Sight Adjustment Savvy

by
posted on July 19, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
savvy1.jpg

Sight click graduations have a lot to do with how a shooter proceeds in a match. There’s no question that, for me at least, the finer the adjustment, the better. A sight that moves the bullet 3 inches per click is decidedly a more difficult decision to make! Finer graduations mean both less consequence on a missed read, and better results on a “hit.” They also allow me to take a precise setting to favor a wind change.

null
Keeping a list of target ring dimensions will help with sight adjustments during a match. Photo by Chip Lohman.

Figure out the number of clicks per ring to estimate needed correction. This is a term familiar to Smallbore and Air Rifle shooters whose sights use extremely fine click graduations. For the High Power 600 yard MR-1 target, scoring rings X through 8 are in 6-inch increments, or 3 inches per side, meaning that there should be about 2 clicks per ring with 1/4 minute sights: 6 (hundred yards) X .25 = 1.5 per click. A mid-ring 10, for example, should take about 3 clicks to center on the X (1 to get to the X ring, and another 2 to get to its center). This information especially helps new shooters to know “how many clicks” to move.

If you’re fishing for a zero on the outer rings, it helps to know that ring numbers 7 through 5 are double-wide, meaning it will take approximately 4 clicks per ring, or 6 inches of movement.

Do this for each target and you won’t get lost with sight adjustments during a match. You can find the target dimensions in each online NRA Rule Book.

Latest

1 Lede Bestofdecade
1 Lede Bestofdecade

The Last 10 Years of Shooting Sports USA

Standout covers and milestones from the past decade celebrating Shooting Sports USA’s history, evolution and mission.

Legends: Philip Schreier 1962–2025

Philip Schreier, NRA Museums Director and firearms historian, passes away at 63, leaving a lasting legacy through his dedication to preserving American firearms history.

Review: Tikka T3x Ace Target Rifle

Hands-on review of Tikka’s T3x Ace Target shows solid accuracy and real-world PRS readiness straight from the box.

Year In Review: 10 Of Our Best Articles From 2025

A year-end look at SSUSA’s most-read 2025 stories covering competition results, match-ready firearms, SHOT Show highlights and expert shooting guidance.

Review: Fabarm Infinite RS Sporting

A radically modern double gun built to challenge over-under dominance on the sporting-clays course.

New: Federal 6 mm ARC Gold Medal Berger Target Load

Federal ships a new 6 mm ARC Gold Medal match load, blending Berger bullets with factory consistency for long-range precision.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.