Bore sighting

[chopshop]

I'm new at this and am looking for a little help. I'm in the process of mounting a new scope on a new rifle. Is there a way I could bore sight it in rather than bringing the rifle to a gunsmith to get it bore sighted?

 

Btw, i don't have a bore sighter myself.

[chopshop]

I forgot to mention, its a bolt action.

[ready2hunt]

Most gunsmiths and outdoor shops will do it for free. Just give them a call. I know that sportsmans, bass pro and cabelas all will. At least they have done it for me and I didnt have to buy anything from them. They may be a bit far from you if you are in Florence so if that is the case just order one for $25. It's not hard to do.

[Viper]

A "poor mans" method is to remove the bolt; anchor the rifle in a gun vice, or equivalent, on the bench; site through the barrel and line it up on a close target; without moving the rifle, adjust the scope to the same spot on the target. This should get you on paper. You should be able to do this in the comfort of your home....unloaded of course.

[azgutpile]

Use Vipers technique, or just go shoot and zero your rifle at 25 yards... Once this is complete move out to 100 or 200 yards and zero it again.

 

Unless you are constantly installing scopes, bore sighters are a waste of money.

[chopshop]

Use Vipers technique, or just go shoot and zero your rifle at 25 yards... Once this is complete move out to 100 or 200 yards and zero it again.

 

Unless you are constantly installing scopes, bore sighters are a waste of money.

 

Thats my thinking, I'd hate to spend the money for one since I only need it for a one time use. I think I'll ask my buddy if I can use his lead sled for to bore sight it in. Thanks for the responses.

[Chef]

I usually do like Viper suggested but focus on the farthest thing I can locate. Your eye will center it while looking through the bore. Without moving the rifle, adjust the scope reticle to the same point. This usually gets me on paper when shooting 100 yards.

[rcdinaz]

Ditto! Just align the center of the barrel with a paper target at 25 yds and get started. I have never had a gunsmith bore site a rifle. Just make sure your scope is mounted square to begin with.

[Scooter]

mount it square (like use the Crosshair leveling tools) and just go out and sight it in. I've been bore sighting rifles and slug guns for years and while it can identify if something is misaligned as far as scope base, rings etc., the only thing it can do is get you somewhere on a large sheet of paper. The BEST and most sure method is to zero at 25 and move back progressively until you are zeroed at whatever range you decide. Should not take more than 1/2 a box of ammo. There are several problems with bore sighters- but the most common issue is they don't really account for scope mounting height, so you may get a good windage boresight but miss the target completely because it wasn't exactly made for high or low scope height over the bore.

 

Where laser or standard optic/muzzle arbor bore sight kits really shine is when they are used to verify whether or not your scope has been knocked off of zero. After you get sighted in, grab a pencil and a piece of paper and draw the bore sight target, then depending on which kind of bore sighter you use, place a dot on the paper where your crosshairs line up. If you think your scope is off- plug in the boresighter and verify that the picture matches what you drew on the paper.

[coues..crazy]

Make sure to level scope and rifle so cross hairs are straight. Tighten rings the same on both sides. Put a target at 25 yards shoot a round at the bullseye. After you shoot put your rifle scope back on the bullseye then move the cross hairs to where you hit with first round. Shoot again should be close to bullseye.

[pwrguy]

After properly mounting the scope I use Vipers method. Works every time, no need for half a box of ammo or a laser. I usually do it at the range with a starting point of 30-50 yards. With a good quality scope you should be near the center of the target by the 3rd or 4th shot at 100 yards or so.

[sjvcon]

I've done it every which way. I have a laser that works well in my larger rifles. In the smaller ones (that are bolt) I just look down the bore at about 30-40 yards like was discussed prior. Both ways work. One costs money, the other doesn't. Laser might put you a little tighter, but not overly so.