Things You'll Need:
- Paper target
- Bore sighter (optional)
- Sandbags or commercial rifle rest
- Ammunition
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Step 1
Make sure the scope is firmly mounted and has been adjusted for the shooter. Bore-sight the rifle with a commercial boresighter. If using a boresighter is not possible, use the method described in Step 2 to get a rough bore sighting. (This method works for bolt-action rifles only.)
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Step 2
Remove the bolt from the rifle. Set the rifle on the shooting rest and pick out an object approximately 100 yards downrange that stands out from the background. While looking down the barrel from the breech end, reposition the rifle so the object is centered in the bore of the rifle. Without touching the rifle, adjust the scope's crosshairs so they are centered on the same object. The rifle is now bore sighted for 100 yards.
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Step 3
Place a target at the 25-yard mark on your range lane. Reposition the rifle in the shooting rest so the crosshairs are centered on the bullseye. Replace the bolt and load one cartridge. Take your time and fire one shot as precisely as possible.
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Step 4
Open the bolt of the rifle and examine the target. Measure how far the bullet hit the target from target center. For example, if the hole was 3 inches to the left and 2 inches low, adjust your scope to hit 2 inches high and 3 inches to the right. Replace the bolt, reload and shoot again at the target's center. If the shot impacts the target close to your point of aim, proceed to Step 5. If not, repeat Step 4.
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Step 5
Set up a target at the 100-yard mark. Reposition the rifle in the shooting rest; when ready, shoot three rounds while aiming dead center on the target. If the three-round cluster is not centered exactly where you aimed, make an adjustment to the scope and shoot again. The rifle is sighted in when the rounds form a tightly centered group at the center of the target.
