What is the best method to sight in your rifle

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stinger 327

stinger 327

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50 yards then to 100 yards?
For the following rifles:
Mini-14 with scope
Ak-47 with open sights
10/22 with Eagle Zephyer peep sight.
:confused:
 
stinger - get it zeroed, or very close to it at 25y. Then move back to 100 for everything but the .22lr.. I'd only move back to 50, then 100.

Remember, shoot 3 shots and then find the center of the group. Move the center of the group, not single shots. It takes more ammo, but will generally give better results.
 
I get alotta ammo and just start shooting things..........out on the tundra, rocks, snow, floating ice, chunks of ice on snow, maby floating peices of wood at various ranges, adjusting the sights as I need.
After 200 rounds of that and Im ready to trust the rifle :D

"Learn" that rifle real good
 
caribou said:
I get alotta ammo and just start shooting things..........out on the tundra, rocks, snow, floating ice, chunks of ice on snow, maby floating peices of wood at various ranges, adjusting the sights as I need.
After 200 rounds of that and Im ready to trust the rifle :D

"Learn" that rifle real good
Click to expand...
I did this but eventually the ammo will run out.
 
Shoot a group. Three is fine. Maintain your POA - don't chase holes. Next, anchor the rifle at POA, then walk the crosshairs to the center of the group (whille the rifle remains completely stationary). POA should match POI at your chosen distance. The line-of-sight is a strait line. The bullet travels in an arch. The arch passes through the line twice. Most folks mean the second pass when they refer to the distance their rifle is zeroed at.
 
Get an appropriate bore sighting laser. There are several available. I'd get one that can be chambered like a live round because it'll go straight down your barrel.

Once chamber, you can sight your rifle in at the preferred distance without firing a single shot, and regardless of how much wind there is. The way I got it figured is you'd probably spend more money on ammo than a bore-sighter, so in the long run you win.
 
Bore sight at 100(by eye) then shoot it:) I flip a fullsize silhouette backwards, with a 3/4"dot sticker in the center.
 
If you're mounting a new optic or otherwise starting from scratch, start close enough that the shots are definitely going to be on the paper. If you're not on the paper at 25 yards, move to 10, whatever. Once you're on paper, aim at a clearly defined aiming point in the center of the target and fire a 3-shot group. Adjust the sights or optic so that the next 3-shot group is at point of aim. Verify that it's sighted in at that range, then move back.

As to what distance you want to do final zero at, that depends on your rifle, cartridge, sight height, etc. A lot of people zero .22's at 50 yards; .223's are often zeroed at 200; etc.
 
I'v used used two methods for the last 30 years. The 25 yard zero, and the old look down the bore method. For the bore method I use a 1inch orange pastey at 100 yards and match the view of the bore and the scope cross hairs.
 
I don't think you can use the bore sighting method with a Mini 14 but it is good for sighting in bolt action rifles. I used one of the laser tools yesterday to sight in a Mini 14 and the only problem I had was I couldn't see the laser at 50 yds. I ended up getting the largest target they sold at our range and after aligning the scope's crosshairs with the laser out as far as I could see it, I finally got the gun on paper. I loaded 4 rounds, I shot 2 at the very bottom of the target and was going to shoot 2 at the very top but found the 2 at the bottom were about 2 feet high at 50 yds. The laser I was using was one that you stick in the end of the barrel. Not as accurate as I had hoped but without it I have no idea where these rounds would have been hitting. If anyone has an easier way to sight in a Mini 14 please let us know.
 
Ammo saver method : 25 yds., shoot one shot, crank turrets correct amount (Remember : clicks only adj 1/4 as much @ 25 yds as @ 100 yds so... 2" low @ 25 yds = 16 clicks on a 1 click = 1/4" scope). 2nd shot to verify. Fine tune. Move to 100 yds and verify/fine tune. Usually it takes only 4-5 shots to get very close. NOW is the time to do your 3 or 5-shot groups to verify and fine tune your desired "Zero".
 
I'll take my first shot at 50 yds. If it is on paper then I can "walk" it to the bull. If the shot is not on paper i'll go to 15 yds and walk it to bull and then go back to 50 yds and then to 100 if centerfire.
 
Should have read the "rifles needed to zero" a little better:eek: Start close, like some of the better readers have suggested:)
 
parker51 said:
I don't think you can use the bore sighting method with a Mini 14 but it is good for sighting in bolt action rifles. I used one of the laser tools yesterday to sight in a Mini 14 and the only problem I had was I couldn't see the laser at 50 yds. I ended up getting the largest target they sold at our range and after aligning the scope's crosshairs with the laser out as far as I could see it, I finally got the gun on paper. I loaded 4 rounds, I shot 2 at the very bottom of the target and was going to shoot 2 at the very top but found the 2 at the bottom were about 2 feet high at 50 yds. The laser I was using was one that you stick in the end of the barrel. Not as accurate as I had hoped but without it I have no idea where these rounds would have been hitting. If anyone has an easier way to sight in a Mini 14 please let us know.
Click to expand...
If you can bore-sight a AR15, I think you can bore-sight a Mini.
 
benEzra said:
If you're mounting a new optic or otherwise starting from scratch, start close enough that the shots are definitely going to be on the paper. If you're not on the paper at 25 yards, move to 10, whatever. Once you're on paper, aim at a clearly defined aiming point in the center of the target and fire a 3-shot group. Adjust the sights or optic so that the next 3-shot group is at point of aim. Verify that it's sighted in at that range, then move back.

As to what distance you want to do final zero at, that depends on your rifle, cartridge, sight height, etc. A lot of people zero .22's at 50 yards; .223's are often zeroed at 200; etc.
Click to expand...
On 10/22 50 yards is about Max of what I can see of the 3 inch target using peep sight that came on Mini-14.
Got a scope so now I can go for 100 yards and see the target.
 
Buy you a $30-40 laser bore sighter that fits into your bore. Take and adjust your reticle of the scope or open sight to intersect the laser dot at 20-30 yards(farther if in low light).With a steady rest/hold, fire one shot at the center bullseye,this should get you on a 18 inch paper target at 100 yds. Now again place your rifle in a rest of some sort, sand bags or a box with a "v" cut into each end will do. Aim the rifle back at the center bullseye you previously shot at and without moving the gun adjust the reticle to the bullet hole from the first shot. Your rifle should be very close to shooting right on but may require fine tuning. It shouldnt take you over 5 shots total from start to finish. All this relies on your shooting and adjusting abilities. With open or peep sights you might want to try at 50 yards.
 
dubbleA said:
Buy you a $30-40 laser bore sighter that fits into your bore. Take and adjust your reticle of the scope or open sight to intersect the laser dot at 20-30 yards(farther if in low light).With a steady rest/hold, fire one shot at the center bullseye,this should get you on a 18 inch paper target at 100 yds. Now again place your rifle in a rest of some sort, sand bags or a box with a "v" cut into each end will do. Aim the rifle back at the center bullseye you previously shot at and without moving the gun adjust the reticle to the bullet hole from the first shot. Your rifle should be very close to shooting right on but may require fine tuning. It shouldnt take you over 5 shots total from start to finish. All this relies on your shooting and adjusting abilities. With open or peep sights you might want to try at 50 yards.
Click to expand...
Can you bore sight iron sights?
 
Before you even get to the range: make sure that your scope is properly mounted, all screws tight and blue locktited. Make sure your scope is square to the rifle or you will be very frustrated as you change distances

While you can easily bore sight an AR by laying the upper receiver sans bolt carrier group in a rest, I don't know if you can do this with a mini 14
 
Method i use (no sled)

1) Use one of the MANY free online ballistics programs to compute the 25 yard impact of your gun when zeroed for 100 (or whatever)

2) Use an optical or lazer bore sitghter to adjust your scope/irons to the computed point of impact

3) Shoot a group @ 25 yards (you will already be on top of it, or within a fraction of an inch) and make any adjustments.

4) Shoot a group @ 100 yards and make any fraction adjustments

OR, if your rifle is scoped and you have a mechanical rest:

1) Lock your gun is a lead-sled, fire one shot.

2) Adjust your cross-hairs till over the bullet hole

3) done

:D
 
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