sight in a scope?

Question

I don't have a clue what i am doing, I have never used a scope, but I just bought a 30-06 w/ a scope, and i need the idiots guide to sighting it, or at least a dumbed down answer.

Answer 1

(starting at 200 yards you may never see where the shots are going)

You could start by seeing if the range you shoot at, or the shop where you bought it, will boresight it for you.

Failing that, see if you can rest it on sand bags so that it stays aligned to the target, take the bolt out and look down the bore and line it up on the target then adjust the sights so the crosshairs are on the same spot, at least near as you can. Then go back and forward between the two until you seem to have got it right.

Start with a big target and aim for the center, it's useful to have a sandy back-drop in case things are really wrong. Fire a shot and see if you holed the paper, if not then hopefully someone saw whether it was high or low. Adjust the sight in the appropriate direction, the markings tell you which way to turn the adjustment screws to move the fall of shot.

Your scope is probably 1/4 minute of angle, so if the target is at 25 yards (and it's best to start close) then that's 16ths of an inch. So if the first shot was 6" high you need to come down 96 clicks. Or so it says. Never really seems to take that much though.

Once you get close you need to fire a couple of shots at a time so you can see if the difference is your error or the movement of the scope.

Have fun.

Answer 2

One, get someone to help you, then...
1. On a clam day, set up a "Shoot n See" target - available at Walmart - at 25-yards and using a solid rest, hold on the center of the bulls-eye and squeeze off a shot.
2. Walk to the target and determine exactly where the shot hit the target.
3. Go back and aim at the exact center - with the gun unloaded - and have your friend, adjust the scope so the cross hairs are aligned on the hit you made in # 1.
4. Your next shot while aiming at the center of the target should be very close.
Repeat 1, 2. and 3. until you can consistently hit the center of the target.
Once you have a good zero at 25-yards, record the scope readings. Then...
Move target to 50-yards and repeat, move to 100-yards and repeat. Move target and repeat until you are sighted in at the ranges you plan to shoot at. make certain you record all the readings!

Good shooting!

Answer 3

I always heard about a one shot zero procedure that requires a very steady rest, just shoot one shot and then align your cross hairs with the point of impact by turning the adjustments. As long as the rifle doesn't move it should work in theory.

Does this really work? I've never tried it, I don't have a rest and I'm not good enough to adjust a scope and hold a rifle still at the same time.

Answer 4

I use a large piece of paper on a target at 25 yards to start.

Typically each inch of adjustment on scope dials are equal to one click or two. Follow your instructions.YOur first shot, aimed at the center of the bull will tell you where the barrel is shooting as opposed to where the scope is pointing.

With bolt action rifles it is indeed valuable to bore sight your rifle by sighting down the barrel (inside ) once the bolt is remove. Point the barrel at the target center. See where your scope is pointed. Adjust your scope (these are rough adjustments) to get Both scope pointed at the same vicinity as your barrel is shooting. Then fire two more rounds to see where they hit the target. Follow direction and move your Aiming point to coincident with your impact point. The idea is to make your scope point to the same place that your barrrel shoots to. A barrel lazer bore sighter saves you time and ammunition by enabling you to make rough adjustments at home, without ammunition.

But you still need to take the rifle to the range and do final fine adjustments by firing the rifle. Then once you have zeroed the rifle at 25 yards, you can move out the target to 100 yards for most rifles. You will find on most rifles that the bullet will not impact at the same point, vertically or horizontally. Adjust accordingly to gain the center of the bull again. Depending on your rifle caliber and ballistics, you might adjust your impact point higher at 100 yards so that longer ranges are possible without alot of kentucky guessing. I sight my .270 in at 100 yards at 2 inches high.

Answer 5

what seavee said plus, if your gun is a bolt action you can remove the bolt and bore site it yourself by getting several pillows or sand bags and put the rifle where you can see down the barrel and then look through the scope you should be fairly close, use a small target such as a tiny light or something you can see relatively easy, make adjustments as needed, then when you get to the range you should be good to start out at 25 yards and go from there..good luck, its not hard once you get use to it, just practice a lot and make sure all the mounting hardware for your scope is tight.

Answer 6

I use a tool called a Laserlyte. It's basically a laser pointer that fits in the muzzle of your rifle, and like the instructions say, it gets you withing about two inches of the bull's eye at 100 yards. I personally laser my guns at 25 yards, and then like the guy above, I record and then move to 50,100, and 200 yds. Here's a link: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=55317&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

Answer 7

You need to set out a target at a distance you would be shooting at deer..... I sight mine at 200 meters.... set up the target, and fire your rifle from a bench seated, fire 3 rounds, go out and circle your shot group, remove the caps on the scope top and side, they tell you how to adjust.... each click is 1/4 inch at 100 yards.... adjust, fire 3 more rounds and go from there...... it is easier than it sounds..... have fun....

Answer 8

go to your local gun shop or gun smith shop or your local shooting rang and just ask ask some one to teach you every one there will take the time ou to help you and teach you so you can pass it on