Decided to step into the world of AR's...

[Theohazard]

I used a cheap laser bore-sight from Amazon prior to my first range trip just so I could adjust the iron factory sights to just be on the paper at 25 yds.

Just some general advice: You don't need to use a laser bore sighter on an AR, and sometimes the cheaper laser bore sighters are less effective than just sighting down the bore the way I do it.

I often bore sight ARs when customers buy a new optic, and I just do it on the shop floor without a bore sighter. I take the upper off, remove the BCG and charging handle, and set it on a flat surface. I then look through the bore and find an object 25 yards away, and I make sure that object is centered when I look down the bore. Then I just zero the scope or red dot sight to that object.

This method is pretty quick and it doesn't require buying a bore sighter, some of which are fairly expensive. And it's pretty accurate too; when a customer comes back from our 25-yard range after zeroing their rifle, they've never told me that I was farther off by a few inches at max.

If you already have a laser bore sighter and it does the job, then there's nothing wrong with using it. But if you don't have a laser bore sighter, you don't need one to zero a rifle if you can look down the bore: ARs are the easiest to do with this method because the upper sits solidly on a flat surface, but this method also works with any other rifle where you can remove the bolt and visually look through the chamber into the bore. So, for example, you couldn't do this with a 10/22, but you could do it with a bolt-action rifle (though it's harder to prop up a bolt-action if you don't already have a rifle rest; AR uppers are a lot easier because they don't need to be propped up).

 

[basicblur]

Maybe I'm underthinking this laser thing?

I'm satisfied with my LaserMax kit (around $100), but I have to zero more toys than I'd admit to.

My technique:
1. Measured the distance to my neighbor's shed @ 100 yds.
2. Around 2am (so's I don't freak out the neighbors), I prop the rifle up in my bedroom window and zero on the shed @ 100 yards.
3. My first shots on paper at the range are at 100 yards, and are always on paper. First time I did this I measured and I was 2" off elevation, 3" off windage, and just dialed it in.

After zeroing at the range, I could stick the laser in the barrel and mark on a target down the long hall in my house - then if I was to remove the optic I could probably do a pretty good job of RTZ by just sighting down the hall and using the previously marked paper?

I was also discussing this with a fellow at the shop the other day.
I told him I might revise my technique and don't see why it wouldn't work?
1. As above, just zero the optic's elevation on my neighbor's shed @ 100 yards.
2. Instead of zeroing windage @ 100 yards, just zero scope windage as far as I can see the laser at night (1,000 yards or more?).

Seems to me like this would get your windage pretty darn close with your first 100 yard shot at the range. Last time I did this @ 100 yards I was off by 3" - zeroing to as far as I can see the laser should get me much closer than 3" off with my first shots!?

AFA elevation, I'll still be off around 2" or so (as before), but elevation is a piece of cake - windage is much more important.

I've also loaned my laser out to a few friends new to the AR game, and they have all used my bedroom window technique with good results.

 

[shlike]

UPDATED!! Decided to step into the world of AR's...

UPDATE WITH PHOTOS!!!

I am the OP.

So I got my new AR556 with the intention of keeping it stock except to maybe add an optic or red dot. But as others have warned in this thread, I am being sucked into the world of AR Bling and Accessories, which is going to be difficult to control, I fear. On my first range trip, the gun proved to be 100% problem-free after 100 rounds or so of .223 55gr. ammo. I used a cheap laser bore-sight from Amazon prior to my first range trip just so I could adjust the iron factory sights to just be on the paper at 25 yds. Once I made a slight final adjustment at the range for elevation, the gun was dead-nuts accurate. My next range outing will be on the outdoor range at my gun club where I can shoot out to 50, then 100 yds. As the photos show, the world of Magpul beckoned and I could not resist adding an MOE Stock, MOE pistol-grip, and MOE hand guard. That stuff sure makes the gun pretty, don't you think?.. Anyway, the next addition will be a 1-4X scope mounted to co-witness with the BUIS. Then I should be finished..........I hope.

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UPDATED TO SHOW NEW OPTIC!!!

New Optic is a Vortex Crossfire II 1-4X on a Burris P.E.P.R mount. It has an illuminated reticle with a red dot at the 1X setting, effectively making it a red-dot optic at no magnification. The armorer at the gun shop where I bought it bore-sighted it for me which should at least put it on paper to start. My plan is to take it to my gun club range this weekend to do a final sighting-in and zero at 100 yds. One feature of the scope allows you to re-index the zero indicator after sight-in without disturbing the settings. This allows you to dial-in temporary corrections in the field, then quickly return to the original zero.

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[savanahsdad]

nice looking rig , what did the scope set you back ?

 

[shlike]

nice looking rig , what did the scope set you back ?

Scope plus mount, total around $350.00