How to sight in a rifle scope
A plain-language guide to getting your scope zeroed without wasting a box of ammo.
"Sighting in" (or zeroing) means adjusting your scope so the point of aim matches the point of impact at a set distance, usually 100 yards. The process below gets most setups on paper fast and dialled in with a handful of rounds.
What you need
- A stable rest or bags (a wobbly rifle is the most common cause of frustration).
- Targets with a clear aiming point and a grid, at 25 and 100 yards.
- Your ammo, hearing and eye protection, and the scope's turret caps off.
- Know your turret value: most scopes click in 1/4 MOA (about 1/4 inch at 100 yards) or 0.1 MIL.
Step 1: Boresight to get on paper
Boresighting lines up the bore with the reticle so your first shots actually hit the target. On a bolt rifle, remove the bolt, rest the rifle steady, and look through the bore at the target bullseye. Without moving the rifle, adjust the turrets until the reticle sits on that same bullseye. A laser boresighter does the same job for semi-autos.
Step 2: Start at 25 yards
Fire a 3-shot group at 25 yards. Starting close keeps you on paper and a 25-yard zero puts most common rifle calibers near zero again at 100 yards, so it is a smart first step.
Step 3: Adjust to the group, not each shot
Aim at the same bullseye for all three shots, then measure from the center of the group to the bullseye. Adjust windage and elevation to move the group onto the aim point. Remember the turret math: at 25 yards, 1/4 MOA moves impact only about 1/16 inch, so it takes roughly four times the clicks you would use at 100 yards.
Step 4: Confirm at 100 yards
Move the target to 100 yards and fire another 3-shot group. Make your final, smaller adjustments here. At 100 yards each 1/4 MOA click moves impact about 1/4 inch, so dialing is straightforward. Fire one more group to confirm the zero holds.
Common mistakes
- Chasing single shots instead of adjusting to the group's center.
- An unstable rest, or letting the barrel heat up during long strings.
- Forgetting that turret value and distance change how much each click moves impact.
Always follow safe firearm handling and your local range rules. This is general guidance, not professional instruction. When in doubt, get hands-on help at a range.
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