Zero Stop - What does it all mean?

We've put together a short, easy-to-understand blog entry to leave you with an understanding of what Zero Stop is and what it does.

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• What Is Zero Stop?

When a shooter Zero's their Rifle Scope at any given distance, the user will reset their turrets so their turret is on 0 clicks at their zeroed distance. Zero Stop is a function on a Rifle Scope turret that allows the user to set a stop at their pre-set zeroed distance to ensure they cannot go below this length. Some Optics do have Zero Stops that allow the turret to go a few clicks under their pre-set zero but in 90% of cases, Zero Stop will stop the turret dead when installed. 

• Benefits of Zero Stop?

Zero Stops are a great feature for shooters who are shooting at long range or at multiple distances.

It is now seen as a necessity in the premium Rifle Scope world.

The benefit of Zero Stop is allowing the shooter to easily return back to their pre-set zero without having to count or remember the clicks applied. This feature certainly will save the shooter time and expense of maybe having to re-zero the scope and rifle if they lost count of their clicks. 

[Image: How To Zero The Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 Video, Optics Warehouse]

• Cons of Zero Stop?

The only trouble with Zero Stop is not being able to go below your zero position without removing the stop function.

For instance, some shooters will Zero at 300 yards to increase their long-range capabilities but in doing this they will not be able to move below their preset 300-yard zero without removing the stop.

Some rifle manufacturers have got around this issue by offering a sub-Zero Stop feature like Schmidt & Bender who allow their Rifle Scopes to click anywhere up to 6 clicks past the Zero Stop. This number of sub-zero clicks does vary though between every Rifle Scope they (S&B) produce with this feature. Some may only have 2 Sub zero clicks and some up to 6 clicks.

It is worth mentioning that you are able to use Zero Stop at any point and not necessarily at the '0' point on the turret. This allows the Shooter to turn the turret back to any point on the rotation without having to run through multiple turns and risk losing your base. 

• How to use ZeroStop effectively?

You can effectively use Zero Stop for every discipline of shooting but please note it is not an essential feature.

Up until recently, Zero Stop has always been a luxury feature and something that has only been found on premium Rifle Scopes. Ultimately the purpose of Zero Stop is to save the Shooter time and stress when on the range so make sure it is something that is going to do this and not create added stress. 

• What is a good entry-level Zero Stop Scope to begin with?