Boresighting a Rifle - 3 Easy Methods
Boresighting is the process of aligning your rifle’s bore (the inside of the barrel) with your scope or sights, ensuring your shots land close to the target right from the start. It’s not just about convenience—it saves you from the headache of wasting ammo and time at the range trying to get “on paper.” A poorly aligned scope can send your first shots feet off target, especially at longer distances. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or mounting your first optic, boresighting is a must. Below, I’ll walk you through three practical methods to boresight your rifle, including a game-changer: the Site Right 2.0 laser boresighter from Tactical Elites. Let’s dive in with more detail, practical tips, and insights to make each method crystal clear.
Method 1: Using Site Right 2.0 – Quick, Accurate, and Modern
The Site Right 2.0 is a laser boresighter built for precision. It works by projecting a bright laser beam from your barrel, mimicking your bullet’s trajectory. This tool is versatile, fitting calibers from .22 to .50, and even shotguns with its included adapters. It’s a favorite for hunters, target shooters, and anyone who values efficiency.
Steps:
• Attach the Device: Secure the Site Right 2.0 to your barrel using the appropriate adapter for your firearm’s caliber.
• Set Your Target: Place a target at 25 yards—this is the perfect spot for laser boresighting, balancing precision and practicality.
• Align the Scope: Turn on the laser and tweak your scope’s windage and elevation until the reticle lines up with the laser dot.
Why It Works:
The laser acts as a visual stand-in for your bullet, showing exactly where your barrel is pointing. This eliminates trial-and-error shooting and gets you close to zero straight away. Users often report being within a few inches of the bullseye at 100 yards after boresighting with the Site Right 2.0—pretty impressive for a tool that takes less than a minute to assemble.
Practical Tips:
• Lighting Matters: In bright sunlight, the laser dot can be faint. Use a reflective target or boresight in darker surroundings for a clearer view.
• Battery Check: Ensure the battery is new—dim lasers lead to squinting and sloppy adjustments.
• Double-Check Fit: A loose adapter can skew the laser, so make sure it’s tight in the barrel.
👉 Want to see it in action? Check out the Site Right 2.0 demo video for a step-by-step look.
Method 2: Finding the Mechanical Center – Simple and Tool-Free
This method relies on your scope’s internal mechanics, adjusting it to its mechanical center—the midpoint of its windage and elevation adjustment range. It’s a simple reset for your optic, assuming your scope mount is level and installed correctly.
Steps:
• Windage Adjustment: Turn the windage turret (side-to-side) all the way in one direction, count the total clicks as you turn it fully the other way, then dial it back halfway.
• Elevation Adjustment: Repeat the process for the elevation turret (up-and-down), setting it to the midpoint of its range.
Why It Works:
Scopes have a finite adjustment range, and the mechanical center is their neutral starting point. If your mount is aligned with the barrel, this method gets your scope in the ballpark without firing a shot. It’s a great fallback when you don’t have a boresighter handy.
Practical Tips:
• Check Your Mount: Crooked rings or an unlevel base can sabotage this method. Use a bubble level on your rifle to confirm everything’s aligned before starting.
• Count Carefully: Losing track of clicks throws off the midpoint—go slow and double-check.
• Limitations: This works best for initial setups; if your scope’s already been zeroed and you’re tweaking it, skip this method.
👉 It’s not as precise as a laser, but it’s free and requires nothing but your scope and a some patience.
Method 3: Looking Through the Bore – Classic and Hands-On
This technique is perfect for bolt-action rifles with removable bolts. You physically look down the bore to align it with a target, then adjust your scope to match. It’s low-tech, effective, and gives you a connection to your rifle’s mechanics.
Steps:
• Prep the Rifle: Remove the bolt (check your manual if you’re unsure how—this varies by model).
• Stabilize It: Rest the rifle on a steady platform—sandbags, a gun vise, or even a rolled-up towel work well.
• Align the Bore: Peer through the barrel and center a target in your view. 100 yards is ideal for a clear sight picture.
• Sync the Scope: Adjust your scope’s reticle to match the target you see through the bore.
Why It Works:
Your barrel dictates where the bullet goes, so aligning it with a target by eye is a direct way to sync your scope. It’s a method rooted in the basics of rifle mechanics and doesn’t rely on gadgets.
Practical Tips:
• Steadiness: Any wobble alters your alignment. A solid rest is a must.
• Lighting Is Key: Good natural light makes the target stand out through the bore. Avoid dim conditions or glare.
• Target Choice: Use something that's contrasting—like a bright orange sticker or a black X on white—at 100 yards for easy spotting.
• Bolt-Action Only: This won’t work for AR-15s or other rifles without removable bolts, as you can’t see through the bore.
Safety: Non-Negotiable
Boresighting is safe when done right, but firearms demand respect. Always confirm your rifle is unloaded and on safety mode — check the chamber and magazine twice. Keep ammo out of your workspace entirely, and engage the safety. A clear, distraction-free area is your best friend here. One moment of carelessness can be fatal, so prioritize safety every time.
Why Boresighting Is a Game-Changer
Boresighting isn’t the same as zeroing—zeroing fine-tunes your scope with live fire—but it’s the critical shortcut that gets you close. Without it, you might fire 20 rounds just to hit paper at 100 yards, burning through ammo and patience. A good boresight can land you within 4-6 inches of the bullseye straight away, letting you zero in a handful of shots. The Site Right 2.0, for instance, has shooters impressed about near-perfect 100-yard groups after a quick laser session.
Get It Right from the Start
Boresighting sets you up for success, whether you’re hunting, competing, or just punching paper. Each method here has its strengths: the Site Right 2.0 brings speed and precision, the mechanical center offers a tool-free fix, and bore-looking delivers a classic DIY vibe. For my money, the Site Right 2.0 stands out—its ease, versatility, and accuracy make it a no-brainer for any shooter. Get one at Tactical Elites, hit the range, and see how fast you’re dialing in your zero.