What Is the Best Zero Distance for 7.62x39?
Zero at 100 yards; 200 for a scoped hunting carbine.
Zero a 7.62x39 rifle at 100 yards unless it is a scoped hunting carbine, in which case zero at 200. With a 123gr load at 2,350 fps and a sight 2.6" over the bore, the 100-yard zero has almost no peak, is 5.5" low at 200 and inside an 8" vital zone to 183 yards; the 200-yard zero is 2.8" high at 100, 3" at its peak and inside the same zone to 241 yards, which is about as far as the cartridge should be used on deer.
The 50-yard zero that works on a 5.56 AR does not transfer: on this slower cartridge it crosses back at only 140 yards and gains 17 yards of window over the 100-yard zero at the cost of a crossover you have to remember.
The 7.62x39 is a 300-yard cartridge only for steel. It is 19 to 24 inches low at 300 whichever zero you choose and 40 to 50 inches low at 400, and the tables below show why the choice of zero matters inside 250 and barely matters beyond it.
Figures on this page: Hornady SST 7.62x39mm 123gr, 123gr G1 .295 at 2,350 fps, AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic, 2.6" over bore, standard conditions. Source: Hornady published velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Side-by-Side Comparison
123gr G1 .295 at 2,350 fps, 2.6" over bore (ar-15 / ar-10, standard-height optic).
| 50-yd zero | 100-yd zero | 200-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 50 yd | 72 yd | 34 yd |
| Far zero | 140 yd | 100 yd | 200 yd |
| Max ordinate | +0.8" | +0.1" | +3.0" |
| Max ordinate distance | 96 yd | 86 yd | 120 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") | 0–200 yd | 0–183 yd | 0–241 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | +0.8" (+0.8 MOA) | 0.0" (0.0 MOA) | +2.8" (+2.7 MOA) |
| Drop at 200 yd | -4.0" | -5.5" | +0.0" |
| Drop at 300 yd | -19.3" | -21.6" | -13.3" |
| Energy at 200 yd | 905 ft-lb | 905 ft-lb | 905 ft-lb |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 400 yards.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
The 50-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady SST 7.62x39mm 123gr zeroed at 50 yards with 2.6" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 50 and 140 yards, peaks +0.8" at 96 yards, and stays inside a 8" vital zone (±4") from 0 to 200 yards. At 200 yards it is -4.0". At 300 yards it is -19.3".
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -2.6" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,350 | 1,509 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -1.1" | -4.13 | -1.20 | 2,279 | 1,419 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.02 | 0.00 | 2,210 | 1,334 | 0.4 |
| 75 | +0.6" | +0.80 | +0.23 | 2,142 | 1,253 | 0.8 |
| 100 | +0.8" | +0.75 | +0.22 | 2,075 | 1,176 | 1.5 |
| 125 | +0.5" | +0.34 | +0.10 | 2,010 | 1,103 | 2.3 |
| 150 | -0.4" | -0.27 | -0.08 | 1,945 | 1,034 | 3.4 |
| 175 | -1.9" | -1.03 | -0.30 | 1,882 | 968 | 4.7 |
| 200 | -4.0" | -1.88 | -0.55 | 1,821 | 905 | 6.2 |
| 225 | -6.7" | -2.83 | -0.82 | 1,760 | 847 | 8.0 |
| 250 | -10.1" | -3.85 | -1.12 | 1,702 | 791 | 10.0 |
| 275 | -14.3" | -4.95 | -1.44 | 1,644 | 739 | 12.2 |
| 300 | -19.3" | -6.12 | -1.78 | 1,589 | 690 | 14.8 |
| 325 | -25.1" | -7.37 | -2.14 | 1,535 | 644 | 17.6 |
| 350 | -31.8" | -8.68 | -2.53 | 1,483 | 601 | 20.8 |
| 375 | -39.6" | -10.08 | -2.93 | 1,433 | 561 | 24.2 |
| 400 | -48.4" | -11.55 | -3.36 | 1,385 | 524 | 28.0 |
123gr G1 .295 at 2,350 fps, 2.6" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Hornady published velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
Not many 7.62x39 shooters, despite its popularity on the 5.56 side of the safe. The cartridge is slow enough that a 50-yard zero on a 2.6" optic crosses back at only 140 yards, peaks 0.8" at 96, and is 3.9" low at 200 and 19" low at 300. It holds inside an 8" zone to 200 yards, which is 17 yards more than the 100-yard zero gives you, and that is the whole case for it: a red-dot carbine used inside 200 that you can only confirm on a 50-yard range.
The 100-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady SST 7.62x39mm 123gr zeroed at 100 yards with 2.6" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 72 and 100 yards, peaks +0.1" at 86 yards, and stays inside a 8" vital zone (±4") from 0 to 183 yards. At 200 yards it is -5.5". At 300 yards it is -21.6".
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -2.6" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,350 | 1,509 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -1.3" | -4.89 | -1.42 | 2,279 | 1,419 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.4" | -0.77 | -0.22 | 2,210 | 1,334 | 0.4 |
| 75 | +0.0" | +0.04 | +0.01 | 2,142 | 1,253 | 0.8 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,075 | 1,176 | 1.5 |
| 125 | -0.5" | -0.41 | -0.12 | 2,010 | 1,103 | 2.3 |
| 150 | -1.6" | -1.03 | -0.30 | 1,945 | 1,034 | 3.4 |
| 175 | -3.3" | -1.78 | -0.52 | 1,882 | 968 | 4.7 |
| 200 | -5.5" | -2.64 | -0.77 | 1,821 | 905 | 6.2 |
| 225 | -8.5" | -3.59 | -1.04 | 1,760 | 847 | 8.0 |
| 250 | -12.1" | -4.61 | -1.34 | 1,702 | 791 | 10.0 |
| 275 | -16.5" | -5.71 | -1.66 | 1,645 | 739 | 12.2 |
| 300 | -21.6" | -6.88 | -2.00 | 1,589 | 690 | 14.8 |
| 325 | -27.7" | -8.12 | -2.36 | 1,535 | 644 | 17.6 |
| 350 | -34.6" | -9.44 | -2.75 | 1,483 | 601 | 20.8 |
| 375 | -42.6" | -10.83 | -3.15 | 1,433 | 561 | 24.2 |
| 400 | -51.6" | -12.31 | -3.58 | 1,385 | 524 | 28.0 |
123gr G1 .295 at 2,350 fps, 2.6" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Hornady published velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
The right zero for most rifles in this cartridge. On a 2.6" optic the 123gr bullet crosses the line of sight at 72 and 100 yards with a 0.08" peak, is 5.5" low at 200 and 21.6" low at 300, and stays inside an 8" zone to 183 yards. It matches how the iron sights on an AK or SKS are regulated, it is easy to confirm, and it keeps the dope card simple for a cartridge that drops fast enough to need one past 200.
The 200-Yard Zero
How it performs
Hornady SST 7.62x39mm 123gr zeroed at 200 yards with 2.6" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 34 and 200 yards, peaks +3.0" at 120 yards, and stays inside a 8" vital zone (±4") from 0 to 241 yards. At 200 yards it is +0.0". At 300 yards it is -13.3".
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -2.6" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,350 | 1,509 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.24 | -0.65 | 2,279 | 1,419 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +1.0" | +1.88 | +0.55 | 2,210 | 1,334 | 0.4 |
| 75 | +2.1" | +2.70 | +0.78 | 2,142 | 1,253 | 0.8 |
| 100 | +2.8" | +2.65 | +0.77 | 2,075 | 1,176 | 1.5 |
| 125 | +2.9" | +2.24 | +0.65 | 2,010 | 1,103 | 2.3 |
| 150 | +2.6" | +1.62 | +0.47 | 1,945 | 1,034 | 3.4 |
| 175 | +1.6" | +0.87 | +0.25 | 1,882 | 968 | 4.7 |
| 200 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,821 | 905 | 6.2 |
| 225 | -2.2" | -0.93 | -0.27 | 1,760 | 847 | 8.0 |
| 250 | -5.1" | -1.96 | -0.57 | 1,702 | 791 | 10.0 |
| 275 | -8.8" | -3.06 | -0.89 | 1,644 | 739 | 12.2 |
| 300 | -13.3" | -4.23 | -1.23 | 1,589 | 690 | 14.8 |
| 325 | -18.6" | -5.47 | -1.59 | 1,535 | 644 | 17.6 |
| 350 | -24.9" | -6.79 | -1.97 | 1,483 | 601 | 20.8 |
| 375 | -32.1" | -8.18 | -2.38 | 1,433 | 561 | 24.2 |
| 400 | -40.4" | -9.65 | -2.81 | 1,385 | 524 | 28.0 |
123gr G1 .295 at 2,350 fps, 2.6" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Hornady published velocity and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
The scoped 7.62x39 used as a deer and hog rifle. Zeroed at 200 the bullet is 2.8" high at 100, peaks 3" at 120 yards, is 13.3" low at 300 and holds inside an 8" zone to 241 yards. That is the practical limit of the cartridge on game, so the 200-yard zero effectively turns the whole useful range into a dead-on hold. The maximum point blank range zero for an 8" zone is 222 yards, which pushes the window to 257 with a 4" peak.
Why Sight Height Changes the Answer
Most 7.62x39 rifles do not carry their sights 2.6" over the bore. An AK with irons sits closer to 1", an SKS with irons about the same, and a side-rail or dust-cover optic on an AK somewhere between 1.5" and 2.5" depending on the mount. The 2.6" figure used here describes an AR-pattern rifle or an AK with a tall optic. Lower the sight line to 1.5" and the 50-yard zero's far zero falls from 140 yards to 86, its peak to 0.1", and at 300 yards it is 24.7" low instead of 19.3"; the 100-yard zero's near zero moves from 72 yards to 42 and its drop at 300 from 21.6" to 23.8".
The practical lesson is the opposite of the 5.56 one. On a 5.56 AR the tall sight makes short zeros useful; on the slower 7.62x39 the tall sight only stretches the arc a little, and on an iron-sighted AK the short zeros are pointless. Zero at 100 whatever the sight height, and reserve the 200-yard zero for a scoped rifle where you have confirmed it at 200.
| Zero | Sight height | Near zero | Far zero | Max ordinate | Inside the 8" zone (±4") to | Drop at 200 | Drop at 300 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 yd | 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 50 yd | 140 yd | +0.8" at 96 | 200 yd | -4.0" | -19.3" |
| 50 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 50 yd | 86 yd | +0.1" at 68 | 168 yd | -7.2" | -24.7" |
| 100 yd | 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 72 yd | 100 yd | +0.1" at 86 | 183 yd | -5.5" | -21.6" |
| 100 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 42 yd | 100 yd | +0.3" at 72 | 174 yd | -6.6" | -23.8" |
| 200 yd | 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 34 yd | 200 yd | +3.0" at 120 | 241 yd | +0.0" | -13.3" |
| 200 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 20 yd | 200 yd | +3.4" at 113 | 239 yd | +0.0" | -13.8" |
How Barrel Length Changes This
The 2,350 fps figure is for a 16" barrel, which is what most AKs, SKSs and AR-pattern rifles in this cartridge carry, so barrel-length corrections are smaller than for 5.56. A 12" pistol-length barrel gives up roughly 150 fps and moves the 100-yard zero's drop at 200 from 5.5" to about 6.7"; a 20" barrel adds perhaps 60 fps. If you have a chronograph number, the calculator below uses it directly.
Which Zero Is Wrong for You
The 50-yard zero is wrong for almost everyone with this cartridge. It looks like the 5.56 "50/200" and it is not: the far zero is 140 yards, the window is barely longer than the 100-yard zero's, and the crossover means the bullet is 0.8" high at 100 for no benefit.
The 200-yard zero is wrong on a rifle with iron sights or a red dot used inside 150 yards. A 3" peak at 120 yards is a miss over a hog's brain or a coyote's chest, and if you cannot confirm the zero at 200 you will not know where the far zero actually is. It is also wrong if your ammunition changes between steel-case FMJ and a hunting load; at 200 yards the difference between a 2,330 fps FMJ and this 2,350 fps SST shows up as an inch or two of shift.
Every zero is wrong past 300 yards for hunting. The 123gr bullet is under 1,600 fps at 300, drifting nearly 15" in a 10 mph wind, and 40" or more low at 400. Zero for the 100-to-250-yard band the cartridge was built for.
Try It With Your Load
Prefilled with the load above. Change anything and the full calculator solves your trajectory; pick your own sight height from the list.
Loads Used on This Page
- Hornady SST 7.62x39mm 123gr SST Ammo — 123gr, 2350 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.295
- PMC Bronze 7.62x39mm 123gr FMJ Ammo — 123gr, 2350 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.27
Frequently Asked Questions
What zero do AK iron sights use?
Most AK and SKS rear sights are graduated in hundreds of metres with a battle setting that corresponds to roughly a 300-metre zero. For civilian use, set the leaf to 100 and confirm at 100 yards; with a 123gr load that puts the bullet about 5.5" low at 200.
Is a 50-yard zero good for 7.62x39?
Rarely. On a 2.6" optic a 50-yard zero with a 123gr load crosses back at only 140 yards and is 19" low at 300. It holds inside an 8" zone to 200 yards versus 183 for the 100-yard zero, which is not enough gain to justify the crossover.
How much does 7.62x39 drop at 200 and 300 yards?
With a 100-yard zero and a 123gr load at 2,350 fps: 5.5" low at 200, 21.6" low at 300 and 51.6" low at 400 on a 2.6" optic. With a 200-yard zero: dead-on at 200, 13.3" low at 300, 40.4" low at 400.
What is the maximum point blank range of 7.62x39?
For an 8" vital zone with a 123gr load on a 2.6" optic, zero at 222 yards and hold dead-on from the muzzle to 257 yards; the bullet peaks 4" high at about 120 yards. For a 10" zone the zero is 239 yards and the window reaches 278.