Did zeroing get us killed?

[hotcakes 348]

My buddy and I were getting shot at from a shooter perched up a hill while we were trying to find him. Both of us knew we were aiming on target, but we could not kill him and eventually both of us were slayed. 

 

I thought about it, and I realized that both of our M4A1s were zeroed to the default 100 meters. We hadn't thought about it very much since we were using guns that didn't have zeroing or were so close it didn't matter.The shooter was a few trees apart from us, probably less than 50 meters. Could this have gotten us killed?

[Disgraced 1123]

Zeroing just means that you will hit center at 100 meters if centered to 100 meters.

 

If you're closer, you have to compensate. You'd have to look at how trajectories work in Dayz. Peopple will come into this thread with diagrams and super-sniper knowledge any time now. It's a badge of honor in the community to be gun savvy.

[Tikka (DayZ) 47]

I think it helps a lot if you don't try to make headshots but aim to the center of the body. Thus you can land hits even if you zeroed +/- 100m wrong

[sYs 133]

My buddy and I were getting shot at from a shooter perched up a hill while we were trying to find him. Both of us knew we were aiming on target, but we could not kill him and eventually both of us were slayed. 

 

I thought about it, and I realized that both of our M4A1s were zeroed to the default 100 meters. We hadn't thought about it very much since we were using guns that didn't have zeroing or were so close it didn't matter.The shooter was a few trees apart from us, probably less than 50 meters. Could this have gotten us killed?

 

You can zero M4 to 50 meters. I do that all the time when i enter buildings. When i exit them or "overwatch"from them i zerro in to 100 and if i have a target i just zero in to the range that i feel is correct. Yes - zeroing got you killed + shooting *edit* at/from elevation has specifics. 

Edited February 21, 2014 by sYs

[Monkfish (DayZ) 339]

If you were zeroed to 100m and they were at 50m, then you were likely shooting over them. Check your zeroing, people.

[dethsupport 110]

If you were prone trying to combat someone along a hill your bullets may have just been hitting the dirt in front of you due to hitbox issues for land that isn't flat.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Dethsupport

[The-MCV- 149]

I'm usually keeping my gun sights calibrated to 50 regardless, except the ACOG which has minimum 100. I'd rather aim above and let the bullet fall (battlefield player ^^).

Edited February 21, 2014 by DontGoToBalotaAlone

[cysinyard 12]

while the zeroing from 100 to 50 is different, i doubt its significant enough that both of you couldn't land hits. we're talking inches here.

I suspect bullets hitting dirt in front of you or hitbox issues perhaps as stated above

[deadmoose 0]

while the zeroing from 100 to 50 is different, i doubt its significant enough that both of you couldn't land hits. we're talking inches here.

I suspect bullets hitting dirt in front of you or hitbox issues perhaps as stated above

we are talking 10mm at the most for m4  so unless you were aiming for the top 10mm of their head it was nothing to do with the zeroing. it makes little difference at close range, but is significant at longer distances.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Deadmoose

[Irish. 4886]

What really got you killed was engaging over and over and not hitting your target. Engage, correct, move, engage, correct, move and then wait. Always trying to be behind hard cover. Repeat. 

 

If you engaged once, then corrected fire if you did not hit the first time you would have eventually killed him. 

 

But yes, zero your weapon for the appropriate occasion.