Rifle Sight In - Please Help

[djardine]

I just recently purchased a Savage .25-06 and I am going to mount a Nikon 4-12x40 on it. I am also going to buy the same scope for my Savage .223. Just curious if I should sight the guns in with the scope on the highest (12x) magnification or the lowest (4x)? I am going to sight the gun in roughly 1 1/2 inches high at 100 yards in order to obtain a 200 yard zero. Thanks in advance!

 

[highorder]

I have always been taught to zero at the highest magnification.

Note that many scopes will offer a different point of impact at different power settings.

 

[taliv]

..?..

if your scope has a different POI when you change the settings, you need a new scope.

it shouldn't matter what power you use.

 

[PT1911]

I agree with Taliv.. I adjust my scope as needed for each range... POI should not change with magnification when using a quality scope.

 

[jpwilly]

I'd sight in at 10 or 12x first. Then check to see if changing power will effect zero (shouldn't).

 

[highorder]

The POI shouldn't change when the power selector ring is moved, but some do. I'm not just talking about NC Star and the like either. I once owned a Bushnell 3200 (3.5-10) that changed POI almost an inch at 100 yards. Repeatably. I chalked it up to a glitch on an otherwise nice scope. Should I have treated it as broken, or otherwise defective?

 

[MinnMooney]

Everyone is correct so far.

Sight in at a higher power (but not necessarily the highest) to get the most accurate shot placement. Turning the power to the lower setting and shooting a group should be done to check the scope's integrety. POI should NOT change.

 

[brettrow]

I prefer the highest setting. And I have read that most scopes are best if they are just a hair less than their highest setting. So setting it at 9 out of 10 is what I do. I also like using burris rings with inserts so you can make external adjustments to the scope before you fine tune it with the windage and elevation turrets. A scope is at its best if the internal adjustments are minimal.

http://www.snipercentral.com/burrismounts.htm