RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M16A2/A4 BULLET PATH TABLE

TRUE 300 METER ZERO

METERS PATH INCHES:

0 -2.5
25 -0.33
50 1.56
75 3.13
100 4.37
125 5.27
150 5.8
175 5.94
200 5.68
225 4.98
250 3.82
275 2.17
300 0
This slide shows the flight path of a bullet fired from an M16A2/A4 rifle with a true 300M zero. Current Army doctrine states that we
must acquire a point of aim point of impact zero at 25M to achieve a point of aim point of impact zero at 00M where the bullet
crosses the line of sight again. Note that the bullet impacts .33 inches low at 25M. This is why it is necessary to raise the BDC to
8/3 plus one click during the zeroing process, and then return the BDC to 8/3 for qualification or battle.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M16A2/A4 BULLET PATH DIAGRAM

TRUE 300 METER ZERO

This is a graphic representation of the bullets trajectory from the previous slide. You see that the first time the bullet crosses the
line of sight is actually at 31M, not 25M. Also note that the maximum ordinate for the bullet fired from a rifle with a 300M zero is at
172M. NZ stands for near zero, MT stands for maximum trajectory, and FZ stands for far zero.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M4 BULLET PATH TABLE

TRUE 300 METER ZERO

METERS PATH INCHES:

0 -2.5
25 -0.03
50 2.11
75 3.89
100 5.29
125 6.3
150 6.89
175 7.03
200 6.7
225 5.86
250 4.49
275 2.55
300 0
This slide shows the flight path of a bullet fired from an M4 rifle with a true 300M zero. Note that the bullet impacts .03 inches low
at 25M. This amount is negligible, and also why it is not necessary to raise the BDC up one click as it is done on the A2 or A4.
The M4 is kept at 6/3 both for zeroing and battle.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M4 BULLET PATH DIAGRAM

TRUE 300 METER ZERO

This is a graphic representation of the bullets trajectory from the previous slide.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M16A2/A4 BULLET PATH TABLE

TRUE 200 METER ZERO

METERS PATH INCHES:

0 -2.5
25 -1.11
50 0.01
75 0.83
100 1.35
125 1.54
150 1.4
175 0.89
200 0
225 -1.29
250 -3.01
275 -5.18
300 -7.83

This slide depicts bullet flight path from an M16A2 or A4 with a true 200M zero. You see that the first time the bullet crosses the
line of sight is at 50M. These numbers were achieved through two separate ballistic calculators and both came up with the same
calculations. This is contradictory to much of the information that is circulating about how to achieve a 200M zero. Many units are
zeroing at 37M and believe that they are achieving a 200M zero, when they are in fact achieving a 255M zero by doing it this way.
This will be demonstrated later in this brief. Another question that this slide poses is the use of the BDC during zeroing. Are units
zeroing from 8/3 plus one, plus two, or just 8/3. However it is being done, it probably isn’t being done the same way from unit to
unit.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M16A2/A4 BULLET PATH DIAGRAM

TRUE 200 METER ZERO

Graphic representation of bullet trajectory of the previous slide.

 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M4 BULLET PATH TABLE

TRUE 200 METER ZERO

METERS PATH INCHES:

0 -2.5
25 -0.87
50 0.43
75 1.37
100 1.94
125 2.11
150 1.86
175 1.17
200 0
225 -1.67
250 -3.88
275 -6.66
300 -10.05
This depicts ballistic information for the M4 with a true 200M
zero.
 RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP

M4 BULLET PATH DIAGRAM

TRUE 200 METER ZERO

This depicts the flight path as described on the previous slide. Note that the flight of the bullet does not cross the line of sight at
37M for this weapon system either. To achieve a true 200M zero, one would have to zero at 41M.