M14 --- how to battle sight one?

[Paul S.]

A mate of mine just bought an M14 similar to the ones he used when he was in the U.S. Army in the 1960s. The problem is the sights are off - at least for him, and he can't remember how to battle sight it. He says he remembers doing it from the prone or a foxhole on a 25m range with small targets with inch squares. Does that sound right?

Anyone have instructions I could pass on?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCS]

There was a small book called "Trainfire" and I believe it was for very close range to start with (1000 inches) then moved out. It would not really be practical compared to the normal sighting-in procedures: just use a larger target at 50 yards

[Bob Seijas]

The M1 was zeroed on a 1000'' range (about 25 yds). Each sight click moved the group 1/4'' at that distance. When your group centered at 6 o'clock on the lower edge of the bull, you had your 200 yard battle sight with which you could engage man-size targets from 50 yards to 500 yards without sight change. At 50 yards, aim at his belt buckle; from 100 to 400, aim center of mass; at 500, aim at the top of his head. It worked, I qualified Expert on the Trainfire range that way, despite one whole clip of bad ammo and eight straight misses with it. I'm guessing the M14 is about the same.

[The Wizard]

Go here http://stevespages.com/page7c.htm and scroll down to FM 23-8. All your question will be answered you just have to read.

[Paul S.]

Tah Mate. I passed the link on and he says to say thanks.

[1911crazy]

I just picked up a chamber sighting lazer dot to sight in my m14s before going to the range.

[no4mk1t]

As a Service Rifle competitive shooter that shot the M14 for many years, consider reduced distance zeroing good enough to get you "on paper", but there is no substitute for zeroing at the actual distance desired. You want to obtain your hard zero at no less than 200 yards/meters.

To make the elevation knob graduations correspond, get a good zero at 200 yards/meters.
Record the number of clicks up from bottom.
Bottom the sight.
Loosen the center screw on the elevation knob.
Rotate the elevation knob downward to align the witness mark on the receiver with the 200 meter mark.
Continue to rotate the elevation knob downward the number of clicks you wrote down as your 200 yd/meter zero.
Secure the elevation knob center screw.
Elevation zero is now complete.

Windage zero.
Determine your no wind zero at no less than 200 yds/meters.
Once you have your no wind zero established. Mask the sight base to receiver, and windage knob to receiver and paint marks as shown in the pic.
This makes it possible to return to your windage zero exactly every time.

Be advised that the elevation graduations are calibrated for M80 Ball. Out past 300 yds. if exact zero data is required, best keep a data book with elevation settings for that particular load.