{"id":415554,"date":"2024-01-12T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=415554"},"modified":"2024-12-27T12:17:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T18:17:52","slug":"how-to-bore-sight-a-rifle-scope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/how-to-bore-sight-a-rifle-scope\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Bore Sight a Rifle Scope"},"content":{"rendered":"

We recently ran an article describing scope zeroing basics. We discussed scopes, Minutes of Angle (MOA), milliradians (MRAD or Mils), and how to use shot groups. Given that article\u2019s focus, we did not cover bore sighting. That was not an oversight, since bore sighting is its own deal and not strictly necessary. But bore sighting can be a useful tool and it can save you time and ammo. So, let\u2019s briefly explore bore sighting, what it is, and how to do it. Like the scope zeroing article<\/a>, this is a basic guide.<\/p>\n

\"AR-10
You’ll need a solid, level base like this gun vise. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is Bore Sighting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Essentially, the term says it all. Bore sighting refers to aligning your rifle\u2019s bore with your scope\u2019s<\/a> reticle before zeroing the optic at the range. You can do this several ways, which we will address. The benefit of bore sighting your rifle is that your bore and your reticle will be fairly close to one another in terms of the bullet\u2019s impact point when you begin the zeroing process.<\/p>\n

Being close means that you can get your shots \u201con paper\u201d with fewer rounds, saving you time and money. Your point of aim\/point of impact will also be closer together, meaning fewer adjustments to properly align them. Bore sighting is not perfect, nor does it replace zeroing your optic, but it helps. Let\u2019s get on with the process.<\/p>\n

Bore Sighting Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In many ways, bore sighting is bore sighting. The only real difference is the tools you may or may not use and how to bore sight different rifle styles. Bore sighting requires access to the rifle\u2019s bore (duh), either by looking directly through the barrel, using a laser, or by way of the muzzle. Some methods are easier than others, sometimes depending on the rifle. For instance, if I want to use the old Mark I Eyeball, I\u2019m required to remove the rifle\u2019s bolt. There\u2019s just no other way to do it. Bolt-action rifles make this easy. Lever-action rifles, not so much.<\/p>\n

It can be done but it\u2019s a real pain. ARs are easy too. Just remove the bolt carrier group. AKs, on the other hand, are almost impossible because of the barrel\u2019s relationship to the receiver. I say \u201calmost\u201d because some ingenious person out there may well have done it somehow. I am not that person. A semi-automatic hunting rifle would be so difficult as to be impossible.<\/p>\n

\"Collimator
This collimator bore sight is a great tool that works with all kinds of rifles. (SavageAccuracy YouTube Channel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bore sighting tools can ease the process, especially with the more challenging platforms. But you need to match the right tool to the right rifle. Collimator bore sight kits are great because they are compatible with most popular calibers and fairly simple to use. Laser bore sighters<\/a> are precise and can be caliber-specific or one-size-fits-all. The main drawback to laser bore sighters, at least in 2023, is that batteries are wonky and don\u2019t last very long. At least in my experience with several laser bore sighter brands. You will also need a solid, level base. I use a Tipton Universal Best Gun Vise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bore Sighting Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No matter which tool you choose, eyeball, collimator, or laser, the goal remains aligning your optic\u2019s reticle and your rifle\u2019s bore so the bullet hits where you want it to. It bears repeating that bore sighting is only meant to get you close. You will still need to zero your optic for precise accuracy.<\/p>\n

Two of these methods require a certain amount of space between the rifle\u2019s muzzle and the wall upon which you place your \u201ctarget.\u201d Many people recommend 25 yards. That\u2019s fine if you have the space, but many of us don\u2019t (except at the range, of course). I\u2019ve found that a minimum of 30 feet gets my alignment \u201cclose enough.\u201d Your \u201cclose enough\u201d may be different than mine.<\/p>\n

Finally, it\u2019s a good idea to \u201ccenter\u201d your optic\u2019s movement range before bore sighting. Start by turning your adjustment knob all the way to one direction or the other. Then slowly move it all the way in the other direction, counting your revolutions. Finally, go back to halfway. This puts your optic near its center, allowing maximum movement in each direction. Do this for both elevation and windage.<\/p>\n

\"Laser
These Sight Rite laser bore sighters are caliber-specific and fit in your rifle’s chamber. (Author’s Photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Eyeball Method<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This requires you to look directly through your rifle\u2019s barrel. If you can\u2019t do that, skip ahead. I can technically see through my AK\u2019s barrel, but it\u2019s at an angle. That\u2019s useless. I could also use this method by removing the bolt from my lever guns, but that\u2019s more trouble than I want. But a bolt-action rifle or an AR work very well here. The procedure is simple:<\/p>\n

Step 1: Place your rifle on a stable surface, preferably in a vice to prevent shifting. Make sure it\u2019s level.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Measure the distance from the center of your bore to the floor. On the wall opposite your rifle, place a visible dot at the same height as your rifle\u2019s bore. This can be a bullseye target, or a dot drawn on a paper plate. Up to you.<\/p>\n

Step 3: Looking through the barrel, align your rifle so that the dot is centered in the bore.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Without shifting the rifle, look through your optic. Adjust your windage and elevation until the reticle aligns with the dot on the far wall.<\/p>\n

Step 5: Confirm that your bore is still properly aligned, then confirm the reticle. Congratulations. You are now bore sighted and ready to zero your optic. Keep in mind that this is the least precise method discussed here.<\/p>\n

\"Remington
The eyeball method works fine with a bolt action rifle like this Remington 700, but it’s all but impossible with some other platforms. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Collimator Bore Sight Kit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A collimator bore sight kit does not require bolt removal. Nor does it require extra space.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Place your rifle on a stable surface, preferably in a vice to prevent shifting. Make sure it\u2019s level.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Attach the proper arbor to the optic grid and carefully insert it into your rifle\u2019s muzzle until it\u2019s snug. Do it slowly so you don\u2019t damage the barrel\u2019s crown or rifling.<\/p>\n

Step 3: Look through your optic and adjust until the bore sight\u2019s grid is clear. Make certain the grid is level with your reticle\u2019s crosshairs or hold lines. If you just have a red dot<\/a>, use a level.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Adjust your optic\u2019s elevation and windage until your reticle aligns with the grid\u2019s bullseye. If you have to go more than 6 or 8 \u201cinches\u201d worth of adjustment, you should check your scope\u2019s mounting.<\/p>\n

\"Grid
Adjust your reticle to the collimated grid. (SavageAccuracy YouTube Channel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Laser Bore Sighters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are two kinds of laser bore sighters. One fits in your rifle\u2019s muzzle, much like the collimator bore sight. This kind is useful because it\u2019s compatible with most calibers. The other is shaped like a cartridge case and is caliber-specific. I\u2019ve used both and either one is fine, though I\u2019ve found the cartridge-shaped lasers are a bit more accurate since they insert directly into the rifle\u2019s chamber. This is especially true of muzzle brake-equipped rifles. The following steps work with both types.<\/p>\n

As noted earlier, my experience with laser bore sighters has taught me not to trust the battery life. I\u2019ve gotten as much as 45 minutes or as little as 5 minutes from brand-new batteries. I recommend keeping an ample supply on hand. Luckily, they are inexpensive.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Place your rifle on a stable surface, preferably in a vice to prevent shifting. Make sure it\u2019s level.<\/p>\n

Step 2: You can either place a target on the far wall, as with the Eyeball method, or you can just bounce the laser off the wall. A target is useful if it has grid squares, and some laser kits come with reflective targets, making outdoor use viable. I\u2019ve done it both ways.<\/p>\n

\"Laser
This laser muzzle bore sighter is perfect for my lever action rifles. (Author’s Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Step 3: Insert your laser into the muzzle or the chamber until it is snug. This is important to make certain the laser hits in line with your rifle\u2019s bore. Because of the uncertain battery life, I recommend not activating the laser until you\u2019re ready to go.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Adjust your elevation and windage controls until the reticle aligns with the laser dot. If I have an illuminated reticle, I use the highest brightness setting so the laser doesn\u2019t wash it out. Sometimes it still does, though. But if you only see one bright dot, you should be golden, assuming your batteries haven\u2019t quit. That does happen. You can mitigate this problem by aligning the laser on a target\u2019s bullseye beforehand. That way, if the batteries go belly up, you can still adjust to the target\u2019s bullseye.<\/p>\n

\"Laser
You can guard against short-lived laser batteries by aligning the beam with a target’s bullseye. (author’s photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zero Your Optic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve said it before. I\u2019ll say it again. Bore sighting is no substitute for zeroing your optic. Bore sighting gets you close. \u201cOn paper,\u201d if you will. It saves time and ammo. You are responsible for shooting accurately, no matter what your rifle\u2019s role. Bore sighting can be a step in that process. But it\u2019s not the final step.<\/p>\n

Consider incorporating bore sighting in your system. Ammo prices aren\u2019t going anywhere unless they go up. Not anytime soon, anyhow. You can get a bore sighter for about the price of a box of ammo, depending on your caliber. But it will quickly pay for itself. I bought my first bore sighter in 2021, and I now bore sight all my optic-equipped rifles. Do your research and get what you think works best for you. You\u2019ll probably be glad you did.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s briefly explore bore sighting, what it is, and how to do it. Like our previously published scope zeroing article, this is a basic guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":415555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2614],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-415554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skill-building"],"small_media_thumbnail":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/collimated-grid-300x225.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=415554"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":420825,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415554\/revisions\/420825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/415555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=415554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=415554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=415554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}