Simplified Guide: Zeroing Pistol Red Dots (ELI5)
The user is looking for a simple, clear explanation of zeroing a pistol red dot, as if they're 5 years old. They find the current instructions confusing and are having trouble with the concept, even though they have experience with other optics. A straightforward, visual guide like an infographic or a short video would be really helpful. This guide should break down the process into easy steps, explain turret adjustments (for example, "chase the bullet" – if shots are low-right, move the dot low-right to cover the impacts), and highlight common pitfalls (like making sure the optic is securely mounted).
Specific Product Suggestion: A laminated, pocket-sized quick reference card or a short (under 60 seconds), easy-to-understand animated video. The content should use minimal jargon and focus on visual "if-then" instructions (e.g., "If your bullets hit LOW, turn the 'UP' turret THIS way [show arrow on turret and desired bullet impact shift]").
Expected Benefit: This would help new pistol red dot users quickly, easily, and correctly zero their optics, reducing frustration and improving their confidence and accuracy with their firearm.
Origin Reddit Post
r/firearms
Explain zeroing a pistol red dot like I’m 5
Posted by u/ATPsynthase12•06/04/2025
I know I’m dumb and obviously overcomplicating it, but I’ve never had these issues with rifle red dots or Eotechs and my pistol experience is mostly with irons.
Anyways, I have a vortex defe
Top Comments
u/Stretchearstrong
Boresights suck because they're not going to be concentric to your barrel. They might fight snugly, but if you rotate the boresight 180°, you'll have a different position than when you starte
u/daeather
Rifle scopes are the same. Up is still up.
u/tgpussypants
Sofa King Awesome. What a good sketch that was
u/Real_Mila_Kunis
I mean I don’t think you’re zeroing a dot in an emergency
u/drugs_are_bad__mmkay
Out of curiosity, where did you order your red dot?
If from somewhere like Amazon, see if you can verify through vortex that it’s legit
u/PancakesandScotch
I threw mine out after doing exactly that
u/Ninja_rooster
True ELI5.
u/PinheadLarry2323
Bullets landing low, turn the elevation turret counterclockwise
Bullets landing high, turn it clockwise
Bullets landing left, turn right
Bullets landing right, turn left
If you’re moving
u/gecon
Forget the POA/POI stuff. Think of it this way: the turrets change where the holes end up. If you want the holes to go up, turn the elevation turret in the up direction. If you want the holes
u/Stretchearstrong
Measure 25yds. Staple up BIG paper/cardboard with a 3" circle drawn on it. Hold gun as lightly as possible on sandbag so as not to influence POI. Note where bullet went in relation to point o
u/KepplerRunner
My boresight only moves maybe two inches when I shine it across my house (about 40 to 50ft). And I have a cheap Amazon one. Its gotten me at least within 4 or five inches every time I've used
u/yourmomsjubblies
I just put my rifles in a sled, fire a shot, keep the gun as steady as possible, and move the cross hair from the bullseye to the poi. If I'm not fighting wind or don't fuck up I can get a de
u/YeetedSloth
Pistol red dots are as easy as it gets. You shoot a grouping with the gun resting on a sandbag as tight as possible. Move the red dot to where the group was. New group should be where the dot
u/mo9722
probably mixing it up with rifle irons
u/Real_Mila_Kunis
I mean I don’t think you’re zeroing a dot in an emergency
u/ArgieBee
On pistol red dots, treat "Up" as "move my point of impact up", not "move the point of aim up". Moving the turret up lowers the dot, meaning your gun is being aimed higher with the dot placed
u/ChrisWhiteWolf
Isn't that the same for rifle optics as well?
u/yourmomsjubblies
I just put my rifles in a sled, fire a shot, keep the gun as steady as possible, and move the cross hair from the bullseye to the poi. If I'm not fighting wind or don't fuck up I can get a de
u/ArgieBee
On pistol red dots, treat "Up" as "move my point of impact up", not "move the point of aim up". Moving the turret up lowers the dot, meaning your gun is being aimed higher with the dot placed
u/Stretchearstrong
Measure 25yds. Staple up BIG paper/cardboard with a 3" circle drawn on it. Hold gun as lightly as possible on sandbag so as not to influence POI. Note where bullet went in relation to point o
u/gecon
Forget the POA/POI stuff. Think of it this way: the turrets change where the holes end up. If you want the holes to go up, turn the elevation turret in the up direction. If you want the holes
u/ATPsynthase12
Primary Arms. So a reputable place. I bought my Eotech from them a few years ago too and it’s held up great. No issues zeroing either.
u/drugs_are_bad__mmkay
Oh yeah - it’s legit.
How does your shooting compare to with irons?
u/repdetec_revisited
And they do it that way, because that is what you would want in an emergency
u/irierider
Make dot cover hole in paper
u/scroapprentice
I think they do it that way because that’s how every optic and every rear iron sight works, not for emergency zeroing, which isn’t a thing, you want to be zeroed long before an emergency
u/csbsju_guyyy
Yeah I've always kind of liked how it's "easy" to zero red dots.
"damn I'm way high and right, better turn towards left and down" and you can just walk it in.
The opposite with rifle scop
u/drugs_are_bad__mmkay
Oh yeah - it’s legit.
How does your shooting compare to with irons?
u/daeather
Rifle scopes are the same. Up is still up.
u/Caligula-6
Tighten the bolts connecting your optic to the pistol and then put witness marks on them. Could be theyre walking out under recoil.
After that verify you have a legit vortex and not a knocko
u/KepplerRunner
My boresight only moves maybe two inches when I shine it across my house (about 40 to 50ft). And I have a cheap Amazon one. Its gotten me at least within 4 or five inches every time I've used
u/repdetec_revisited
And they do it that way, because that is what you would want in an emergency
u/redtree48
Indoor range, set the target at the appropriate distance, get a chair, sit in the chair, rest your arms and the gun on the table in front of you in your lane, do your best to not move the pis
u/MGB1013
That was my first thought. I have had this happen before to me and I’ve seen other improperly mounted optics work loose.
u/Caligula-6
Tighten the bolts connecting your optic to the pistol and then put witness marks on them. Could be theyre walking out under recoil.
After that verify you have a legit vortex and not a knocko
u/sofa_king_awesome
I would agree with you, Mila Kunis.
u/csbsju_guyyy
Yeah I've always kind of liked how it's "easy" to zero red dots.
"damn I'm way high and right, better turn towards left and down" and you can just walk it in.
The opposite with rifle scop
u/ATPsynthase12
Primary Arms. So a reputable place. I bought my Eotech from them a few years ago too and it’s held up great. No issues zeroing either.
u/Stretchearstrong
For no dollars extra, I just shoot my gun and observe the impact. But I get what you're saying.
u/sofa_king_awesome
I would agree with you, Mila Kunis.
u/ServoIIV
I had an issue with running out of elevation zeroing a Vortex Venom on a Ruger Mark IV Tactical. I found out that the particular combination of rail, dot, and pistol were not able to be zeroe
u/tgpussypants
Sofa King Awesome. What a good sketch that was
u/PinheadLarry2323
Bullets landing low, turn the elevation turret counterclockwise
Bullets landing high, turn it clockwise
Bullets landing left, turn right
Bullets landing right, turn left
If you’re moving
u/irierider
Make dot cover hole in paper
u/doogles
Up mean boolet go up.
Right mean boolet go right.
Down mean boolet go down.
Left mean boolet go left.
u/Stretchearstrong
Boresights suck because they're not going to be concentric to your barrel. They might fight snugly, but if you rotate the boresight 180°, you'll have a different position than when you starte
u/PancakesandScotch
I threw mine out after doing exactly that
u/rdgy5432
Yea I don't know what these guys mean both are the same your moving the impact point
u/drugs_are_bad__mmkay
Out of curiosity, where did you order your red dot?
If from somewhere like Amazon, see if you can verify through vortex that it’s legit
u/Dexter-the-Cat
This right here…. lol. I’m repeating this in my head every time I adjust an optic.