Need help zeroing in a BSA scope!

[stevekl]

I got a BSA scope and I have a problem trying to zero it in. I don't know the specific model number, but it's a 30mm tube with integrated weaver mount. It was about $34.

Anyway, it's actually pretty damn accurate. It's more accurate than me, in any case (I get 1 1/2" groups at 30 feet mounted on my Buckmark .22).

The problem is, I don't know how much each click moves the dot! There's nothing printed on the dials, just an indication of "left" and "up". So I thought maybe the manual will tell me. I look at the manual and it says this basically: "Refer to the distance printed on the adjustment dial". Well that's very helpfull :rolleyes:

So does anyone happen to know how much each click moves the dot? Should I assume it's 1/4 MOA like every other scope i've ever seen in my life?

[Michigunner]

I've also been looking for that answer.

Does anybody know?

[Mark whiz]

I'd say the odds are about 95% that the scope is a 1/4 moa adjustment unit. Seem only their higher end target models and Mil-Dot reticle scopes use the 1/8 moa adjustment.

[Smoke]

I'd say the odds are about 95% that the scope is a 1/4 moa adjustment unit.

I'd have to agree with that.

I get 1 1/2" groups at 30 feet
That's not real accurate. I can do tighter groups at 30 feet with open sights.
WIth a scope you are using a bench right? Trying to sight in a scope free hand is pointless and futile.

Smoke

[Father Knows Best]

Ditto. "Highly accurate" would be 1-1/2" groups at 300 feet, not at 30 feet. At 30 feet from a bench, you should be able to print 1 hole groups with open sights.

Of course, BSA scopes are pretty much junk. For $34 you can't expect much. You might find that you can shoot better with open sights than with that scope.

[stevekl]

:rolleyes:

[entropy]

If you're getting 1 1/2" groups at thirty feet off a bench with the scope, here's what you do:

Sell the scope for whatever you can get for it, and buy several bricks of .22 ammo. (Or better yet, one brick of some good stuff like Eley Tenex.) Practice with it. When you run out, buy more. Practice with it. Repeat until that 1 1/2" shrinks to one slightly ragged hole. :p

Sorry to be so harsh, but at your accuracy level, a scope won't help so much as trigger time, and a good coach would be a plus.

BTW, I had a BSA 3x9 40mm on a .223 Handi-Rifle, and found it accurate, but the optics were poor. (Had a fish-eye view at low power, a result of inaccurate lens grinding. Also was quite yellow, like a 50 year-old Weaver might look.) It had 1/4 MOA clicks, if that helps. :)

[stevekl]

Geez, I should neverhave mentioned my group size. You guys are pretty elitist, I mean first of all, I think 1 1/2" groups are great. It's a personal best for me, in any case. Second of all, this was standing, offhand shooting. Not bench.

[Smoke]

Not harsh....helpful.

To sight in scope you must do it off a bench. IF you try to do it freehand you will have large groups and chase the hole all over the place.

Get some sandbags and work from a real steady bench. Once you have the scope dialed in then try shooting it freehand.

I have to agree that BSA is not good optics. I spent a lot of money to figure that one out. 1/2 of the BSA scope I bought broke. SOme wouldn't hold zero.
I think I have one that is still working OK.

Good luck.

Smoke

[Delmar]

Smoke brings up a very useful tip. I see this a lot at the rifle range-people chasing bullet holes, or trying to hold over/under or to the sides to get the thing "sighted." Their groups look like a patterning board.

stevekl-I sure wasn't there, so I don't know what your level of expertice is, but when you are sighting your scope in to zero, Smoke has his facts down.

I would place the pistol on a steady rest, and rather than worry about where the bullets hit, just run a magazine full with the crosshairs over the bullseye and see where your groups hit. Make your adjustments at that point and load another mag to test your adjustments.

One reason your scope was inexpensive is that they use plastic gears, which is okay if you intend to sight it and leave it alone. I messed with a Simmons for quite a few years and thought it was okay, but made the jump to Leupold and its almost boring on my rifle-no more fiddling with the adjustments to get it just so, year to year. It sure hurt the wallet as my scope cost as much as my rifle, but I won't have to buy another one or wonder about my glass anymore. Still, you have to shoot what you can afford-I could not afford it for a while, so I made do with what I could.

Oh, and BTW-don't worry about the eggs tossed at ya about your groups-new firearms are fun to learn, and your groups will get smaller as you practice

[entropy]

I'm sorry. I assumed (Yes, I know the saying) that you were using a bench. :o So now that you know the correct way, there you go! Even though it's a .22, maybe five rounds would do per group, instead of ten. Remember to only adjust one way at a time. I start with windage, get that zeroed, then adjust my elevation to zero.
1 1/2" offhand sounds a lot better, BTW! :)

[LHB1]

Steve,
Good advice above. As stated, "sighting in" should ALWAYS be done from a good rest to eliminate the shooter caused errors as much as possible. Then once the gun is properly sighted, you can shoot offhand, sitting, etc. as you wish BUT you are then testing the shooter and the gun/ammo.

Most scope adjustments are quoted as 1/4 inch at 100 yds. Some cheap scope adjustments are 1 inch at 100 yds. Your 30 feet range is 1/10 of 100 yds so whatever the adjustments are at 100 yds, they will be only 1/10 of that at 30 ft (1/40 inch for example).

Place your gun on a solid rest and fire 5 shots at your chosen distance. Then move the vertical crosshair adjustment a substantial number of clicks. Would suggest 40 clicks and fire 5 more shots. Divide the distance between group centers by 40 to see what average distance each click represents at your distance. Do the same for horizontal adjustment. Now you can calculate how many clicks to move the crosshairs whatever amount you want at that distance. Try to avoid moving the crosshairs just one or two clicks with cheap scopes as the adjustments are not that precise.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

[Father Knows Best]

I need to apologize to Steve. For some reason, when I saw his first post I thought he'd said he was using a "Benchmark .22." A Benchmark is a rifle from T/C. Thus, my comment about his group size. Of course, he'd actually written that he was using a "Buckmark", which is a pistol. So I was thinking of a benchrested rifle, when he was shooting offhand with a pistol. Hence, my comment about 1-1/2" at 100 yards being a good standard.

1-1/2" at 30 feet indeed ain't bad for a .22 pistol offhand. You won't win a bullseye match at that level, but it's a good start.

I will agree with everyone else on using a rest, of course. In case you've never used a rest with a pistol, be aware that you NEVER let the pistol itself touch the rest. Instead, sit at the bench and rest your forearms on the bags while holding the pistol with your normal grip. You won't get as steady of a hold as you do using a rifle directly on bags, but it's a LOT steadier than shooting the pistol unsupported. Take your time and get a good trigger release. Use the best quality ammo you can find for sighting in that scope, and make sure you can shoot consistent groups with it before trying to fiddle with the scope adjustments. I find it often helps to fire a "fouling shot" or two before shooting for groups. If you can shoot consistent 1/2" groups off the rest, then it's time to start fiddling with scope adjustments to get the POI and POA to match up.

I'll stand by what I said about BSA scopes, though. When it comes to optics, cheap is never a good value. My rule of thumb is to spend about the same amount of money on the optics as I did on the gun they are going on, and stick to brands that are known for high quality. I really Burris scopes as being excellent values. Burris makes some very good pistol scopes that sell for $200-300. If you just can't seem to get your BSA to zero, or it won't hold the zero, save your pennies and try a better scope.