36-Yard vs 50-Yard Zero for the AR-15: Which Is Better?
Zero at 50 yards. The 36 is for chest-sized steel past 300 and nothing smaller.
Use the 50-yard zero unless you shoot only at chest-sized targets and want the longest possible reach without holdover. With a 55gr load at 3,240 fps and the optic 2.6" over the bore, the 50-yard zero peaks 2.2" high and stays inside an 8" vital zone to 302 yards; the 36-yard zero peaks 5.2" high at 186 yards and climbs out of the top of an 8" zone from 118 to 251 yards before dropping back in and holding to 359. Its only advantage is at the far end, between 300 and 360 yards; in exchange it puts the bullet more than 4" above the dot through the band where most shots are taken.
Both are AR zeros. On a 1.5" sight line the 36-yard zero crosses back at 205 yards and the 50 at 153, and neither reaches the far zeros the names promise.
Figures on this page: Federal American Eagle 5.56 55gr FMJ-BT (XM193), 55gr G1 .269 at 3,240 fps, AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic, 2.6" over bore, standard conditions. Source: Federal published velocity from a 20" test barrel and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Side-by-Side Comparison
55gr G1 .269 at 3,240 fps, 2.6" over bore (ar-15 / ar-10, standard-height optic).
| 36-yd zero | 50-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 36 yd | 50 yd |
| Far zero | 320 yd | 245 yd |
| Max ordinate | +5.2" | +2.2" |
| Max ordinate distance | 186 yd | 151 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") | 0–118 yd (peak is over the zone; back inside 251–359) | 0–302 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | +3.4" (+3.2 MOA) | +1.6" (+1.6 MOA) |
| Drop at 300 yd | +1.5" | -3.8" |
| Drop at 400 yd | -9.3" | -16.3" |
| Energy at 300 yd | 604 ft-lb | 604 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 500 yards.
Want the longest single hold rather than a round number? Maximum Point Blank Range for 5.56 on an AR-15 solves the zero that keeps this cartridge inside a vital zone the furthest.
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 36-Yard Zero (the "36/300")
How it performs
Federal American Eagle 5.56 55gr FMJ-BT (XM193) zeroed at 36 yards with 2.6" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 36 and 320 yards, peaks +5.2" at 186 yards, and stays inside a 8" vital zone (±4") from 0 to 118 yards, then climbs out over the top of the zone and is back inside from 251 to 359 yards. At 300 yards it is +1.5". At 400 yards it is -9.3".
| 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 | 3,240 | 1,282 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.8" | -2.84 | -0.83 | 3,145 | 1,208 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.9" | +1.65 | +0.48 | 3,053 | 1,138 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +2.3" | +2.86 | +0.83 | 2,962 | 1,072 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +3.4" | +3.23 | +0.94 | 2,874 | 1,009 | 1.0 |
| 125 | +4.3" | +3.25 | +0.95 | 2,787 | 949 | 1.6 |
| 150 | +4.9" | +3.09 | +0.90 | 2,702 | 892 | 2.4 |
| 175 | +5.2" | +2.81 | +0.82 | 2,619 | 838 | 3.3 |
| 200 | +5.1" | +2.45 | +0.71 | 2,537 | 786 | 4.3 |
| 225 | +4.8" | +2.03 | +0.59 | 2,456 | 737 | 5.5 |
| 250 | +4.1" | +1.55 | +0.45 | 2,377 | 690 | 6.9 |
| 275 | +3.0" | +1.03 | +0.30 | 2,300 | 646 | 8.5 |
| 300 | +1.5" | +0.46 | +0.13 | 2,224 | 604 | 10.3 |
| 325 | -0.5" | -0.15 | -0.04 | 2,149 | 564 | 12.2 |
| 350 | -2.9" | -0.80 | -0.23 | 2,075 | 526 | 14.4 |
| 375 | -5.9" | -1.49 | -0.43 | 2,004 | 490 | 16.8 |
| 400 | -9.3" | -2.23 | -0.65 | 1,933 | 457 | 19.4 |
| 425 | -13.4" | -3.00 | -0.87 | 1,865 | 425 | 22.3 |
| 450 | -18.1" | -3.83 | -1.11 | 1,797 | 395 | 25.4 |
| 475 | -23.4" | -4.70 | -1.37 | 1,732 | 366 | 28.9 |
| 500 | -29.5" | -5.63 | -1.64 | 1,669 | 340 | 32.5 |
55gr G1 .269 at 3,240 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: Federal published velocity from a 20" test barrel and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
Shooters who want the longest possible hold-dead-on reach on a man-sized or steel target and are willing to pay for it with a tall arc. Zeroed at 36 yards the 55gr bullet climbs to 5.2" above the line of sight at 186 yards and does not come back down through it until 320 yards. Against an 8" vital zone the bullet is inside from the muzzle to 118 yards, rides above the zone from there to 251, and is inside again from 251 to 359. A centre hold works at the near end and at the far end; in the middle it hits the top of a chest or misses over it.
The number is not arbitrary. It is the Marine Corps battle-sight zero, set at 33 metres (36 yards) so that an M16 with its sights 2.6" over the bore is dead-on again near 300 metres, and it came to civilian ARs with the Marines who trained on it.
It is close to the maximum point blank range zero for a 10" zone, and it suits a carbine used on IPSC-sized steel at unknown distances out to 350. It does not suit anyone shooting at anything smaller than a chest between 100 and 300 yards, because for that entire band the bullet is more than 3" above the dot.
The 50-Yard Zero (the "50/200")
How it performs
Federal American Eagle 5.56 55gr FMJ-BT (XM193) zeroed at 50 yards with 2.6" of sight height crosses the line of sight at 50 and 245 yards, peaks +2.2" at 151 yards, and stays inside a 8" vital zone (±4") from 0 to 302 yards. At 300 yards it is -3.8". At 400 yards it is -16.3".
| 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 | 3,240 | 1,282 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -1.2" | -4.51 | -1.31 | 3,145 | 1,208 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 3,053 | 1,138 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.9" | +1.20 | +0.35 | 2,962 | 1,072 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +1.6" | +1.57 | +0.46 | 2,874 | 1,009 | 1.0 |
| 125 | +2.1" | +1.59 | +0.46 | 2,787 | 949 | 1.6 |
| 150 | +2.2" | +1.42 | +0.41 | 2,702 | 892 | 2.4 |
| 175 | +2.1" | +1.14 | +0.33 | 2,619 | 838 | 3.3 |
| 200 | +1.6" | +0.78 | +0.23 | 2,537 | 786 | 4.3 |
| 225 | +0.9" | +0.36 | +0.10 | 2,456 | 737 | 5.5 |
| 250 | -0.3" | -0.12 | -0.03 | 2,377 | 690 | 6.9 |
| 275 | -1.8" | -0.64 | -0.19 | 2,300 | 646 | 8.5 |
| 300 | -3.8" | -1.21 | -0.35 | 2,224 | 604 | 10.3 |
| 325 | -6.2" | -1.81 | -0.53 | 2,149 | 564 | 12.2 |
| 350 | -9.0" | -2.46 | -0.72 | 2,075 | 526 | 14.4 |
| 375 | -12.4" | -3.16 | -0.92 | 2,004 | 490 | 16.8 |
| 400 | -16.3" | -3.89 | -1.13 | 1,933 | 457 | 19.4 |
| 425 | -20.8" | -4.67 | -1.36 | 1,865 | 425 | 22.3 |
| 450 | -25.9" | -5.49 | -1.60 | 1,797 | 395 | 25.4 |
| 475 | -31.7" | -6.37 | -1.85 | 1,732 | 366 | 28.9 |
| 500 | -38.2" | -7.29 | -2.12 | 1,669 | 340 | 32.5 |
55gr G1 .269 at 3,240 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: Federal published velocity from a 20" test barrel and G1 ballistic coefficient, verified 2026-09-13.
Who it's for
Almost everyone else. The 50-yard zero peaks at 2.2" above the line of sight at 151 yards, crosses back at 245, and holds inside an 8" zone to 302 yards. It gives up about 60 yards of dead-on window against the 36-yard zero and in exchange keeps the bullet within 2.2" of the dot from 11 to 277 yards, which is a hit on a coyote, a head-sized plate or the A-zone at any distance you are likely to use a red dot.
It is also the easier zero to confirm: at 50 yards a 1" group is a 2 MOA group and a half-inch error in your zero moves the far zero by only a few yards. A half-inch error at 36 yards moves the far zero by tens of yards, because at that distance the sight line and the bore are still converging steeply.
Why Sight Height Changes the Answer
The names "36/300" and "50/200" only describe a rifle with the sight 2.6" over the bore. Move the same 55gr load and the same zeros to a 1.5" sight line and the 36-yard zero's far zero collapses from 320 yards to 205, its peak from 5.2" to 1.6"; the 50-yard zero's far zero collapses from 245 to 153 with a half-inch peak. A bolt gun zeroed at 36 yards behaves roughly like an AR zeroed at 50, and a bolt gun zeroed at 50 behaves like nothing useful.
The reason is the angle. To put the bullet on the line of sight at 36 yards, an AR has to point its bore up steeply enough to close 2.6" in 36 yards; that steep launch is what sends the bullet 5" over the dot in the middle distances and keeps it airborne to 320. A 1.5" sight only needs about three-fifths of that angle, so the same near zero produces a lower, shorter arc. Any time you read a short-zero recommendation, ask what sight height it assumed.
| Zero | Sight height | Near zero | Far zero | Max ordinate | Inside the 8" zone (±4") to | Drop at 300 | Drop at 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 yd | 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 36 yd | 320 yd | +5.2" at 186 | 118 yd | +1.5" | -9.3" |
| 36 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 36 yd | 205 yd | +1.6" at 123 | 271 yd | -6.6" | -20.4" |
| 50 yd | 2.6" — AR-15 / AR-10, standard-height optic | 50 yd | 245 yd | +2.2" at 151 | 302 yd | -3.8" | -16.3" |
| 50 yd | 1.5" — Bolt action, standard scope rings | 50 yd | 153 yd | +0.6" at 102 | 240 yd | -9.3" | -24.0" |
How Barrel Length Changes This
From a 16" carbine at about 3,050 fps rather than the published 3,240, the 36-yard zero crosses back at 290 yards with a 4.5" peak and is 0.9" low at 300; the 50-yard zero crosses back at 220 with a 1.9" peak. A 62gr M855 load at 3,020 fps behaves almost identically to the 16" M193 figures: 293 and 222 yards respectively. The trade-off between the two zeros is the same at every velocity; only the far zeros move.
Which Zero Is Wrong for You
The 36-yard zero is wrong for a rifle that shoots anything smaller than a torso. From 100 to 300 yards the bullet is at least 3" above the line of sight and at 186 yards it is 5.2" high; on a coyote, a 6" plate or a headshot drill that is a miss over the top. It is also wrong for a rifle you zero on a short range without a good rest: a 36-yard zero amplifies every small error at the muzzle into a large one at distance.
The 50-yard zero is wrong for the shooter who genuinely needs one hold to 350 yards on steel and cannot or will not use a reticle holdover. At 350 the 50-yard zero is about 9" low and the 36-yard zero about 3", and that is the one place the taller arc pays for itself.
Both are wrong for a precision or varmint AR. For anything shot at a known distance with a dialled turret, zero at 100 yards and keep the peak out of the trajectory altogether.
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
- ATS 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr M193 FMJ Ammo — 55gr, 3150 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.243
- GGG 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr M193 FMJ Ammo — 55gr, 3330 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.243
- Armscor 5.56x45mm 62gr M855 FMJ Ammo — 62gr, 3020 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.304
- Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr FMJ Ammo — 62gr, 3060 fps advertised, G1 BC 0.274
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 36-yard zero the same as a 300-yard zero?
Roughly, on a 2.6" optic with a 55gr load at 3,240 fps: the far zero lands at about 320 yards. From a 16" barrel at 3,050 fps it is 290 yards. The catch is the 5" peak in between.
How high is a 36-yard zero at 100 and 200 yards?
About 3.4" high at 100 and 5.1" high at 200 on a 2.6" optic. The 50-yard zero is 1.6" high at both distances.
Which zero is easier to confirm at the range?
The 50-yard zero. At 36 yards the bore and sight line are still converging steeply, so a half-inch error in your group moves the far zero by tens of yards; at 50 the same error moves it by a few.
Where does the 36-yard zero come from?
The Marine Corps battle-sight zero. Marines zero at 33 metres, which is 36 yards, so that the M16 and M4 with sights 2.6" over the bore print dead-on again near 300 metres. The 36/300 label is the same idea in yards.
Does the 36-yard zero work with M855 62gr?
Yes, with a slightly shorter arc. At 3,020 fps and 2.6" of sight height the 62gr load zeroed at 36 crosses back at 293 yards with a 4.5" peak, versus 320 yards and 5.2" for the faster 55gr load.