M16A2

ZERO PROCEDURES

1. Ensure that the small, unmarked rear sight aperture is in the up position. Difference from M16A1:
You will not rotate the rear sight aperture so that the 0-2 is showing for Qualification purposes. The
small aperture will remain up during qualification.

2. Rotate the windage knob (vertical knob located on the right side of the rear sight aperture) until the tick
mark on the top of the 0-2 aperture is aligned with the tick mark in the center of the receiver.

3. Rotate the elevation knob (horizontal knob protruding from both sides of the receiver, underneath the
rear sight aperture) counterclockwise until 8/3 is aligned with the tick mark above the center of the
knob on the left side of the receiver, then rotate one click clockwise so that the first dot to the right 8/3
is aligned with the tick mark.

4. Rotate the front sight post up (clockwise) or down (counterclockwise) until the base of the front sight
post is flush with the front sight post well. Difference from M16A1: You will not rotate the front sight
post down 11 clicks.

5. The weapon is now mechanical zeroed. All corrections for elevation will be made using the front sight
post while zeroing the weapon. To move the strike of the round up 1 centimeter (one square) at 25
meters, rotate the front site post in the direction of the arrow stamped on the front site post (right or
clockwise). All corrections for windage will be made by rotating the windage knob on the rear sight
aperture in the direction of the desired change. To move the strike of the round left 1 centimeter (one
square) at a range of 25 meters, rotate the windage knob to the left (counterclockwise) 3 clicks.

6. Each soldier will be issued 18 rounds for zeroing his weapon. The minimum number of rounds each
soldier must fire to determine his zero is 12.

7. The soldier will fire his first three rounds to determine his shot group. After firing the rounds, the
soldier will triangulate the shot group and mark it with the number 1. Each shot group fired should fit
inside a 4 centimeter circle. If it does not, the soldier is not properly applying the fundamentals of
marksmanship and may not zero. Trainers should consider removing the soldier from the firing line
for remedial training and return to the zero range after the problem has been corrected. No adjustments
will be made to the weapon after the first shot group.

8. The soldier will fire his second three rounds to confirm his shot group. After firing the rounds, the
soldier will triangulate the shot group and mark it with the number 2. The second shot group should
overlap the first shot group. If it does, the soldier’s shot group is confirmed. If it does not, the soldier
has changed his sight picture or sight alignment, and may not zero. Trainers should consider
removing the soldier from the firing line for remedial training and return to the zero range after the
problem has been corrected.

9. Adjustments to correct elevation and windage will be made after the second shot group. To do this, the
soldier determines the number of centimeters (squares) the center of his shot group is away from the
center of the target:

A. The soldier counts the number of centimeters up or down from the center of the shot group to the
horizontal zero (center) line of the target. This will determine the elevation adjustments that must
be made to the weapon. See Step 5. Write the shot group number and the number of centimeters
for the adjustment in the upper left corner of the target. For example: If you counted 12 squares
up to the horizontal zero line from your shot group, you would write the shot group number and
adjustment number as 2U12.
 B. The soldier counts the number of centimeters left or right from the center of the shot group to the
vertical zero (center) line of the target. This will determine the windage adjustments that must be
made to the weapon. See Step 5. Write the number of centimeters for the windage adjustment
next to the shot group and elevation numbers in the upper left corner of the target. For example:
If you counted 5 squares right to the vertical zero line from your shot group, you would write the
windage adjustment number as R05. The combined number from the shot group, elevation, and
windage adjustments in this example would be 2U12R05.

10. The soldier will continue to fire three round shot groups and make adjustments to his weapon until 5
out of 6 rounds from two consecutive shot groups are within the 4 centimeter circle in the center of the
target, or the soldier has fired all 18 rounds of ammunition. If the soldier has fired no less than 12 and
no more than 18 rounds, and 5 out of 6 rounds from two consecutive shot groups are inside the 4
centimeter circle in the center of the target, then the soldier has successfully zeroed his weapon and can
move on to the RETS range. If the soldier has fired 18 rounds and has not achieved a zero, he must be
sent for remedial training and return to the zero range after the problem has been corrected.

11. Ensure you rotate the windage knob counterclockwise 1 click, so that 8/3 is aligned with the tick mark
above the knob on the receiver once the weapon is zeroed and BEFORE firing on the RETS range.