How many rounds to zero rifle?

[that one guy]

When you guys go to the range how many rounds does it take you to zero your red dots,lpvo,scopes and prisms. Please discuss.

[Rodell]

Three, if the rifle is one of my Blaser R8's. Bore sight, then place a round. Click as needed. Shoot to confirm, place another for good measure.

It's harder on those optics that don't have clicks or firearm / ammo combinations that don't group well. In those cases, three shot groups to find the group center before moving the center to fire another 3 shot group.

My needs are generally hunting and I'm not satisfied without a .5 MOA or less group from a bench. The sighting part is easier than finding a tolerant load.

[ldsnet]

If the scope or sights are mounted correctly, I can usually BZ0 a 5.56 in less than 10 rounds, and that includes the confirmation shots at 300.

My last .22 took more, but that was an ammo issue (not consistent) not the sighing process.

I don't have a match grade rifle or ammo, so my groupings could have some drift ... so I tend to shoot 3 shot groups for my BZ0

[MeatyMac]

Took me 3 shots last Wednesday to zero a newly mounted scope after bore sighting with a Bushnell Professional Bore Sighter which is the old-school optical collimator type with bore arbors which I’ve been using for 30+ years. Bushnell makes a magnetic bore sighter that you just place on the barrel face and there are laser bore sighters too and other less mechanically calculated ways to save time and get you on the target.


1 shot at 50 yards and 2 shots at 100 and I was in the X, first shot was 6 inches high and 2 inches to the right.

[ar15robert]

Takes about 5-7 rounds for me. I’ll bore sight head to range fire off one shot see where it’s at. If it’s somewhat close I’ll adjust take another see if impact moved to where I wanted then another to shot to confirm. Then fine tune

I’ve always removed bolts and look through barrel at an object in the distance then line up scope to that. Has always been very good to me

[Jimi Jah]

Depends on the distance. Further out requires more adjustment.

[TimRB]

If you're a high power shooter, you'd better be able to do it with two rounds. This presumes, of course, that your rifle is already pretty close--mainly it's just a quick way to confirm your wind call or to let you know that you left your 600 yard zero on from yesterday when shooting at 200.

Tim

[crosseyedshooter]

Five rounds usually does it for me as long as first one is somewhere on the paper. First on paper, second after gross adjustments, then fine tune if needed and last three are confirmation group.

This works when the sights/scope have actual adjustment steps (i.e. 1 click equals .5 MOA). It's takes a bit more guess work for irons with unusual sight radius or cheap red dots that have inconsistent clicks.

[CSACANNONEER]

It takes ONE round to zero a rifle at any distance. Instead of wasting money on ammo, special targets or bore sighting tools, simply use the one shot zero method. Personally, I take a second shot for fine tuning and a 3rd shot to confirm. But, one shot is all that's needed.

[JohnnyMtn]

Is this maybe the genesis of a new game show?

?Um, I can zero that rifle, Jim, in 6 shots.

[ABR]

5 rounds

[DolphinFan]

I have never required more than 3 shots to zero any rifle.

[russ69]

If you're a high power shooter, you'd better be able to do it with two rounds. This presumes, of course, that your rifle is already pretty close--mainly it's just a quick way to confirm your wind call or to let you know that you left your 600 yard zero on from yesterday when shooting at 200.

Tim

With a top rifle, yes two rounds. However with a rifle that shoots large groups, and open sights, I need ten rounds to see how the group forms. But for 99% of rifles with scopes, two rounds to find zero and three rounds to find out your rifle doesn't shoot all that well.

[mshill]

With a top rifle, yes two rounds. However with a rifle that shoots large groups, and open sights, I need ten rounds to see how the group forms. But for 99% of rifles with scopes, two rounds to find zero and three rounds to find out your rifle doesn't shoot all that well.

This in spades.

[tabascoz28]

It is theoretically possible to do it in 2 or 1 with very precise and expensive gun/scope/rings and match ammo you know will shoot out of the rifle, so basically replacing a scope. Conversely, with cheap stuff, you'll probably never get it zeroed... Yes I've seen people go through 2-3 boxes and were still adjusting having spent all of 200$ on that "sniper scope".