really matter. In fact, the difference between meters and yards at 50 yards is just about negligible. Which is perfect for our purposes.
The typical 5.56 rifle zero is a 50 yard/meter zero. That puts the round on target at 50 yards and 200 yards, with less than a 3 inch vertical deviation over that distance. It’s also the zero that’s used with Leupold and Trijicon’s optics, as zeroing at 50 yards will align the trajectory with the reticle.
At 50 yards, the difference between meters and yards is still so small that it really doesn’t matter. In fact, the inherent inaccuracy of your barrel and ammunition will probably do more to mess with your zero than the difference between yards and meters (more about that here).
In fact, even at longer distances the difference still really doesn’t matter. Doing the calculations in either metric or imperial units will get you close enough to where you can walk the shot on target with a couple rounds.
If you’re going for precision shooting, though, it might matter. But if you’re the “one shot, one kill” kind of person, you already know your holds (or can calculate them) in either system and adjust as needed.
For new shooters, my advice is not to sweat the small stuff. Even for NRA High Power service rifle matches, I calculated my ballistics in yards while the range at MCB Quantico is laid out in meters and it didn’t slow me down. Two sighters and I was tapping the X ring. The difference between meters and yards is important, and for those who need to make a precise shot, it’s important to understand the difference and adjust as necessary. But for those just starting out, it’s no biggie.
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They bid us change the ancient “names,”
The “seasons” and the “times,”
And for our measures go abroad
To strange and distant climes.
But we’ll abide by things long dear,
And cling to things of yore,
For the Anglo-Saxon race shall rule
The earth from shore to shore.
Then down with every “metric” scheme
Taught by the foreign school.
We’ll worship still our Father’s God!
And keep our Father’s “rule”!
A perfect inch, a perfect pint,
The Anglo’s honest pound,
Shall hold their place upon the earth,
Till Time’s last trump shall sound!
Then swell the chorus heartily,
Let every Saxon sing:
“A pint’s a pound the world around,”
Till all the earth shall ring,
“A pint’s a pound the world around”
For rich and poor the same:
Just measure and a perfect weight
Called by their ancient name!
Of course, the scientific nerd in some of us may express a somewhat cumbersome riposte, as follows:
Replace the inch, we say to thee
Make each equation neater
For every scientist in the world
Will use the same centimeter
LOL!
Thanks for confirming my assumptions Nick! I had forgotten about this email
If I could find a decent range or large enough private property, I’d love to set up one target @ 500m and one @ 500 yards just to see if I could still knock them out in one shot without adjustments.
Without commenting on the gist of the article (that the difference is immaterial)…the math is a bit wrong. There are 3.28083 feet per meter, but only 3 feet per yard. 100 yards is 300ft, and 100 meters is 328.083 ft. 100 yards is 91.44 meters. (300 divided by 3.28083). The difference is either 28 ft or about 9 m or yards.
A single hash as used above by the author implies feet (9′). I think the author mis-wrote the difference is 9 feet when he really meant yards or meters.
Yes. The difference between yards and meters will matter for precision shooters past 300 yards or so, depending upon caliber. But precision shooters already know that, and will adjust their equipment accordingly. Personally, I like feet and yards because they are American measurements.
Newbies will likely be confused and won’t bother with conversions. Since most ranges are set up in yards, that should be fine.
Now to discuss MOA is not 1 inch at 100 yds but 1.047197580733 inches or 10.47 inches not 10 at 1000 yds.
Well now, that all depends …
Are we shooting God-fearing Americans, or filthy Euro-trash? I say hold your fire until you see the whites of their eyes, damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!!
Or just sight in at 100 yards like God intended.
That’s a lot of math, fractions, and cancellation marks. You can do it that way, or you can go to google and type in “100 yards to meters.”
As for real world use, just remember that it’s off by 10% and you should be close enough for most applications.
If you’re an American who is forced to shoot 300 meters, just know you’re shooting 300+10% or 330 yards. Alternatively, you can pretend 800 yards is 800-80=720 meters. In real life it’s 328 yards or 731.5 meters, but the 10% rule is pretty close for most uses.
Don’t try this with a 308 at 1000 yards or you’ll miss your elevation by a foot or two. For a 308, use a laser rangefinder. Keep walking toward the target until the laser indicates 600 of something. Then shoot.
Google really can be your friend. Try the search: 100 meters to yards
Or just enter: unit converter
and you get a really slick unit conversion tool.