1st group after bore sight/zeroing scope

[Smokeshot]

Despite getting my first long range rifle in December 2024, it took me this long to take it to the range.

This was my first time bore sighting a rifle & zeroing a scope. Honestly, I am ashamed that it took me almost two hours and maybe 30 rounds to get this done and the final group at 100 yards looked like this:

I used Hornady American Gunner BTHP 6.5 CM 140 grain ammo. I’ve seen some amazing groups on the Hide and hoping to get some feedback and helpful advice on how to improve.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Maurygold]

1. Most of us have shot thousands of rounds. Shooting is a skill - shoot more and it will improve some.

2. You’re most likely not letting the rear bag do the work. You need to put zero input into the gun other than the trigger (don’t grip the gun with trigger hand)

3. Those are actually not bad for hornady - 90% of us are using custom ammo

4. 90% of us are using custom guns - see #3

 

[Emerson0311]

You could educate yourself using years and $1000’s for guns and ammo, or take a class or 2 with an experienced expert crew of shooters. Sound coaching from experienced shooters who can demonstrate their pro level ability on demand is invaluable, and saves years of grinding down random paths to success, only to find you missed the turn a while back. I say this as the guy who did it alone, because I was broke and didn’t know any pros to help me. Most people are not dumb enough to keep grinding long enough to be successful.

 

[Smokeshot]

1. Most of us have shot thousands of rounds. Shooting is a skill - shoot more and it will improve some.

2. You’re most likely not letting the rear bag do the work. You need to put zero input into the gun other than the trigger (don’t grip the gun with trigger hand)

3. Those are actually not bad for hornady - 90% of us are using custom ammo

4. 90% of us are using custom guns - see #3

I used a Vortex carbon fiber tripod on a bench for this I still need to get a bipod and bag.

 

[Im2bent]

Could be a lot of things . First thing to try is different ammo, your rifle may not like the flavor you're feeding it.

 

[6.5SH]

Despite getting my first long range rifle in December 2024, it took me this long to take it to the range.

This was my first time bore sighting a rifle & zeroing a scope. Honestly, I am ashamed that it took me almost two hours and maybe 30 rounds to get this done and the final group at 100 yards looked like this:
View attachment 8747522
I used Hornady American Gunner BTHP 6.5 CM 140 grain ammo. I’ve seen some amazing groups on the Hide and hoping to get some feedback and helpful advice on how to improve.

Thanks in advance!

Let me guess, you started at 100 yards instead of ensuring it was on paper at 25 yards first.

 

[Smokeshot]

Let me guess, you started at 100 yards instead of ensuring it was on paper at 25 yards first.

No sir, I actually started on paper at 20 yards first and then shot at 50 yards and 100 yards.

 

[6.5SH]

No sir, I actually started on paper at 20 yards first and then shot at 50 yards and 100 yards.

Unless mechanical issues (stuff loose etc.) It should be a few shots then fine adjustment and confirmation.
With the typical reticles we use is simply measure the POA/POI difference and dial it then hold on the previous impact as your aim point.
If you can think back on your sight picture after each shot it may reveal technique issues, tripod on a bench isn't a common setup.

A friend was having trouble with a SCAR 17, after asking him what the sight picture was like after the shot he replied "non existent".
We put it in a lead sled to remove him from the mix, it was dead on. I then had him change what he was doing from the bench with a bipod and again was dead on, so "re-zeroed" without even touching the turrets.

 

[chrome]

1. Most of us have shot thousands of rounds. Shooting is a skill - shoot more and it will improve some.

2. You’re most likely not letting the rear bag do the work. You need to put zero input into the gun other than the trigger (don’t grip the gun with trigger hand)

3. Those are actually not bad for hornady - 90% of us are using custom ammo

4. 90% of us are using custom guns - see #3

This above.

And

Have another shooter get behind the rifle to see how it groups for them.

 

[cas6969]

American Gunner + that group= Very good.


(Though limited, he experience with various cartridges types across the AG line has not been favorable.)

 

[ShtrRdy]

That's not a horrible group if that was at 100 yards. First thing I would suggest is using better ammo. Second thing is make yourself a could sandbags if you don't want to spend the money on some. You can use old blue jean legs or socks to fill. You can use dry dirt instead of sand.

Hopefully what you learned when sighting in this rifle will make it go smoother next time.

 

[kyotekiller25]

Next time you go to bore sight anything, take the bolt out and center the bore at 25 yards on a target. Adjust your crosshairs to middle of target where your bore is aligned. Shoot 1 shot. It should be easily on paper at 25 yards and relatively close to center. Next, while still holding center on the bore, adjust your crosshairs to the bullet impact. You should now be pretty close to zero at 100 yards. I call this the 1 shot sight in. Been doing it for 25 years.

Get a rear bag, and some type of front rest, whether it's a bag or bipod. Try a couple different types of ammo if using factory.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I used a Vortex carbon fiber tripod on a bench for this I still need to get a bipod and bag.

Yeah, get a GOOD bipod and bag. Not a $29.95 Caldwell pos. There are plenty of threads here on SH to confuse you about bipods, but it's hard to go wrong with Atlas, MDT, or Accu-TAC. There are plenty of other good ones. Despite what haters say, Harris bipods are fine - if - IF - they are upgraded with a Pod-Loc and an ARCA adapter.
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Then get bipod and bag low and stable on a bench. If you're young and limber enough to shoot prone, you still want to get the rig as low as is comfortable.

EXAMPLE: Met a guy on range with a new, fairly decent rifle, good rear bag (GameChanger Shmedium) and ok bipod (MDT Ground Pod). Rifle was a thumper (7 PRC) but had a good brake. Decent ammo. He was struggling with groups / zero.

Problem was obvious to me: he was sitting at a low bench so he had that bipod cranked up to near max height and had TWO bags under the stock toe. He had both hands on the rifle grip instead of support hand manipulating the rear bag. The whole thing was wobbly no matter what he did with support hand, so it was surprising to me that he did as well as he did.

I showed him how to get everything low and stable, but a lifetime of bad habit made it hard for him to use his support hand correctly.
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As others have said, a class led by a competent instructor can be a $$ saver in the long run. I just suggest asking here or locally for advice on such instructors... because anyone can hang out a shingle and run a "class."
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Ain't nothin' wrong with American Gunner ammo. My son just built his first precision rifle in 6.5CM based on a Zermatt Origin action and Bartlein barrel. I found a few hundred rounds of AG ammo from when I first started that I had forgotten about; it's great beginner ammo. In his rifle, it's consistent 1/2-MOA or better at 100, and he easily keeps it on a 2-MOA plate past 500. He hasn't qualified yet to use the 1000 range, so he asked me to try his rifle there. He gave me the elevation setting based on his 100-500 yard dope. It was nearly dark and we were out of time so went straight to 1000 with no shorter 600-800 yard trials. Two shots, two impacts on 24-inch plate.

Declared victory and went home. I would never bet on that happening again.