How do you zero your rifle? let’s discuss approaches

[Alan]

I’ve seen a wide range of zeroing methods across the community, and it’s always interesting how each shooter develops their own routine. To help newer members learn and compare techniques, I’d like to hear how each of you approaches zeroing?

 

[Quark]

Well if it's a bolt action or at least an action where I can see down the barrel I put the reticle of the scope and what I see through the barrel on the same point of aim on a paper target or some target like that. If it's manual sights like a tang. peep, or buck horn on just shoot at ten yards or so until I have the barrel and the sight both hitting pretty much the same point of aim. Then I just keep extending the range to a hundred yards or so in increments.

I used the same basic technique for pistol/revovler using shorter distances out to the maximum distance of each pistol/revolver.

 

[Alan]

Thanks for sharing your approach...I like how your method works across rifles and handguns, it's easy for beginners to follow too

 

[Deleted member 61]

I like to bore sight also and get it on paper. Clear the bolt and steady the rifle and aim at center paper - little orange dot. Adjust the turret to match. Then I shoot one and measure how far off it is using the reticle hash marks and adjust the turrets. Then I shoot a 3 shot group and do a final adjustment. I prefer the 100 yard zero I’ll just click up a few clicks depending on the round for hunting point blank range. Each scope is a little different in how to set zero. Mine uses the little set screws which is a bit of pain. The new Leupold gen 2 and Nightforce NX6 and Trijicon Creedo and others allow for tools free adjustment of the zero which is nice. On the Steiner I have I have to loosen the screws and then the turret spins free and then tighten back down. I learned the hard way not to over tighten - be careful with those little set screws. It has a built in zero stop. I just really like the reticle and field of view so I stick with the one I have but look for scopes that have tools free adjustment.

 

[Mosquitomountainman]

I use a bore scope (old type that doesn't use a laser or electronics ... I'm an old fart and don't trust electronic gizmos) to get it close. Then I shoot from a rest at 25 yards zeroing the crosshairs on the center of the target. Then I strap it firmly in the rest with the cross hairs centered on the target. From there I adjust the scope until the cross hairs are centered on the bullet hole. It's essential that the rifle does not move while adjusting the scope! The next shot will be perfectly centered in the bull's eye. From there I fine tune it at whatever range I want the hunting zero at.

My big bore hunting rifles are set three inches high at 100 yards. My varmint rifle is dead on at one hundred yards. My .22 rimfires are dead on at 50 yards. My traditional muzzle loaders are dead on at 75 yards. My inline muzzle loaders are dead on at 100 yards. My open sighted rifles (30/30 and 45/70's) are dead on at 100 yards. Air rifles dead on at 50 yards. All handguns with adjustable sights are set for 50 yards.

 

[Alan]

I use a bore scope (old type that doesn't use a laser or electronics ... I'm an old fart and don't trust electronic gizmos) to get it close. Then I shoot from a rest at 25 yards zeroing the crosshairs on the center of the target. Then I strap it firmly in the rest with the cross hairs centered on the target. From there I adjust the scope until the cross hairs are centered on the bullet hole. It's essential that the rifle does not move while adjusting the scope! The next shot will be perfectly centered in the bull's eye. From there I fine tune it at whatever range I want the hunting zero at.

My big bore hunting rifles are set three inches high at 100 yards. My varmint rifle is dead on at one hundred yards. My .22 rimfires are dead on at 50 yards. My traditional muzzle loaders are dead on at 75 yards. My inline muzzle loaders are dead on at 100 yards. My open sighted rifles (30/30 and 45/70's) are dead on at 100 yards. Air rifles dead on at 50 yards. All handguns with adjustable sights are set for 50 yards.

It is hard to argue with results when everything’s that dialed in