Bore sighting

Need some expert opinions on bore sighting,what is the best distance to do this, I've used 25 yards and 50 yards, with my current set up, Savage 12, 223 caliber and a 5-20x44 Nikon Monarch, the scope will appear dead on with bore at 50 yards however shooting on paper it impacts 14 inches low and 5 inches left. I fully understand that bore sighting will not produce a perfect results however it would seem closer then 14 inches.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/bore_sight.htm

I have been using a laser boresight that I bought a few years back.  I boresight at night and have places in my back yards that are 50 and 100 yards away.  I just boresight to one of those to places and my POI is usually withing 2 inches of my boresight.  I have done it with .22 LR, .223, .243, 7mm. .308, 45-70, .50 cal muzzleloader and it always works very well. 

I have had guns boresighted in gun shops using those boresighters with the big attachment with lines and stuff in them where you try and adjust the crosshairs to a given line of the boresighter and some of them were crazy off.  Laser boresight is the way to go.

I agree with that, laser is definitely the way to go these days.  Much better than the other methods.  You only actually need 18-25 feet, 25 preferred for the lasers. I've a couple of times not had to make any adjustments (in zeroing) using the laser.

Edited by Kickboxer - April/24/2009 at 12:22

Kickboxer wrote:   You only actually need 18-25 feet, 25 preferred for the lasers.

Thats very true as well.  I boresighted an AR in my house to a wall about 10 feet away.  I just compensated for the difference in bore to center scope height and I was almost right on when I went out to zero it. 

Anyone have a suggestion on a laser boresight, fair quality, good price.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-7318-537-bushnell-laser-boresighter.aspx

I keep it at 25 yards,any bolt action use a Tipton vise look down the bore and ten feet away put up a target look through the bore and see where you are on the target put a small sticker and look through the scope and make your adjustments.This method at 25 yards well put you on paper about 4 inches off bullseye.I've seen some guns that were boresighted at the store way off mark .

It is not an exact science, more an art form, do it more, and you'll get better at it.

I learned to bore sight looking down the bore at an object down range and can do that pretty well, but it takes time and effort (and a very well anchored gun.)  Lasers work pretty well, as do bore sighting tools with a shaft that goes into the barrel.  The nice thing about the "shank in the barrel" type is that once you zero, you can mount the bore siter and figure out where your real-world zero is and return to that spot later, if the scope ever needs to come off - I've done this a few times with a few rifles and had great success. 

hunter12345 wrote: I keep it at 25 yards,any bolt action use a Tipton vise look down the bore and ten feet away put up a target look through the bore and see where you are on the target put a small sticker and look through the scope and make your adjustments.This method at 25 yards well put you on paper about 4 inches off bullseye.I've seen some guns that were boresighted at the store way off mark .

Yessuh,, Me too.

Of course that way only works for the ole' bolt gun.  

supertool73 wrote: Of course that way only works for the ole' bolt gun.

I have a laser bore sighter and I bore sight at about 20 yards in my basement and it works great. The old fashion way works for me also I use a 1" yellow dot and look thru the bore and adjust from there. always on paper either way....

I just wave the magic wand over it and presto!   of course you have to say the magic words......if you are not on within three shots I will take you off and chuck ya down range beoch!

Edited by rifle looney - April/24/2009 at 21:57