Is a Laser Bore Sighter Need for Iron Sights?

[Vincent1966]

I recently bought a Nikon P-223 3-9x40 scope for my AR 15. The AR has a fixed iron front sight. I've been dreading putting the scope on and trying to get it zeroed in to about 100-200 yards.

I've looked at videos about using a laser bore sighter. Was about to order one on Amazon but then I thought, if my iron sights are right where I like them, I should be able to zero the scope in using my irons.

Does that make sense? If it doesn't make sense then can someone recommend a good laser bore sighter? Ideally one that can do 223/556 and 308 since I plan to get a bolt-action 308 soon.

Appreciate the comments.


MC

 

[tuj]

laser boresights are great *if* you need to constantly rezero. If you don't, just use the conventional method of resting the rifle and sighting visually down the bore (if possible) and put your first shots at 25 yards. Then proceed further out and adjust as you go.

laser boresights work best when they mount into the muzzle of the barrel, not in the chamber, like some I have seen.

 

[Rob0321]

Mount the scope then when you get to the range take the upper off and pull the bolt out. Sandbag the upper and look through the barrel until you can see your target centered in the bore. Look through the scope and see where it is, then adjust the crosshairs until it is on target (your adjustments will be backwards while you are doing this, an "up" adjustment will move the crosshairs down). When it is as close as you can get it you should be on paper with your first shots and you can fine tune your adjustments from there.

 

[jmr40]

Any type of bore sight tool is a waste of money. You can do it faster, and with less ammo several other ways.

Go to Walmart and buy a sheet of poster board, about 28 cents last time I looked. Place your target in the center. Back off 50 yards. At that range it is going to be impossible to miss the whole sheet. Fire 1 shot. Measure the vertical and horizontal difference from the point of aim. For example you might be 2" high, and 4" left. At 50 yards 1 click on most scopes is 1/8 ". Move your scope adjustments 16 clicks down, 32 clicks right and fire 1 more shot. If you're using a quality scope you'll be dead on and ready to move to 100 yards and repeat. I don't even fire the 2nd shot at 50 yards and go straight to 100 for shot #2. I've never needed more than 3-4 shots to get zeroed at 100 yards and found I was closer than the "tools".

 

[monk d]

you can do it using the irons, it is called co-witnessing. Basically you line up the cross hairs on the scope with the irons. you will effectively be using both sighting systems at that point though. I did that once and then took my front sight bead off and folded my rear down so that they were out of the way. It worked Ok but I removed the scope after a while and went back to the irons. I suppose that if a person had an AR platform that had a gas block instead of a front sight, there would be more trial and error at the range getting on paper without a bore sighter. My AR has the front sight and I just never bought another gas block and removed it, so I have no experience with scoping that way

As far as a bolt gun, you mount the scope, then remove the bolt. Set the rifle on a solid rest (tie it down to the rest so it does not move), look down the bore and get the center of the bore lined up with the bull at 25yds. Then dial the scope to the bull at 25yds. The rifle should/cannot move during this. After that you fire a shot to see where you are, you should be close, then dial the scope to the shot hole, with the rifle immobile. Fire a few shots for group and move out to 100yds. On my 308 I was shooting high at 100, so I dialed the elevation down to where I was on the bull.

There are several good laser bore sighters out there I suppose, I do not use them, I have always done it the way I just described

 

[Vincent1966]

Thanks gents! This is why I keep coming back. Lots of great advice. Saved me $$$ on buying the bore sight.

MC