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Sighting in new rifle

M

muckleroy

Private
Minuteman
Dec 27, 2011
8
0
65
#1
I have a Remington 700 .308 with MDT TAC 21 stock. I put a inexpensive scope on it and took it to the range. I was shooting about a foot high at 100 yards. With the rifle resting on the bench I tried adjusting the elevation setting on the scope and I saw no movement relative to the target.

Now it's been a while since I had a rifle and sighted one in but with the rifle fixed to the bench and me making the scope adjustment shouldn't I have seen the cross-hairs move across the target?

I know you're supposed to start closer than 100 yards, but I was concerned that step would be useless since the TAC 21 has a built in 20 MOA rail.

I'm reading stuff, but I'm not getting things straight in my head I fear. Any help getting me there would be appreciated.
 
#2
Re: Sighting in new rifle

You should remove the bolt and bore sight onto the target . Then without moving the gun twist the scope turrets to put the reticule just a bit below the target center . Line the bore up again and check that the crosshair is right . Then start shooting at the target and fine tune the zero.
If your eyes are not good enough to bore sight at 100 m then do it a 50 m and put the crosshair in the center of the target.
then move back out to 100 and shoot.
 
#3
Re: Sighting in new rifle

Might be a dumb suggestion, but try turning the elevation knob the other way. Maybe you are at the top of your elevation in the inexpensive scope. Because to me it doesn't sound like bore sighting is going to help you much, since you are already on the paper. Your issue is with scope adjustment. Your 20MOA base might have used up all your elevation. Just a thought.
Eric
 
#4
Re: Sighting in new rifle

I am using the BARSKA AC11002 - 4-16x50 IR Sniper Scope Green IR Mil-Dot. I believe the elevation turret (knob to me) goes from 0 to 14 in 1/8" increments. I've ordered a bore site, one that attached to the barrel and I then look through the scope to sight in the hopes it will allow me to work out these issues at home instead of sitting on the firing line.
 
#5
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cserv</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Might be a dumb suggestion, but try turning the elevation knob the other way. Maybe you are at the top of your elevation in the inexpensive scope. Because to me it doesn't sound like bore sighting is going to help you much, since you are already on the paper. Your issue is with scope adjustment. Your 20MOA base might have used up all your elevation. Just a thought.
Eric </div></div>

Well I tried both directions, but I still found it strange that holding the gun fixed and turning the knob didn't change the cross hair's position on the target. Maybe I just have a bad scope. Like the gun, it's brand new.
 
#6
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Country</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should remove the bolt and bore sight onto the target . Then without moving the gun twist the scope turrets to put the reticule just a bit below the target center . Line the bore up again and check that the crosshair is right . Then start shooting at the target and fine tune the zero.
If your eyes are not good enough to bore sight at 100 m then do it a 50 m and put the crosshair in the center of the target.
then move back out to 100 and shoot. </div></div>

I have never sighted a gun in this way before but I did do this first thing at the range. With the rifle resting on the bench and bipod I positioned the barrel on the target. I then looked through the scope. It was about a foot higher than the target. This is how I came up with trying to aim a foot low at the target. I guess I need to figure out what 20 MOA is at 100 yards, might answer a lot of my questions. ;o)
 
#8
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cserv</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are holding steady on a target while turning your turrets, and the reticle wont move. You have a scope issue.
Eric </div></div>

Thanks!
 
#9
Re: Sighting in new rifle

I agree something is stuck if the cross hairs don't change position relative to the target .
Try this , turn the windage all the way until it stops then turn it all the way back while counting the clicks until it stops then turn it back again half the ammount of clicks . Do the same with the elevation knob . That should center the crosshair ( Image) inside the scope. Se if that brings the POI @ 100 to about target center but about 20 inch above the target center . From there you should be able adjust the elevation to bring the POI down the 20 inch . If it is not moving the POI down the scope is faulty. IF it moves down some but stops then the scope may not have enough adjustment to zero at 100 with a 20 MOA rail. Try a 200 zero.
I MOA is about 1 inch at 100 yards so 20 MOA at 100 yards is 20 inches.
I would check that your scope is mounted straight with the bore as you may have your windage way over to one side to get on target and that cuts down on elevation travel in some scopes .
 
#10
Re: Sighting in new rifle

Try boresighting with a laser - if you see no movement relevant to the position of the laser (use grid paper) then you def have a scope issue. Barska isnt exactly top of line material so you might get to experience their customer service. I would expect them to replace the whole scope....hope you kept the receipt.

Good luck.
 
#12
Re: Sighting in new rifle

There is a trick to zeroing them there barska's. You see the trick here is start by removing the scope. Grab the scope by one end and as if fighting off a lion beat it against a tree. Then to ensure the adjustments take, spear chuck that pos in a river. Now order a quality scope. Problem solved!!!
wink.gif


I couldn't resist but somehow hope this helps..
smile.gif
 
#13
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MN sharpshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is a trick to zeroing them there barska's. You see the trick here is start by removing the scope. Grab the scope by one end and as if fighting off a lion beat it against a tree. Then to ensure the adjustments take, spear chuck that pos in a river. Now order a quality scope. Problem solved!!!
wink.gif


I couldn't resist but somehow hope this helps..
smile.gif


</div></div>

Holy crap! I did as you instructed and now it's working! (okay except the river part)...

The bore sight came in today and damn it if I wasn't turning the wrong ****ing knob! Yep I was moving it side to side and not up and down. I do have plans for a better scope in the future, but only after I get a better understanding as to why I need one. It probably has to do with the optics and accuracy of the adjustments. Also now that I see how much adjustment there is in the scope I'm pretty sure I have plenty to compensate for the 20 MOA rail. I'm heading back out to the range this weekend. Thanks for all the help guys, I just didn't know that the problem was with me, and none of us can do anything about that, well except me. :eek:D
 
#14
Re: Sighting in new rifle

Glad you found the problem, bet you don't EVER have that problem again. We learn by our mistakes and all of us have done things similiar to that but hope no one ever finds out.

Ya done good and takes a man to admit and fess up. Find it odd that none of us though to even ask that question to you even though it might be obvious now to have done so.
smile.gif


Hope you enjoy your new found hobby.

Topstrap
 
#15
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Topstrap</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad you found the problem, bet you don't EVER have that problem again. We learn by our mistakes and all of us have done things similiar to that but hope no one ever finds out.

Ya done good and takes a man to admit and fess up. Find it odd that none of us though to even ask that question to you even though it might be obvious now to have done so.
smile.gif


Hope you enjoy your new found hobby.

Topstrap </div></div>

Thanks! I worked level 1 thru 3 computer help desk, and I never NEVER could think of ALL the right questions to ask. I remember I worked 30 minutes on a problem of a dead multiplexer until I was asking the agency person to read me something off the back of the mux only to find out they couldn't see it because the lights were out. Turns out the power was out in the building. I told them to call back after the power was restored, if the mux didn't come back up...
 
#16
Re: Sighting in new rifle

I'm much happier. I still had issues getting the scope sighted in but I'm much happier now. A little more practice on the 100 yard range then I'll try 200. Also was happy to find out today that the shooting range has 400, 500 and 600 yard ranges. I suspect I'll be doing more scope research soon.

Last 10 round clip I shot.

20120211_205629.jpg


20120211_205705.jpg
 
#17
Re: Sighting in new rifle

I read the post about fixing your scope with a rather unorthodox solution involving flowing waters, a tree, and possibly some sort of self inflicted wound.......good to see you did figure it out and the target proves you're on the right track. It took me over 10 years to move into the Leupold I've dreamed about. It finally fit in my financial folder. You'll know when you're ready to upgrade, and it won't take a power outage. Conversely, a light will come on. Good luck and good shooting!

Doug
 
#18
Re: Sighting in new rifle

For rifles which do not allow one to sight directly through the bore, you can often get the bore view using a USGI Surplus Garand bore mirror. It inserts into the chamber using a cylinder shape tht's the seme diameter as the carridge base, and allows one to peer into the ejection port and see through the bore at a right angle.

A lot of other chamberings share this same cartridge base diameter, and the same mirror can work with them too.

I also see that some folks will simply get behind the rifle and start bangin' away. I might suggest that they get in a little practice at finding out the best way to ride out that particular rifle's recoil. It can vary a lot, and getting that part right first can come in handly later when you're really working hard on your sight picture.

Greg
 
#21
Re: Sighting in new rifle

OP,

Why move out to shoot at greater distances at this time? Your 10 shot group, if you can call it a group, suggests you do not have a grasp for what's important to good shooting. A target/reticle relationship does not solve your problem, since your errors are more about your relationship between the gun and the ground not being consistent shot to shot. What immediately comes to mind is inconsistent stockweld, inconsistent right shoulder height, inconsistent adjustment of NPA, and poor trigger control. If consistency is lost simply because you're not aware of the importance for the 5 factors of a steady position, shooting at 300 plus yards will only unmask your errors, revealing you have much to learn. Just looking at your 100 yard target suggests a multitude of problems. You should consider shot to shot analysis by calling your shots and and plotting both the calls and strikes. You should also consider some formal training to get you off to a good start. Without such help you're going to make your shooting endeavors more of an ordeal than they need to be. One thing for sure, you need to come to a understanding for your source/s of error. Right now, your assumptions about what's important to hitting where aimed is very divergent from what is really important to good shooting.
 
#22
Re: Sighting in new rifle

Don't feel bad about not having designed that scope, thus not knowing instinctively which turret did what. I went shooting with a buddy a year ago and he brought a friend and his friends son along. The friend is an LA County Sheriff's Security Assistant (armed) and his son is active Army. My buddy's friend proceeded to attempt to sight in a 10-22 with a mounted scope. He was unable to do so - as the scope was mounted BACKWARDS!

A bit later I was observing for my friend while he shot his Howa. I was watching through the scope on my rifle while bracing against an EZ-Up support leg. Worked fine and gave a clear view. That is until there was a rather different and loud BOOM! from just below and behind me! The son had just fired his AR-15 from behind me and just to my right. The bullet had missed my right foot by no more than four inches. I said a rather loud "WHAT THE &%$@ WAS THAT?" and looked down to see a rather stupid grin on this idiot's face. I do not know if it was an AD or a deliberate shot.

I now always ask for a guarantee that I know anyone who is going and have shot with them before. So far so good.

Then there was the time two knuckleheads pooled their money and bought a S&W model 36 and both of them missed the life sized target at 25 yards with every one of 30 shots each... and the R.O. came over and shot a perfect 300 with the revolver...


No sir, don't feel as bit bad! If there is a lot to learn have fun doing all of it!
 
#23
Re: Sighting in new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cserv</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are holding steady on a target while turning your turrets, and the reticle wont move. You have a scope issue.
Eric </div></div>

this.

Also, as i'm reading you said you had a Barska mounted on it. From personal experience, that could be your issue as well. I had a Barska way back when i started shooting...didn't fare too well at all. If you read anywhere, you'll note they don't have a great track record (hah...no pun intended). But seriously, if you're rifle is stationary and you move the dials with no adjustment, most def. a scope issue.
 
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