Laser bore sights

[IVC]

Why would anyone WASTE money on a laser boresighter? IT's far to simple to use the one shot zero method to zero any optics at any distance with one shot.

The "one shot zero" method requires orders of magnitude more gear than a simple laser bore-sighter, and then it works only on some types of guns (not even on all rifles).

I'm not saying it's a bad method, it's a great method if you have the gear and the place to pull it off. However, take away the high quality sled and you'll have to use more ammo. Take away the ability to look through the bore and you'll have to find an alternative method to get on paper. That's what bore-sighter is for.

[tonyxcom]

How much is a good bore sighter?

How much is 10 or even 20 rounds of ammo?

I am all about investing in good tools that do a specific job, but a good bore sighter only gets you on paper. If you worked at a LEO/MIL armory and had to get dozens if not hundreds of rifles setup for end user zeroing I suppose you could make the argument that a good caliber-specific bore sighter will be a good investment.

But as an above average gun enthusiast, I haven't once said to myself, "damn I wish I had a bore sighter right now".

[SharedShots]

Bore sighting with a rifle for which removing the bolt does nothing to help you see down it visually so the method of setting it up on a good rest and going that route isn't practical. Take the 10/22 or any of the other semi-autos other than an AR type and you end up having to use another way.

This happened a few days ago, I needed take a never before fired 10/22 that was modded with a different barrel and thus no irons but now had a match trigger, different stock etc. Time was short so I did use a laser bore sighter, one round into dirt, it was close and then a group on paper to which I could adjust the scope.

So its not a simple answer to say laser bore sighting tools are a waste, they can work and save time and sometimes time is short, just the way it is.

Now the scope will be replaced this week and having a reference I can mount the new scope and not even worry about some super steady rest, I can get the new scope to the reference of the laser and know I'll be within a inch or so next time out.

As with any tool the only this way or no way isn't a solution, if it works for you then use it and if that is the case why consider it worthless just because someone else says so?

[tonyxcom]

This happened a few days ago, I needed take a never before fired 10/22 that was modded with a different barrel and thus no irons but now had a match trigger, different stock etc. Time was short so I did use a laser bore sighter, one round into dirt, it was close and then a group on paper to which I could adjust the scope.

You used a laser bore sighter and still put the first round into the dirt?

[Mute]

Save your money and do it the way suggested here by some of the others. Whatever amount of shots you need to get on paper cannot cost as much as what you'll spend on a laser boresighter that's actually worth purchasing (even with current stupid ammo prices).

[norcal77]

Save your money and do it the way suggested here by some of the others. Whatever amount of shots you need to get on paper cannot cost as much as what you'll spend on a laser boresighter that's actually worth purchasing (even with current stupid ammo prices).

[CSACANNONEER]

The "one shot zero" method requires orders of magnitude more gear than a simple laser bore-sighter, and then it works only on some types of guns (not even on all rifles).

I'm not saying it's a bad method, it's a great method if you have the gear and the place to pull it off. However, take away the high quality sled and you'll have to use more ammo. Take away the ability to look through the bore and you'll have to find an alternative method to get on paper. That's what bore-sighter is for.

I've done it with nothing more than sandbags and, without previously looking down the bore to bore sight by eye. I've used nothing but an inspection mirror to bore sight an AK with irons so, yes, it can be easily done without expensive sleds and can be done with all rifles with or without previously looking down the barrel at all.

[divingin]

Put the gun (or upper) in a rest and sight down the bore at 25 yards or even at 100 if you are good at it, and center the target in the center of the bore. Then adjust the scope to the bullseye without moving the rifle/upper.

One thing that helps is to eyeball the target through the bore from several feet behind the rifle. And make sure you don't move the rifle when coming back to look through the scope.

[IVC]

I've done it with nothing more than sandbags and, without previously looking down the bore to bore sight by eye. I've used nothing but an inspection mirror to bore sight an AK with irons so, yes, it can be easily done without expensive sleds and can be done with all rifles with or without previously looking down the barrel at all.

Inspection mirror serves the role of the bore-sighter and sandbags must still be solid enough to prevent movement as you shift from the mirror to the scope.

Again, I'm not saying your method is bad, just that bore-sigthers serve a legitimate purpose and are useful in some situations. For example, I can easily and casually get on paper by having two red dots on a white wall in my house without any targets or lines, all hand-held. This is especially useful for pistol red dots if I haven't used a specific gun in a while, or if it's an older design where the battery is not accessible without removing the dot (I still have one like that). All I do is line up the two dots, one actually on the wall, the other in the screen, keep a bit of vertical separation to account for mounting height, and I'm ready for the range to finish the process.

[Mute]

Don't overthink it. If your sighting a rifle for the optic, you're going to adjust the optic to zero it to your gun anyways. All the boresighter is doing is helping you get on paper. It's only useful for those first shots before you make adjustments on your optic.