Sighting 'em in

[DD_Dinosaur]

What are yalls preferred methods of sighting in a gun? I've got a pistol with an rmr and a 30-30 with a leupold I have to get dialed in.

 

[Rubicon]

What are yalls preferred methods of sighting in a gun? I've got a pistol with an rmr and a 30-30 with a leupold I have to get dialed in.

Last time I sighted my 270 in, I wasted a bunch of ammo at first because it was miles off zero. Ended up shooting at a stump in a pond (had a good downward angle and woods behind it) to get it close, then i fine tuned it and made sure I could reliably hit a circle about the size of a half dollar at 100 yards. Im not saying its the best way, but thats what I did. Im interested to hear peoples methods.

P.S. my half dollar sized circle was made by rubbing mud onto an old oxygen tank. Be more prepared than I was and it'll probably help you out, especially if you want to shoot flies at 100 yards.

 

[kenny1773]

For the RMR on the pistol, its usually easy enough to start shooting at a dirt bank and rough it it before moving to paper. Since I don't have a pistol rest of any sorts, I usually put the bottom of the grip on a table to steady the gun and dial it in from there.

Do a few 5 shot groups when you think you have it and fine tune of needed. I have done a few this way and it works out

As for a rifle with a scope, I use a cheap laser sighting tool like this

Amazon.com

but that is after I make 100% sure the scope is mounted level using a known flat surface and a series of bubble levels

once I have that sorted, I have a bright pink plumb line rope I hang out in the back yard and make sure the scope hairs are even with it at some distance

Find a 50 yard structure to use the laser sight on, dial the scope to laser (usually do this right around sunset), then head to the range
I usually brace with sand bags, and I use the dirt berm at 50 to confirm on paper (usually one/two shots), then once dialed in at 50 pretty easy to find 100
several 5 shot groups at 100 to fine tune it

I have done dozens of rifles like this, shot a few out to 1000 yards and was able to dial right in in a couple shots even at that distance.

Here is a 5 shot 100 yard from my 6.5 CM

 

[DD_Dinosaur]

Sounds pretty much how we do it but we are little less technical. No plumb line. I usually just get it where I need it at 50 yards than move to 100 and tune except for my grendel I think it's setup for 200.

 

[kenny1773]

The plumb line is just a double check on what the levels told you, and makes 100% sure nothing moved as you tightened down the scope rings. Its not necessary.

 

[Bolts Rock]

Laser boresight at or close to the distance I want zeroed then live fire at that distance.

 

[sleepy4sureishere]

What are yalls preferred methods of sighting in a gun? I've got a pistol with an rmr and a 30-30 with a leupold I have to get dialed in.

Hey DD, It appears that all of the suggestions will get the job done...Choose what you feel most comfortable with unless you have the help of someone in the know who has the necessary tools ie: bore sight, level table, etc. and knowledge to get you on paper and/or zeroed in quickly and efficiently especially with Ammo prices through the roof as they are. If you choose to go at it alone DD just a reminder to be sure whatever ammo you choose be consistent with it throughout the process. Stay with the same: (A) Ammo Brand, (B) Bullet Type-FMJ,JHP,SJHP,etc. (C) & Grain "bullet weight" the whole idea being to eliminate as many variables as possible. Consistency is a huge factor. Of course once you get em as close as you can using your chosen method then you can find out what the weapons like to eat later...Which Brands, Types, Grains, shoot the best in your Platform!!! Stay Safe and Good Luck....

 

[Dfalt]

Last time I sighted my 270 in, I wasted a bunch of ammo at first because it was miles off zero.

lol same thing happened to me with my AR earlier this year. Sighted the EOTech on it in at 25 yards and it was set so low at first that I couldn't even hit paper at 5 yards. I had to walk up to the target and shoot it point blank to even see what was happening. It can be VERY frustrating when you're not hitting paper since you have no frame of reference for adjustments. I've been meaning to go back out and finish up zeroing the backup irons but I don't wanna use up the ammo.

 

[Rayd8]

For sighting in an rmr, I’ve starting doing a little more thorough zero. I like the targets from kinetic consulting (good for AR too).

Targets

www.kinetic-consulting.net

You might need a login to get them.

For zero, I do it supported off the bench. The target is setup for 10 yards and then a 25 yard confirmation.

it’s on the shooter after that.

 

[sleepy4sureishere]

lol same thing happened to me with my AR earlier this year. Sighted the EOTech on it in at 25 yards and it was set so low at first that I couldn't even hit paper at 5 yards. I had to walk up to the target and shoot it point blank to even see what was happening. It can be VERY frustrating when you're not hitting paper since you have no frame of reference for adjustments. I've been meaning to go back out and finish up zeroing the backup irons but I don't wanna use up the ammo.

HARD LESSONS LEARNED
Hey Dfalt/Rubicon, What yall shared with us is Real World Events...It Can and Does Happen!!! Here's a Quick Story related to your experiences... Both of Yall eluded to the fact that it is extremely frustrating to have this happen especially with ammo prices sky high...I totally concur and have been there and done that as well after receiving a phone call from my grandson one Friday evening several years ago stating he had to get his New Rifle Sighted In so that he could go on a hunting trip with his buddies the Next day Saturday!!!! That's right, he calls me with just a few hours left of daylight on Friday begging me to drop everything and drive 30 minutes down the road to where they were and help him out...I didn't find out until I was almost there that he and a friend of his had been there since mid morning Burning through Ammo to no avail. Anyway, knowing I didn't have much daylight to work with I grabbed one of my Range Bags (inside included a Range Finder, Spotting Scope, universal cleaning kit, first aid kit etc.) then ran down to the barn and rolled up an Old Tarp and grabbed a large roll of Duct Tape and threw them into the Jeep. Off i go and about halfway there he's calling and telling me to hurry and I asked him how many rounds they had put down range?...LOL...He said...OH, I don't know Big Daddy we didn't count the boxes!!!!LOL!!! You Didn't COUNT THE BOXES?!!! BOXES?!!! Well you guys know what that means!!! I said Boy!!!, You better tell me that you that you have a way to clean that Bore!...He got real quiet and said we've only been shooting the expensive "clean" Federal Ammo Big Daddy...LoL!!!! Yeah, that's right, he said it was Clean Ammo!!!! LOL!!! Now, I'm about to really jump in his Corn Flakes when I hear Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! I said boy who is that shooting down there with yall? He says, "oh it's okay its just my buddy shooting some odd ball ammo while we wait on you". I replied, You mean to tell me yall are still firing that rifle knowing that I'm on the way and Sundown is not far behind...Yes Sir, We were bored and didn't think it would matter! LOL! I told him that I was going to have to have a Long Talk with his Daddy because I didn't raise him that way! Anyway I instructed him to Safety Check the rifle, Open the Breach, and lay it out Flat for the Barrel to Cool Down. As soon as I arrived I immediately put my Grandson on Cleaning the Bore but not oiling it while I grabbed his buddy and went down range to the Highest Back Stop ie: (Red Clay Dirt Bank) and we stretched that old 10x16 tarp out and pegged it into the Bank...Grabbed the Duct Tape and covered several small holes and a tear or two...Long Story Short after letting the range finder do its job and marking off distance and then Properly setting everything up and bench resting the rifle...The Process Became Very Easy, Very Quickly because of the Tarp Back Drop that was Serving as our Bullet Catch. The Youngsters were Amazed how Fast we were able to Dial it In!!! I've still got that ole tarp rolled up tight in a gunny sack that I keep with me and It has served me well!!! The last time I used it was when I stopped to help a young lady whose wheel and tire had came off her SUV and left her Stranded On the Side of the Highway. The ground was wet and muddy and the tarp provided me a nice clean dry work area while I had to crawl around on the ground & under her SUV to get her jacked up in stages to where i had enough clearance to get her tire and wheel put back on...Not an easy thing to do on the side of a busy highway with the Hub Dug in the Ground!!! I borrowed enough lug nuts from the other 3 wheels to get her back on her way.
P.S. Thought you might want to know What I Found Out after Quizzing the young lady as to what would've caused the wheel and tire to come off....After several probing questions including "Who put these Brake Pads on Backwards?" Still to this day LOL!!! She finally admitted that her husband quote " was a Professional Mechanic at Wal Mart" and had put her brakes on in the backyard the night before and said "But Sir I'm sure that he tightened the what cha ma call it bolts (ie..Lug Nuts) very tight so I don't know how they came loose". Then she asked Sir if I paid you could you put my Brakes on right...LOL..I said yes young Lady I could fix them but I'm not going to take that responsibility because I don't know what else your husband might have been working on!!! LOL!!! She said well that's Okay and wanted to pay me and of course I informed her that my pay was knowing that her and them babies were going to be safe so I need you to take your vehicle up the road to a friend of mines Tire and Brake Shop and I am going to follow you and make sure you get there Safely and in His Care....She acted like she didn't want to and would just let her husband (The Pro) handle it and that's when I told her I would just have to call one of my Friends at the County to come and Give Her an Escort but I couldn't Guarantee that They wouldn't Require a Tow Instead after me Informing Them that I Discovered the Brake Pads were on Backwards...LOL!!!! She said Please Sir....I would much rather you follow me...LOL!!!!
Hope you Enjoyed....God Bless.

 

[Dfalt]

Hey Dfalt/Rubicon, What yall shared with us is Real World Events...It Can and Does Happen!!! Here's a Quick Story related to your experiences... Both of Yall eluded to the fact that it is extremely frustrating to have this happen especially with ammo prices sky high...I totally concur and have been there and done that as well after receiving a phone call from my grandson one Friday evening several years ago stating he had to get his New Rifle Sighted In so that he could go on a hunting trip with his buddies the Next day Saturday!!!! That's right, he calls me with just a few hours left of daylight on Friday begging me to drop everything and drive 30 minutes down the road to where they were and help him out...I didn't find out until I was almost there that he and a friend of his had been there since mid morning Burning through Ammo to no avail. Anyway, knowing I didn't have much daylight to work with I grabbed one of my Range Bags (inside included a Range Finder, Spotting Scope, universal cleaning kit, first aid kit etc.) then ran down to the barn and rolled up an Old Tarp and grabbed a large roll of Duct Tape and threw them into the Jeep. Off i go and about halfway there he's calling and telling me to hurry and I asked him how many rounds they had put down range?...LOL...He said...OH, I don't know Big Daddy we didn't count the boxes!!!!LOL!!! You Didn't COUNT THE BOXES?!!! BOXES?!!! Well you guys know what that means!!! I said Boy!!!, You better tell me that you that you have a way to clean that Bore!...He got real quiet and said we've only been shooting the expensive "clean" Federal Ammo Big Daddy...LoL!!!! Yeah, that's right, he said it was Clean Ammo!!!! LOL!!! Now, I'm about to really jump in his Corn Flakes when I hear Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! I said boy who is that shooting down there with yall? He says, "oh it's okay its just my buddy shooting some odd ball ammo while we wait on you". I replied, You mean to tell me yall are still firing that rifle knowing that I'm on the way and Sundown is not far behind...Yes Sir, We were bored and didn't think it would matter! LOL! I told him that I was going to have to have a Long Talk with his Daddy because I didn't raise him that way! Anyway I instructed him to Safety Check the rifle, Open the Breach, and lay it out Flat for the Barrel to Cool Down. As soon as I arrived I immediately put my Grandson on Cleaning the Bore but not oiling it while I grabbed his buddy and went down range to the Highest Back Stop ie: (Red Clay Dirt Bank) and we stretched that old 10x16 tarp out and pegged it into the Bank...Grabbed the Duct Tape and covered several small holes and a tear or two...Long Story Short after letting the range finder do its job and marking off distance and then Properly setting everything up and bench resting the rifle...The Process Became Very Easy, Very Quickly because of the Tarp Back Drop that was Serving as our Bullet Catch. The Youngsters were Amazed how Fast we were able to Dial it In!!! I've still got that ole tarp rolled up tight in a gunny sack that I keep with me and It has served me well!!! The last time I used it was when I stopped to help a young lady whose wheel and tire had came off her SUV and left her Stranded On the Side of the Highway. The ground was wet and muddy and the tarp provided me a nice clean dry work area while I had to crawl around on the ground & under her SUV to get her jacked up in stages to where i had enough clearance to get her tire and wheel put back on...Not an easy thing to do on the side of a busy highway with the Hub Dug in the Ground!!! I borrowed enough lug nuts from the other 3 wheels to get her back on her way.
P.S. Thought you might want to know What I Found Out after Quizzing the young lady as to what would've caused the wheel and tire to come off....After several probing questions including "Who put these Brake Pads on Backwards?" Still to this day LOL!!! She finally admitted that here husband quote " was a Professional Mechanic at Wal Mart" and had put her brakes on in the backyard the night before and said "But Sir I'm sure that he tightened the what cha ma call it bolts (ie..Lug Nuts) very tight so I don't know how they came loose". Then she asked Sir if I paid you could you put my Brakes on right...LOL..I said yes young Lady I could fix them but I'm not going to take that responsibility because I don't know what else your husband might have been working on!!! LOL!!! She said well that's Okay and wanted to pay me and of course I informed her that my pay was knowing that her and them babies were going to be safe so I need you to take your vehicle up the road to a friend of mines Tire and Brake Shop and I am going to follow you and make sure you get there Safely and in His Care....She acted like she didn't want to and would just let her husband (The Pro) handle it and that's when I told her I would just have to call one of my Friends at the County to come and Give Her an Escort but I couldn't Guarantee that They wouldn't Require a Tow Instead after me Informing Them that I Discovered the Brake Pads were on Backwards...LOL!!!! She said Please Sir....I would much rather you follow me...LOL!!!!
Hope you Enjoyed....God Bless.

Oh wow, that's wild! Lesson learned here always have a tarp on hand and never trust a Walmart mechanic lol

 

[sleepy4sureishere]

LOL!!!! Absolutely, Here's your Sign!!!!