A scope works best when the optic, mounts, airgun, pellet and shooter are treated as one setup.
Choose the pellet first
Before establishing your final zero, decide which pellet you will use. Different pellets can produce different points of impact, so changing ammunition after zeroing may require the zero to be checked again.
Need help choosing pellets? Read the pellet guide →
Use an optic suitable for the airgun
Not every optic is equally suitable for every airgun. Spring-powered airguns have a distinctive firing cycle and can place different demands on optics and mounts. Match the optic to the powerplant and intended use rather than choosing by magnification alone.
Mount for a natural sight picture
Set the scope so you can shoulder or position the airgun naturally and see a full sight picture without forcing your head forward or backward. Mount height also affects cheek position and consistency.
Understand magnification and parallax
Higher magnification is not automatically better. Consider the distances and shooting positions you actually use. Adjustable-objective or other parallax-adjustable scopes can be useful where targets are used across different airgun distances.
Zero with groups
Begin at a sensible close distance where shots can be placed safely on the target. Shoot a group, identify the centre of that group, then make measured windage and elevation corrections. Shoot another group to confirm the change. Avoid chasing individual pellet holes with the turrets.
Confirm at your intended distance
Once the group is centred, confirm the zero at the distance you normally shoot and check point of impact at other relevant distances. A pellet follows a trajectory; zeroing a scope does not make it travel in a perfectly straight line.
Keep the setup consistent
Use the same pellet, repeatable shooting position and consistent hold while confirming zero. If accuracy suddenly changes, check the simple things first: mounts, fasteners, pellet choice and shooting consistency.
ONE77 principle: mount comfortably, adjust from groups, and verify rather than assume.