Sighting in a scope
 

I'm pretty sure how to do this right, but have never done it before. Went out practicing over the weekend, and a friend had a scope that just wouldn't hit inside the crosshairs. He was adjusting the screws and shooting, but never got it in the crosshairs. I recommended a vice bench and a fixed target. Is there a way to adjust a scope quickly out in the field? What is the best way to do it?

The gun is a marlin 22 it has a small Tasco scope.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

Some sporting goods stores that sell firearms will do laser bore sighting
for a minimal cost or even free if you are making a purchase.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

If the marlin is bolt action, remove the bolt, place gun in a vice and site the bore on a fixed object and adjust the scope to the fixed object. If it is a lever action or semiauto have him shoot at a very large target (say 4x4 cardboard box) at no more the 15-20 yards. He should be able to hit that and make adjustments from there. Remember that if the gun shoots low you need to take cross hairs up. If it shoots right take them left. YOu probably know this already, but some guys think they need to "chase the bullet" like you do when sighting in a bow. Once he hits the box he will need to most likely need to make some major adjustments. As a rule of thumb most scopes have 1/4 inch adjustment per click at 100 yards. So if he is shooting at 20 yards, simple geometry will tell you that you will need 5 clicks to move just 1/4 inch. So with that in mind and with what you said about poor accuracy, expect lots and lots of clicks (assuming scope is mounted properly and not damaged, which very well could be the case). That technique will get him close enough to start shooting at 50 yards and allow for more precise adjustments.

And by the way, there really isn't any way to do a quick fix to scopes in the field. Even having a bore sighter will only get you so close.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

Having a good spotter observe the target while you're shooting can help. It's best if they have keen eyesight & a great sense of smell.

I normally use an adjustable shooting rest. Line up the target with iron sights, then adjust the scope to match the target (sight picture). If you're working with a rifle with a removable bolt, I do that, then center the target in the bore opening (looking down the bore from the back of the weapon). Then adjust the scope to match. That usually gets things on paper.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

Look at ballistic tables, but typically if you sight in at 25 yards and hit about 3'' high, that should cross you over the zero at about 100. It is much easier to be accurate at 25 yards than at 100.

Once you are happy with grouping at 25, move out and confirm at 100.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I've been wrong many times in my life, so I never say I'm 100% sure
but I'm 99% sure you have that backwards.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

There are some here that will disagree with this,
but one way that I found that seems to work is
to have a steady rest for the rifle, and use as small as
a aim point as you can see and not covered by the cross hair's on your target.
Fire a shot, if you can see were you hit, center the scope
on the aim point again and adjust the scope with out
moving the rifle adjust the scope to center up on the
bullet hole..

After a few shots the scope should be at zero.

The main thing is to zero at 25, 50, 200 or 100 yards,
then the ballistic tables will work .
The use of a bore sight and also looking thru the bore
will or should get you on the target.

seems to work for me.
IMOP

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

You are on, sir.
The laser boresighter is handy. On non-bolters (can't see through the barrel) they have saved me much ammo.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

That 1% of the time just pisses me off.:banghead: Fortunately, I am not wrong.:getdown: With a rear sight or a scope you adjust from where you hit to where you want to go. So if you shoot left, adjust right shoot high adjust down. With forward sights (like on archery equipment) you chase your last shot. Shoot left, move sight left. Shoot high move sight up. Sorry I had to make make you wrong again, I didn't mean too.:signs14::36_3_12:

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I use a few different tools...
On my AR-15 (sights include Eotech Holosight and OTAL laser site) I used one of those Laser Boresighters that go end the end of the Barrel; I aimed laser on a target at about 30 yards out and adjusted (one at a time) both the dot on the Eotech and the Dot on the Laser sight to hit/cover the dot projected by the Boresighter...
I did that and within like 1-2 shots I was right on with both the Eotech and the Laser...

With my Reminton 700 SPSV .308 Win and NightForce Scope I used the type of boresighter where you put the thing down the end of the barrel and that has a lens type deal with a grid in it... I turned the scope power all the way down to 12x (I think thats the lowest) and I aligned the scope hairs as best as I could with that grid thing then started shoting at a 6 in gong/Steel Plate out at about 100 yards...
I had it pretty much where I want it within 6 shots...
Everyone has their favorite way an what works best for them...
The above worked for me and I had fun doing it and did not waste several hundred in ammo...

However I will continute to read this thread and see what everyone else does... They may have something that is easier or more fun... I'm always up to learning new tricks...

Lastly, I recently bought one of those laser bore sighters that goes in the chamber just like a normal live round would and it projects the beam down the bore as the bullet would travel... This seems to be alot more accurate than the type that gets slid in the end of the barrel... I noticed a lot of play in the end of the barrel style, where the chamber style has none...

The chamber style one is a .223 and has inserts for any size bore that is bigger and you just pop the .223 into the insert and then the insert into the chamber...

One thing everyone (including myself) needs to learn is when and which direction to move your scope knobs.... I do it so rarley that each time is a whole new day... I need to take some notes print them out and put them in my bag and or put them on the underside of my scope cap, like Scope Dope...

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but I still say you are incorrect.
If you are aiming at a bullseye and your shot is low, you adjust the
crosshairs on your scope down (not up).
If you are aiming at the bullseye and shoot left, you would adjust you
crosshairs to the left (not right)..

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

First of all, the object here is to not assume that everyone knows how to sight in their rifle. There are many new hunters and shooters every day. When we go to the rifle range, we all want to be able to at least hit the paper target. Whenever you buy a rifle or a new scope, at least have it bore sighted. This is the first step to properly getting the bullet to hit the paper. If you do choose not to have it bore sighted, you can choose to view a particular target through your barrel, providing that it is a bolt action. First make certain that it is unloaded. You will need to remove the bolt and view a target by looking through the barrel. You can then make adjustments on your scope so the cross hairs are also on that same spot. But believe me, having it bore sighted is the best place to start. Start out with a 25 yard target, and take three shots to get your grouping. You will want to start sighting it in to the center of this group. Now you can play around with the elevation and windage to get it hit where you are looking through the scope, and this does work. But first you need to know the adjustments, which may and do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. A method that I prefer is simpler and faster to use. This method is to use a good sturdy rest , one that can be used hands free, or a friend, and after your 3 shot group, look through the scope, place crosshairs on the bulls eye again, and now move crosshairs to the center of the 3 shot group. I have used this method with a one shot sight-in, and moved the crosshairs to meet the bullet hole. Bingo, your crosshairs are now where your bullet is hitting. But the 3 shot grouping is a better method. Now that you have it sighted in at 25 yards, move to the 100 yard target and repeat this procedure. If the shot is to the left, You move the cross hairs to the
left, Same for up.
If the shot is high, move the cross hairs up.

I do not like to see pissing matches.
Shooting matches, That is a whole different kind of
kat...

:wink:



:bull-smile:

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/2...567f2a.jpg?v=0




I do know to remove the bore sighter, but have never used one before.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/2...acda11.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/2...a26395.jpg?v=0

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

And thanks everyone for the help

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

There's no need to show that....I nearly lost my lunch. :puke:

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I believe we are looking at two different things. You are sighting your scope in by looking through it and adjusting based upon the reticle and having the firearm in a stable position. I have no idea how that works but I understand the concept. I shoot my rifles and note where I hit say 1 in left at 100 yards. I pick up my rifle unscrew the caps for windage adjustment. Every scope I have ever had from Redfield, Tasco, Nikkon and Simmons has a dirrectional arrow on the adjustment screw showing right and left with the adjustemnt increments (usually 1/4 inch in 100 yards). Since I shot 1 inch left, I adjust 4 clicks to the right. Internally that may move the crosshairs to the left I dont know, but I adjusted the adustment knob to the right as indicated on the adjustment knob. This will work everytime with 30 years of shooting scoped rifles .

I just took a few minutes and got a scope out of my locker at work. The cross hairs do in fact move to the left when you make a adjustment to the right. Same applies to up and down. The technique you are using is great for benchshooting and shooting low recoil guns as you are required to have the firearm in a fixed position. I don't feel comfortable shooting large caliber rifles locked in a vise though. Plus learning to sight in this way does you diddly squat in the field or camp where you aint gonna have a vise. So in essence we were both right, just talking in different terms.

I would suggest learning to sight in a scope without having a vise. It aint hard and requires only 2-3 shots if you are a quality trigger man.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

Some of the advice you have received so far is confusing...to me at least.

1) First, make sure the scope is securely attached to the rifle and is aligned properly with the axis of the bore, with the vertical crosshair as straight up and down as possible, and with proper eye relief for full field of view through the scope.

2) Shoot from a solid, padded rest with front and rear bags.

3) Use only the ammo you intend to shoot exclusively.

4) Start CLOSE, say 25 yards. Use the smallest possible target that allows you to get a precise aiming point.

5) Fire two shots (my preference). Note impact on target. Make adjustments as necessary.

6) The scope turrets should have markings indicating UP direction (top turret) and RIGHT or LEFT direction (side turret)...This tells you the direction you need to turn the adjustment TO MOVE THE POINT OF IMPACT ON THE TARGET.

7) If the bullets are shooting HIGH, then adjust the scope x number of clicks or marks DOWN and shoot again. If shooting LOW, then adjust scope in the UP direction...Repeat until elevation is where you want it.

8) For windage, if the impact is LEFT of center, turn adjustment knob x number of clicks to the R (right)...and vice versa if impact is right of center.

9) When all adjustments are complete, fire a carefully aimed 5-shot group, and note how well-centered relative to the bullseye. Tweak as needed...

10) Resight at 50-75 yards, which is optimum distance for a 22 riflescope's parallax.

Hope this helps, SC

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

:36_3_12:



I have to agree !

Will leave what I posted to show a way to adjust with
1-2 shots..

And every one is correct!!

Looking thru the scope if the shot is to the left, adjust the windage knob to the right moves the cross hairs to the left...As the knob as marked you are moving the point of impact to the right.
Same for elevation!

:36_1_32v: teedub
Where I think I got mixed up is when I read the posts
I forgot the way the rectal,s worked.
If shot is to the left , you want the point of impact to move to the right, so as the scope is marked you turn it to the right. and the same for elevation ...
The markings on the knobs mean change of impact ,
Up or Down..

:553:

Have always said, "If you ask 10 shooters a question you
will get back 11 answers"

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

[quote=SilverCity;1665314]Some of the advice you have received so far is somewhat confusing...to me at least.

You beat me in trying to clear this up.
Thanks
:biggrin:

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

All the scopes i have ever used ...UP...Down...Right...Left..as indicated on the turrents..move the point of impact the direction indicated


Iron sights...on the other hand are a different story

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

i"m tallships buddy with the 22 marlin.i was missing the target alittle high and way off to the right(out of scopes site).i managed to get the crosses near.just sightly above and slightly to the right where i could see dirt fly within the scope.i need to adjust the scope where its attached to the rifle seeing how i've maxed out on trying to move to the left.

it was just getting to dark for me to finish it on the field.i did manage to hit the target if i aimed slightly down and to the left.

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I had an issue with a scope once. One of the old timers at the range said it was cuz I was too young.

Say Tallships, that's an interesting flash supressor you have on yours. Once it called?

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I bought a laser bore sight for my AR-15, sighted in my EOTech at 50 yards.

Laser bore sight is a great invention. :)

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

several scope ring manufactorers make "windage adjustable" rings a example is Millett angle-loc rings. these are just what you need to cure your problem

http://www.millettsights.com/2006/im...ILLETT_CAT.PDF

Re: Sighting in a scope
 

I GOT THIS LAST YEAR , it was on sale then half price . but it works great an saves ammo work on about all guns http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...cat601622_feat