[Newt]

I've never actually had a gun bore-sighted before. What are the advantages (and disadvantages if there are any) of having this done with my new gun. All input appreciated.

Newt

[keyhole]

It will, ( should) take less rounds to get it zero on paper. Gets you in the ballpark at least.

[TallPine]

I used to do it when I worked at a gun counter.

Most gunnies seem to scoff at it, but I had customers come back and say things like "it was 2 inches high at 100 yds and right on in windage"

Even had one guy (his wife actually) kill a deer without ever firing a sighting-in round. That surprised me, and must have surprised the deer, too, because it fell right over.

[Majic]

With rifles it will get you very close to your desired POA if done correctly. With most handguns I've found it to be a wase of time. There are several methods, but I was taught one that gets you on POA in just 2 shots with a 3rd to confirm. Also not all bore sighting requires use of some type of device.

[Keith]

Lay the rifle on a counter or something and brace it up with sandbags or pillows. If you have a vice of some kind, even better.
Pull the bolt out and looking down the bore, jiggle the rifle around until you are looking at some distant object - I have a handy street light about 200 yards from my kitchen window.
Get the object perfectly center in the bore with the rifle braced up well enough so that it won't move.
Now, looking alternately through the bore and the scope, adjust the scope so that the the crosshairs are also on the chosen object.

You are now bore-sighted as well as any mechanical device will do it. Spend the extra money on ammo.

Keith

[Newt]

I just bought a new Tikka and a new Nikon to put on it. In the past, I've just sighted in my scopes the old fashioned way. I'd never done it (bore sighted) before, but wanted to get it at least on paper before I went to the range. The cost at one of the local gun shops was five bucks. I'll post back up here to let you know field results of bore sighting at the 100 yd. mark. Thanks for the input.

Keith: I had done exactly that on my last new rifle before taking it to the range to tweak it in. Will that do what a professional gunsmith can do when bore sighting?

Newt

[Keith]

Yeah, it will do the same thing.

I've bore-sighted hundreds of rifles using both methods. There's no big difference - if anything, the kitchen table method is more accurate (if done carefully).

Keith

[Majic]

To take Keith's idea further. The most efficent way is to sight at range. Place target 25 yards away. Block and support bolt action rifle. Remove bolt. Align bore to target by sighting thru bore. Adjust scope to sight on target. Fire one shot. Remove bolt and realign bore with target by sighting thru bore. Align scope with POI of bullet fried from previous shot. Aim at target, fire second shot, and your POI should also be your POA. Fire 3rd confirming shot. Move target to 100 yards and tune for your required POI.
3 shots and you are right on target.

BTW.. tap your turrents after making scope adjustments to insure settlement of the scope. If scope settles from recoil then no method will work very well as there's no repeatability.

[zahc]

I use the 'look down barrel' method all the time. The other day someone informed me that you needed a tool to boresite a rifle. I showed him my method and he walked silently away after seeing how well it worked.

[AUTIGER04]

With rifles. I look through the bore also. It gets you on paper or close enough at least to fine tune your scope.:D

[C.R.Sam]

Eyeball.
Worked for years...
Still does.

Sam

[Newt]

Done with the range trip. Scope wasn't on the paper @ 100 like I'd hoped, but it was on @ 50. Couple shots in it weren't long before I had it on @ 100. The gun shoots better than any gun I've ever personally shot. Almost no recoil and the trigger pull is awesome. Appreciate all of your help with helping me on this.

Newt

[C.R.Sam]

Cool.
Thanks for the range report Newt.

Sam