How to bore sight a scope
Quick answer: steady the unloaded rifle in a rest, then align the scope with the barrel one of two ways. Optical: remove the bolt, center a target in the bore by eye, and move the crosshair onto that same target without touching the rifle. Laser: put a laser bore sighter in the chamber or muzzle and dial the crosshair onto the projected dot. Bore sighting gets your first shots on paper; you still sight in with live fire to finish.
Step by step
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Make the rifle safe and steady it
Confirm the rifle is unloaded, point it at a safe backstop, and clamp it in a vise or settle it into sandbags so it cannot move. Bore sighting is all about not disturbing the rifle while you move the reticle, so a rock-solid rest is the whole game. A wobbly rifle gives you a wandering aim point and undoes the alignment.
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Pick your method: optical or laser
There are two ways to bore sight. The optical (through-the-bore) method works on any rifle you can see through from the back, like a bolt-action with the bolt removed, and costs nothing. The laser method uses a laser bore sighter, either a cartridge-shaped unit that sits in the chamber or a rod/magnet that fits the muzzle, and works on any action including semi-autos and lever guns where you cannot see down the bore.
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Optical: center the target in the bore
Remove the bolt, set a target about 25 to 100 yards out, and look straight down the barrel from the rear. Adjust the rifle in the rest until the target (a bullseye or a distinct aiming mark) sits dead center in the circle of the bore. Lock the rifle down and do not touch it again. What you see through the bore is where the barrel is pointing.
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Laser: project the dot at your distance
Insert the laser bore sighter per its instructions (chamber cartridge or muzzle fitting), and turn it on so it throws a dot on the target. Steady the rifle exactly as aimed and note where the laser dot lands. That dot marks where the bore is pointing, the same reference the optical method gives you by eye, without removing the bolt.
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Move the reticle onto the same point
Without moving the rifle, turn the windage and elevation turrets until the crosshair sits on the exact point the bore is aimed at: the centered target (optical) or the laser dot (laser). You are bringing the scope in line with the barrel. Adjust in the turret direction marked, and expect to dial a fair amount on a fresh scope. Then double-check the rifle has not shifted.
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Confirm on paper, then sight in for real
Bore sighting gets your first live rounds onto the paper, it does not zero the rifle. Once the reticle and bore agree, take the rifle to the range, fire a group at 25 or 100 yards, and dial the scope to your actual point of impact. Follow our full sight-in steps to finish the job with live fire.
Optical vs laser: which should you use?
The optical (through-the-bore) method is free and, on a bolt-action you can see through, every bit as good as a gadget: you use the barrel itself as the reference. The laser bore sighter earns its keep on rifles you cannot see down, semi-autos, lever guns and pump guns, and it is faster to set up. Neither is more accurate than the other when done carefully; both only get you on paper. If you are choosing a tool, see our best laser bore sighter picks; the key is a model that fits your caliber and holds the dot steady.
Bore sighting is a head start, not a zero
It is worth repeating because it is the one thing people get wrong: bore sighting only lines the scope up with the barrel so your first live rounds hit the paper instead of vanishing into the berm. The scope sits above the bore and the bullet arcs, so real accuracy still comes from firing groups and adjusting to your point of impact. Our how to sight in a rifle scope guide walks through that live-fire step, and if you are still setting up the optic, start with how to mount a rifle scope. New to bore sighting entirely? See what is bore sighting.
FAQ
Does bore sighting zero a rifle?
No. Bore sighting aligns the scope with the barrel so your first live rounds land on paper, which saves ammo and time, but it does not zero the rifle. The bore and the scope sit an inch or two apart and the bullet follows an arc, so you still have to fire real groups and adjust the scope to your actual point of impact to get a true zero.
How accurate is bore sighting?
Accurate enough to get on paper, not to hunt or compete with. A careful bore sight typically puts your first shots within a few inches of aim at 100 yards, which is the whole point: it saves you the ammo you would otherwise burn just finding the paper. It is a starting point, and live-fire zeroing is always the finishing step.
Can you bore sight a scope without a laser?
Yes, on any rifle you can see through from the rear. Remove the bolt on a bolt-action, rest the rifle solid, center the target in the bore by eye, then move the reticle onto that same target without disturbing the rifle. This optical (through-the-bore) method costs nothing and is often as good as a laser. Semi-autos and lever guns need a laser bore sighter because you cannot see down the bore.
At what distance should you bore sight?
Twenty-five yards is the most common and forgiving distance, and it usually puts you on paper at 100 yards too. You can bore sight at 100 yards directly for a finer starting point if your setup allows a clear view. Whichever you pick, set your target at a known distance and remember bore sighting only starts the process; you finish with live fire.
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