How do you fellas sight in your scopes?

[ErikTheRed]

My brother and I went out this afternoon to sight in our scopes, he with his Savage 7mm w/ a Bushnell and me with my Mossberg .270 w/ a Nikon Prostaff. His rifle came from the factory with the scope mounted but I bought my scope separately and mounted it myself.

We stepped off about 100 yards (very crude, I know) and set up our table, rest, and spotting scope. I stapled a tattle-tale target to a piece of 1/2" OSB and propped it up on the backstop. He was able to get on the paper with several shots, but I could not even find the board with mine. Problem is, our board was too small and we could not really tell where the shots were hitting, so we weren't sure in what direction to adjust the scope. After several shots and trying (guessing, mostly) where to adjust, I got frustrated and decided to stop wasting ammo. Next time we go I'll be sure to use a much larger piece of wood, maybe like a 4'x4' square of OSB and paint it white so the shots will show as small black dots. I'll also use better quality ammo to get it zeroed (we were both using el-cheapo Federal Power Shok.)

Also, is there any real advatage to having the scope mounted by a gunsmith and getting it boresighted? I followed the instructions to a T when mounting my scope, but maybe it just needs a professional's touch.

What procedure do you guys use when sighting a scope? Any good tips or tricks?

[Acorn556]

If you're sighting in your scope I'd have your brother watching the board while you shoot. That usually works. He can see where you're hitting and you can adjust accordingly. Tell him what you're aiming at so he knows how far off you are.

I did mine this way and it worked perfect. I was able to find out I was compeltly missing the target I was aiming at and I was hitting the one below it. Target was 8X11 paper. 4 fit on the cardboard I had up so I KNEW I'd hit at least one of them.

[SJgunguy24]

What I do is have something 50feet or so thats white with a large dot. Then mount bthe scope and pull the bolt. Look through the action and line up with the dot on the board. Now dail in the scope to the same spot. Start live fire at 50 yards or less then work out from there.

[huckberry668]

If your rifle allows you to look thru the bore, you don't need to fire a single shot to get it on paper. You can do it at home before hitting the range. I usually can get the first shot within inches of the bullseye. Typically, I start shooting for groups starting the 3rd round.

Set your target up like you did. Remove the bolt from the rifle and set rifle on good front & rear rests so you don't have to keep holding the rifle.

look down the chamber end and center it to muzzle end, now place your 100 yard bullseye dead center of the bore. Make sure all 3 circles are center of each other. Without touching the rifle, look thru the scope and see where the cross hair is.

Adjust the windage (left/right) and elevation (up/down) to place the cross hair dead center of your target. The nobs should have 'UP' or 'RT' with arrows on the nobs. It means moving the point of impact towards 'Up' or right.

So if the cross hair is to the lower right of the bullseye, it means the rifle (bore) is shooting high to the left. move elevation down and windage to the right. Do this till you have both the bore-sight picture and scope sight picture both centered on the bullseye. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to get it done. Then shoot the first round and see where it actually hits. This is the cheapest and most effective way I know to 'bore sight' a rifle.

Also, before you 'bore sight', make sure all your action, scope mount, ring screws are properly tightened.

[ZombieKiller]

Shoot at dirt.....on a hillside....adjust accordingly. Works everytime.

[ErikTheRed]

Ok, so assuming I plan to boresight it myself using the above-described method (which sounds easy enough), what if my scope is WAY off because it was mounted poorly? I've read comments from many people who say not to attempt to mount your own scope unless you know exactly what you're doing. Well, I just bought some Weaver mounts and did it myself on the dining table. I didn't check for tube fit (contact points on the scope tube from the mounting surfaces) and I didn't lap anything--- I just mounted the damn thing out of the box and snugged it according to the instructions from Nikon. I have a neurotic phobia about having to adjust the scope too many clicks to make it right, I'd much rather have the scope be as spot-on as possible and need less clicks in any direction to zero it, like "fine-tuning". If I have to adjust the scope 6" worth of clicks to hit the target at 100 yards, then I have to assume the scope mount itself if waaaaaay off. That'll drive me nuts.

[Paradiddle]

I bought a decent boresighter on sale for $50. It gets me on the paper and for my Ruger Swede was VERY close. From there I like to use those "reactive" color targets from Walmart. That way I can easily spot the hit.

If you have a rest you can fire on the paper and then adjust the scope so the crosshairs are at your hole (on the paper - not any other type of hole.... ) and then you'll be on. If you don't have a rest I'd adjust the scope and then reaim for the bullseye.

Jeff

[huckberry668]

6" is not 'way off' by any means. Your Prostaff has 80 MOAs (80" at 100 yards) of internal adjustment. I've mounted many scopes myself using cheapo rings and bases and it's rare to have one mounted 'way off'. Doesn't hurt to bore sight it and see where your cross hair is.

If it really bothers you, make sure your elevation and windage both sit in the center of the ajustment range. Turn each nob all the way to one end, then the other end and count the MOAs (every 4 clicks for your Nikno) then turn it back to the middle.

Your Nikon is probably OK, I have good experience with Nikon but not with Bushnells.

Warne makes rings that allows tightening/adjustment on both sides of the rings. Burris makes Signature Zee Rings that uses bushings to align the scope. But it doesn't hurt to always start with good mounting products. Most of times scope rings don't need to be lapped. If you're shooting benchrest or F-Class maybe properly lapped rings are necessary but not if it's on a hunting rifle. Don't worry about it if your scope drops into the bottom halves of the rings (properly tightened to the base) without resistance. But if it makes you feel better, bring them to a smith to have them lapped. Probaly cost more than the rings themselves tho.

[evolixsurf]

Try 25 yards. No way are you going to easily sight it in at 100 yards. After you are set on 25 than bring it to 50 or 100.

[huckberry668]

If you use a in-the-muzzle bore sighter you'll need to make sure you remember to remove it before shooting it. It sounds obvious now but my friend used one and blew up his gun and the laser bore sighter. I've heard too many stories and seen too many photos...

[huckberry668]

Try 25 yards. No way are you going to easily sight it in at 100 yards. After you are set on 25 than bring it to 50 or 100.

Try the method I described above. It's easy and will save you ammo. That is, if the rifle allows you to look thru the bore from the chamber end.

[Stamatos]

I use a laser bore site. Not the most popular method on calguns but has worked like a charm for me so far and I can spend more ammo improving my shot and less sighting it in.

[doorman]

If you use a in-the-muzzle bore sighter you'll need to make sure you remember to remove it before shooting it. It sounds obvious now but my friend used one and blew up his gun and the laser bore sighter. I've heard too many stories and seen too many photos...

share the pics, so we can have a moment of silence

[huckberry668]

share the pics, so we can have a moment of silence

These pics had been around for a long time. Not all barrels blew up because of bore sighters look like this. The rifle my friend blew up with a bore sighter only damanged the first 2" or 3" of the barrel. He had it cut down, recrowned and it's working well again.

[evolixsurf]

im sorry, but if your using a barrel that has been torn, your crazy. I would not suggest such a thing.