| Sighting in a rifle |
| Within this write up it will cover two different styles to sight in a rifle. The first guideline will cover the "conventional method" while the other gives information on the "six shot zero plan". The rifle and scope must be in good condition and properly installed. Check all action screws and scope mounts. Bore sighting or the use of a collimeter is not a substitute for sighting in a rifle however do have it bore sighted before you go to the range. The correct ammunition for its intended purpose must be selected along with enough bullets to sight in the rifle and have some left over to use for hunting after the sighting in process is complete. When hunting always use bullets within the same ammunition "lot number" that the rifle was sighted in with. Be sure that the stock and NOT the barrel sets on any of the rest while sighting the rifle in. Always sight in with a cool barrel, aheated up barrel will change the bullets point of contact. Conventional method From a solid rest, such as a bench rest with sand bags, shoot at close range to get "on paper". The final zero will be set at expected hunting ranges. Take three shots and the center of this group of bullets holes is the rifle's point of impact. Adjusting the sight moves the point of impact to the desired zero. Adjust scope by following directions on the dials to move the point of impact to the center of the target. Take another 3 shots and adjust the scope again. Continue this process until the group hits the center of the targetr. Do not adjust the scope sights on the basis of single shots due to an "odd shot" that can lead to sight adjustments errors. Six shot zero plan This method only requires six shots to sight in the rifle. Take 3 shots from 100 yards. Mark each hole with a black marker. Re-aim the rifle (unloaded) at the target as you did for the first 3 shots. With a steady rifle (its very important that the rifle be held securely and unable to move during these steps, if using sandbags have a 2nd person adjust the scope) look through the scope and adjust the scope by following directions on the dials to move the vertical crosshair to the center of the 3 shot group. Next, adjust the scope again by following directions on the dials to move the horizontal crosshair to the center of the 3 shot group. Shoot another 3 shots at the bull's eye and it should be dead-on at 100 yards. NOTE For longer range shots the trajectory can be changed to produce dead-on shots by sighting in the rifle to shoot 1 inch higher at 100 yards. To accomplish this, postion the crosshairs 1 inch below the center of the 3 shot group if using the "six shot zero" plan or 1 inch below the bull's eve if using the "conventional method". |