This technique should actually be called 3-shot "rough" scope sighting, but you will get the idea.

 

When mounting a new scope on a rifle or handgun without benefit of a bore-sighter, it can be frustrating and costly to fire shot after shot just trying to get on paper. The following is an old technique that still has a certain amount of value today.

 

 

Using black tape, make a + on a target dividing the target both vertically and horizontally into 4 equal areas. Place the target at 25 yards making sure that you have a safe backstop. At 25 yards, even a scope/rifle combo in severe need of adjustment should still be able to hit a moderately large sheet of paper.

 

Make sure that your scope is securely mounted, cross-hairs adjusted to mid-range of both vertical and horizontal adjustment and in proper eye-relief alignment. Leave the adjustment caps off and, using either sandbags or a cardboard box with "V" notches cut to securely accept the forearm and butt-stock of the firearm, carefully align the cross-hairs with the taped + on the target. Carefully fire your first shot, concentrating on making sure that the cross-hairs remain perfectly aligned with the tape. Take note of the resulting bullet hole.

 

Now securely brace the firearm, either with the sand-bags or the cardboard box, so that the cross-hairs are again perfectly aligned with the tape and the firearm can not move. Without touching or moving the firearm, carefully adjust the cross-hairs to center the bullet hole left by your shot. Once this is accomplished fire another shot, again with cross-hairs perfectly aligned with the tape, to verify the adjustment. This bullet should hit the center (or very close) of the +. Fire a third shot to verify the settings. If the third shot strikes close to the second shot,  you should be able to move to the 100 yard range and at least be on paper close enough for final fine tuning of the scope.

 

Since all firearms' bullet paths pass through the "line-of-sight" twice ( once on the way up and again on the way down) on the way to the target, the bullet path comes very close to a 25 yard "zero" with most cartridges when set for 100 yards, so don't be too surprised if only minor adjustments are needed to get your 100 yard adjustments perfect. Since a large number of 22 LR rifles are commonly zeroed at 25 yards, this technique is just about perfect for them even if the ultimate "zero" range is further out. Just move the target to your preferred distance for final adjustments.

 

If your firearm/scope combo fails to put a shot on paper at 25 yards it is time to check alignment of the rings and/or mounts or even the scope itself. A scope with the cross-hairs set "mid-range" (adjustments midway on the adjustment range) should at least hit an 8 1/2"X11" target at 25 yards.

 

Crude? Yep.... but not everyone has their own (or access to a) bore-sighter even though they have become relatively inexpensive. And it sure beats the "shoot and try, shoot and try" method!