Re: Sighting in an AR for the first time
Once you get your boresight and sit down at the bench, here are two things that can help you quickly get "on paper" so you can spend your shots/time getting dialed in. So many times I have seen one or two folks sit down and waste 3/4 of a box of ammo w/ no idea where they are hitting. Using one of these methods, you should easily get onto paper in 2-6 shots; then start fine tuning... Try these two tips.
1) Shoot dirt. Most ranges have some kind of berm right behind the target backers. If it is dirt (instead of tires or wood or some fancy bullet stopper material), all the better. Pick out (or place) some easily visible target in the lower 1/3 of the berm. Anything will do from a bright leaf, to a white rock, a spare clay pigeon, soda bottle, sticky note, whatever. You need to SEE it from the bench, and so does your SPOTTER. Take a shot at it. you may not see where you hit; but your spotter should. Adjust the scope to get in the ballpark and take a second shot. Once you're close to your target in the dirt, switch to your paper sight in target.
2) Shoot BIG paper before you move to your fancy sight in targets. Some ranges go berserk if you try that first method; so shoot BIG paper. Lots of folks have those big rolls of craft paper (either because they have kids, butcher deer, or around us - eat lots of steamed crabs). Put a good 4' x 6' sheet of that on the backer, and put a little target (sticky note works fine) to aim at. You can also paste up your fancy rifle sight in target once you're in the vicinity of your target... If you don't have craft paper, swipe a roll of the wife's gift wrapping paper, and use that (white or non-printed side). Again, let your spotter help figure out where you're hitting if you're not on paper immediately.
