Rifle Scopes Sighting In Advice

[MBrady]

So I took my rifle to the range this weekend in an attempt to get her sighted in for an upcoming shooting course. It is a Tactical Rifles M40A1 (20MOA rail) with an US Optics ST10 scope (see picture below). I shot at 100, 50 and 25 yards and hit NOTHING. I'm talking Predator nothing here. Pretty sure I could hit the target at 25yds just by throwing the rifle at it.

Anyway, I am lucky enough to have Charley Robertson and Score Hi Gunsmithing as a neighbor so I am off to see him to make sure the scope is set right. I have also bought a laser boresight for my next range trip to see if that helps. I am pretty sure my shooting mechanics are good to go with the cheek weld, though I am very new to the world of bolt actions.

Is there anything else I should/could be doing?

 

[Mike]

Re: Sighting In Advice

Did you bother to remove the bolt and look down the barrel to see if the crosshair of the scope was anywhere near where the barrel was pointed?
If you're not even close at 25 yards there are some issues.

 

[MBrady]

Re: Sighting In Advice

Nope, didn't think of that one.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Sighting In Advice

How big was your paper at 25 yards? I use a big sheet like 12x18. Never not hit it at 25 yards. Put something big up like an IDPA target. Get the impact 1.5 mils low at 100 yards and it should be close at 100.

Take the bore sighter back and save the money for something useful.

 

[jpspeeddemon]

Re: Sighting In Advice

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you bother to remove the bolt and look down the barrel to see if the crosshair of the scope was anywhere near where the barrel was pointed?
If you're not even close at 25 yards there are some issues. </div></div>

this is the best way and it will get you very close to zero if u are good at it.

make sure the target is centered up when you look through the bore, then, w/o moving the rifle, adjust the scope so the crosshairs are centered on the same spot you see through the bore.

at 25 yards, 0.75-1 inch low should be about dead on at 100y

 

[MBrady]

Re: Sighting In Advice

I will knock it out this weekend and see how it goes. I was using one of the large 50yd pistol slow fire targets that day. Looked pretty big at 25yds! I do appreciate the advice.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Sighting In Advice

What all above said . . .

 

[77Bronc]

Re: Sighting In Advice

May be off base here, but you said you have a 20 MOA base....how did USO set the scope from the factory? Where is the reticle starting at?

77

 

[C1AY7ON]

Re: Sighting In Advice

I am a total noob when it comes to this stuff but I used the bore sighting method mentioned above and got on paper with my first shot. It's a bit tricky if you don't have a rifle rest to hold the gun steady as you move from behind the bore to the scope but with a little patience you should be good to go.

 

[UIUCPPQ]

Re: Sighting In Advice

I recently had my rifle laser sighted after my local shop leveled my scope for me.

Tried to shoot it and it was absolutely nowhere near the paper at 100 yards, which is what it was supposedly sighted for at the shop.

Basically my point is don't expect those laser bore sighters to be any better than the old fashioned thru-the-bore visual at 25->50->100 yards.

*Edited to mention your setup looks beautiful.

 

[slyfox]

Re: Sighting In Advice

The only laser boresighters I have used were fairly cheap and they were terrible. The laser is usually not perfectly center and at any distance it would put me way off the paper. I could see the difference when I would roll the laser bore sight on a flat level surface. The light would dance up and down.

 

[MBrady]

Re: Sighting In Advice

Update: All is now good. I did use a laser boresighter to get me somewhat close prior to going to range. Once I started shooting is was easy to get the scope zero'd. Now all I have to do is set the EREK turret.

My class is in July so I have plenty of time to get some rounds downrange.

Thanks for all the help. It was very much appreciated.