How to Use a Rifle Scope

It is possible to make a good, accurate shot with a rifle using open sights, but many people find that a scope is much more accurate. When you shoot with a scope, you must first sight it in, then hold your rifle with a steady hand to make your shots hit where you think you’re aiming.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Rifle
• Scope
• Targets

1. Sight in your rifle’s scope before shooting. Put the rifle in a gun vise, remove the bolt and bore sight the rifle on a target about 25 feet distant. Adjust the scope to match the bore sight.
2. Use an electronic boresighting system instead of peering down the bore of your rifle. Select the appropriate caliber boresighter for your rifle, chamber it and close the breech. Look through the scope and adjust it to the laser.
3. Take your rifle to the range. Hold the rifle snugly against your shoulder and look through the scope at the target, which you have set at a specific distance away. Do not press your eye against the scope, just look through it at your target. Fire.
4. Evaluate your shot on the target to determine how far your shot dropped over that specific distance. Adjust the scope to account for the bullet’s arc at the distance you are shooting.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear ear and eye protection when shooting.
• Always use care when handling firearms. Do not point the muzzle at anything you don't want to hurt.