Zeroing & drop basics
Maker-published ballistics; your rifle's velocity and sight height will change the numbers. Verify on paper.
| Load (maker data) | Muzzle velocity | Zero | Published drop | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr .22 LR | 1,070 fps | 50 yd | about 7.6 in at 100 yd (908 fps remaining, BC .120) | CCI Standard Velocity ballistics |
| Hornady 17 HMR 17 gr V-MAX | 2,550 fps | 100 yd | about 8.5 in at 200 yd (1,901 fps at 100 yd) | Hornady 17 HMR 17 gr V-MAX |
Zeroing step by step
- Mount and level the scope; torque rings/rail to the maker's spec (see gunsmithing).
- Bore-sight or start at 25 yd to get on paper.
- Move to your zero distance (50 yd is the common .22 LR choice; 100 yd for .17 HMR) and fire 5-shot groups, adjusting to the group center, not single shots.
- Confirm with the ammo lot you will actually use — different loads have different points of impact (one owner saw a suppressed group ~1 in lower Rimfire Central T1x ammo thread).
- Record your dope at 25/75/100 yd and update when you change ammo or lot.
Why .22 LR drops so much: a 40-gr bullet at ~1,070 fps is slow, so wind and drop grow quickly past 100 yd; match shooters use a ballistic app trued to their own data Ultimate Reloader: getting into NRL22.