Sighting In Your Rifle Scope: An Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting out shooting, zeroing your rifle scope is a skill you need to master. When your scope is properly zeroed, your aim point matches where your bullet will hit, giving you the confidence to shoot accurately every time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about sighting in your rifle scope, from the basics to more advanced techniques. Let’s get started and get you shooting straight!

Understanding the Basics of Sighting In Your Scope

Defining Sighting In

Sighting in a scope (also called zeroing) simply means adjusting your scope’s elevation and windage turrets so that where you aim is where your bullet hits at a specific distance. This alignment is crucial for accurate shooting, whether you’re hunting deer, shooting targets, or in tactical situations. Sighting in your rifle scope is not hard to accomplish, so follow the step-by-step instructions below to accomplish this task.

Why Sighting In Is Important

The main reason to sight in your rifle is to make sure you can hit what you’re aiming at. A properly sighted rifle lets you confidently hit your target, whether you’re hunting, target shooting, or practicing. It takes away the guesswork and makes your shooting experience much better.

Tools and Equipment Needed

Before you start, gather these items:

• Rifle: Your gun equipped with a rifle scope or sight
• Ammunition: Good quality ammo that matches your rifle
• Targets: Paper targets with clear bullseyes
• Shooting Rest: Something stable like sandbags or a quality shooting rest
• Bore Sighter: A tool to help align your scope with your rifle barrel
• Binoculars or Spotting Scope: Not needed but will allow you to see the target from a long distance without walking to the target.

A Guide to Sighting In Your Rifle Scope

Mounted Scope

Making sure your scope is mounted correctly is the foundation of accurate shooting. Allows use quality scope bases and rings to mount your scope. This will ensure a secure and solid fit improving your accuracy. Use a torque wrench to tighten screws according to what the manufacturer recommends. This prevents your scope from moving when you fire.

Bore Sighting

Bore sighting is the first step in aligning your scope with your rifle barrel. You can use the below two methods if you have a bolt action type rifle, were a laser or magnetic boresighter will be needed if you have a semi-automatic, pump, or single-shot style rifle.

Mechanical Bore Sighter vs. Visual Bore Sighting

• Laser or Magnetic Bore Sighter: This tool attaches to the barrel of your rifle, letting you line up your crosshairs with a laser dot or a magnetic boresighter with a built-in crosshair on the target. It’s quick and accurate.
• Visual Bore Sighting: This involves taking out the bolt and looking through the barrel to manually align the target down the barrel. It takes longer but works well if you do not have a boresighter. This method can only be used on bolt action rifles. A good rest is necessary to hold the rifle in place while making the adjustments on the scope

Initial Start at 25 Yards

At first, it is always best to start out sighting in at 25 yards. Fire a minimum of 3 shots and see where the bullets hit compared to where you aimed. Now it is time to adjust your reticle. A good rule of thumb is to follow your bullet. An example is, if your bullet is hitting left of the bullseye, you move your reticle to the left. If you are hitting low, you move it down. Adjusts are made using your elevation turret and the windage turret to bring your shots closer to your aim point.

Turret Direction

• Windage: Ride side of the scope, adjusts the reticle left or right
• Elevation: Top of the scope, adjusts the reticle up or down

Fine-Tuning

Once you’re hitting the paper at 25 yards, move your target to 100 yards. Fire a group of 3-5 shots and make smaller adjustments. This distance works well for both close and longer-range shooting.

Understanding MOA and Scope Adjustments

Clicks

Most manufacturers offer scopes in both Minute of Angle (MOA) and MRAD (MIL) and knowing which adjustments your scope has is a must and can eliminate mistakes and money. One MOA equals about 1 inch at 100 yards, whereas one MIL is equal to 10 centimeters at 100 meters. Typically, with MOA scopes, each click represents 1/4 MOA, so a 0.25″ inch at 100 yards, while a MRAD scope usually has 0.1 MIL adjustments representing 1 centimeter at 100 meters. So, each click on your scope will move the bullet impact those particular distances.

Shooting Consistent Groups

Consistency is crucial in shooting. Try to get tight groups of shots to ensure your scope is properly zeroed. When sighting in, always allow your barrel to cool down between shot groups. Overheating of the barrel can affect the accuracy of the bullet.

3-Shot Groups

Start with 3-shot groups for initial adjustments. This helps you quickly spot any major differences between where you aim and where you hit.

5-Shot Groups

Once you’re close, switch to 5-shot groups for finer adjustments. This gives you a better picture of your scope’s zero.

Advanced Techniques and Considerations

Adjusting for Parallax

Parallax is when your eye, the reticle, and the target are not in the same line of focal plane. Parallax is noticeable when the target seems to move when you move your head back and forth. Typically, low magnification scopes have a fixed parallax (100 yards) because parallax is not an issue, were high power scopes have a side parallax dial or an adjustable objective. Adjusting the parallax knob on your scope can fix this, giving you a clearer sight picture. Minimum parallax distances are different for any particular scope ranging from 10 to 50 yards.

Ammunition

When sighting in your scope, you should always use the same brand of ammunition such as bullet grains and bullet type. If you decide to try a different brand of ammunition, bullet size, or bullet type, you should always shoot a 3-5 group to see how this difference affects the point of impact.

Understanding Bullet Drop

Bullet drop is how far your bullet falls due to gravity over distance. Understanding this helps you adjust for longer shots and stay accurate. Many bullet/ammo manufacturers provide this bullet drop information at different distances on their websites.

Windage Adjustments

Wind can push your bullet off course. Learn to read wind conditions and adjust your aim to keep hitting your target.

Shooting in Different Weather Conditions

Weather like temperature, humidity, and air pressure can affect how your bullet flies. Be ready to adjust your scope settings as needed.

Maintaining a Shooting Log

Keep a detailed record of your scope adjustments, ammo performance, and shooting conditions. This helps you spot patterns and make better adjustments.

Troubleshooting Common Sighting In Issues

Scope Losing Zero

If your scope won’t stay zeroed, check for loose mounts or rings. Use a torque wrench to make sure all screws are tight enough.

Inconsistent Groups

Scattered shot groups might be due to shooter error, poor ammo, or a faulty scope. Practice good shooting techniques and use quality ammo to reduce inconsistency.

Identifying and Correcting Shooter Error

Shooter error is common. Focus on basics like controlling your breathing, squeezing the trigger smoothly, and following through. Regular practice will improve your accuracy. Purchasing a quality shooting rest will give you more consistent shooting.

Maintaining Your Zero and Best Practices

Checking Your Zero Regularly

Check your zero often to make sure your scope stays accurate. Frequent shooting, rough handling, or changing ammo can affect your zero.

Storing Your Rifle Properly

Store your rifle in a safe, dry place to protect the scope and maintain zero. Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity.

Using a Torque Wrench for Scope Mounts

A torque wrench ensures your scope mounts and rings are tightened correctly and to the manufacturer’s specifications, preventing movement during recoil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distance should you sight-in a scope?

The best distance depends on how you’ll use your rifle. Many people start at 100 yards, but for some rifles, 50 yards might be better, especially for shorter-range shooting. Some long-range shooters like to zero their scope at 200 yards.

Should you sight-in a rifle at 100 yards?

Sighting in at 100 yards works well for most hunting rifles, giving a good balance between close and longer-range accuracy. It’s good for hunting and target shooting in many situations.

What is the purpose of sighting?

The purpose is to make sure your rifle shoots accurately and consistently. A properly sighted rifle lets you confidently hit your target, whether hunting, target shooting, or just practicing.

Conclusion

Sighting in your rifle scope is a basic skill that makes your shooting more accurate and consistent. By understanding the basics, following the steps, and using advanced techniques, you can get a perfect zero and become more accurate. Regular maintenance and fixing common problems will keep your scope working well. So, grab your rifle, head to the range, and start zeroing in your riflescope with confidence!