MAl Standard Sights And Zeroing

To battlesight zero the rifle, the soldier must understand sight adjustment procedures. The best possible zero is obtained by zeroing at actual range. Because facilities normally do not exist for zeroing at 250 meters, most zeroing is conducted at 25 meters. By pushing the rear sight forward so the L is exposed, the bullet crosses line of sight at 25 meters, reaches a maximum height above line of sight of about 11 inches at 225 meters, and crosses line of sight again at 375 meters (Figure 3-21).

To gain the many benefits associated with having bullets hit exactly where the rifle is aimed during 25-meter firing, the long-range sight is used on the zero range. Therefore, when bullets are adjusted to bit the same place the rifle is aimed at 25 meters, the bullet also bits where the rifle is aimed at 375 meters. After making this adjustment and flipping back to the short-range sight and aiming center of mass at a 42-meter target, the bullet crosses the line of sight at 42 meters and again at 250 meters as shown in Figure 3-22.

Most combat targets are expected to be engaged in the ranges from 0 to 300 meters; therefore, the 250-meter battlesight zero is the setting that remains on the rifle. At 25 meters, the bullet is about I inch below line of sight, crossing line of sight at 42 meters. It reaches its highest point above the line of sight (about 5 inches) at a range of about 175 meters, crosses line of sight again at 250 meters, and is about 7 inches below line of sight at 300 meters. Targets can be hit out to a range of 300 meters with no adjustments to point of aim. (A somewhat higher hit probability results with minor adjustments to the aiming point.)

Sights. The sights are adjustable for both elevation and windage. Windage adjustments are made. on the rear sight; elevation adjustments on the front sight.

Rear sight. The Tear sight consists of two apertures and a windage drum with a spring-loaded detent (Figure 323). The aperture marked L is used for ranges beyond 300 meters, and the unmarked or short-range aperture is used for ranges up to 300 meters. Adjustments for windage are made by pressing in on the spring-loaded detent with a sharp instrument (or the tip of a cartridge) and rotating the windage drum in the desired direction of change (right or left) in the strike of the bullet.

Front sight. The front sight consists of a round rotating sight post with a five-position, spring-loaded detent (Figure 3-24). Adjustments are made by using a sharp instrument (or the tip of a cartridge). To move the front sight post, the spring-loaded detent is depressed, and the post is rotated in the desired direction of change (up or down) in the strike of the bullet.

Sight Changes, To make sight changes, the firer first locates the center of his three-round shot group and then determines the distance between it and the desired location. An error in elevation is measured vertically, while a windage error is measured horizontally. When using standard zero targets or downrange feedback targets, sight adjustment guidance on the target is provided. (See Appendix F for the elevation and windage rule.)

To raise the strike of the bullet, the firer rotates the front sight post the desired number of clicks clockwise (in the direction of the arrow marked UP in Figure 3-24). Thus, the strike of the bullet is raised but the post is lowered. He reverses the direction of rotation to move the strike of the bullet down.

To move the strike of the bullet to the right, the windage drum is rotated the desired number of clicks clockwise (in the direction of the arrow marked R, Figure 3-23). The firer reverses the direction of rotation to move the strike of the bullet to the left.

NOTE: Before making any sight changes, the firer should make a serviceability check of the sights, looking for any bent, broken, or loose parts. The firer must also be able to consistently fire 4-cm shot groups.

When the soldier can consistently place three rounds within a 4-cm circle at 25 meters, regardless of group location, he is ready to zero his rifle.

The front and rear sights are set as follows:

Figure 3-24. M16A1 front sight.

Figure 3-24. M16A1 front sight.

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