How do I calibrate a rifle scope?

Question

So I know this is a dumb question, but I'll all turned around in my head. If I look through the scope and my bullet's point of impact is low, do I dial the scope up or down???? Explain please!

Here's why I'm turned around: Can't remember if you're

(A) Calibrating down until the crosshairs move to the point of impact or

(B) Calibrating up to bring the point of impact up to the crosshairs.

Please don't tell me that you can't move the actual point of impact. That's obvious. This just has to do with how the dial k**b in the scope works.

Thank you for your help!!!!

Answer 1

If you are high, click the scope in the down direction.  Since you are low, dial the scope in the up direction.

Since your scope should be aimed at the same spot every time (the center), you are moving the Point of Impact (philisophical debates aside).

Answer 2

think opposite.

Pick a spot on the target... fire 3 shots at the same aim point. Did they group together?... if they did we need to move the group to the bulls eye .

If you hit low..we need to raise the muzzle... lower the horizontal hair... most scopes move the hairs 1/4 per click at 100 yards. Fire 3 shots... did the impact move up enough? Move the elevation hair down a little bit more and try again until the elevation is right.

Left to right or windage......same concept...if impact is left we need to move the muzzle to the right. Fire a group... measure... click the scope over Repeat till its right.

Get elevation first...windage last. if you work with both at once things get confusing fast.

Fire a few groups to make sure everyting is good to go.

If you boresight (any gunshop that installs scopes can do this for you) you should be on the paper at the range. Fine tuning zero can be done from that point with about 9 rounds fired...the rest are for fun!

Answer 3

Calibrating or shooting in a scope is very simple but often complicated by some of us,simply sit at 50 yards off bench and rest gun in sandbags or gun sled open the bolt or action and using a mirror for some actions or eyeball for bolt action sight through barrel till you can see a 2or3 inch floresent orange bulls-eyee making sure not to move weapon then turn cross-hairr adjustment k***s so that the chross-hairs is on the bulls-eye also,now 1st shot hold well and squeeze not pull the trigger with the weapon well secured by bags or gun rest holding the cross-hairs dead on center,shoot,now position the rifle just as you held it for the first shot and turn the adjustment k***s again,2nd shot,simply repeat 1st shot step if content then fire a 3 shot group and fine tune,also note to run a dry patch  through the barrel before doing anything as oil will throw off the first shot ,a caldwell rifle sled makes this super easy.

Answer 4

You do move the actual point of impact relative to the cross hairs.

The scope 'wheels' will be marked for movement of point of impact

with the scope on target.

If you're hitting low dial the appropriate number of clicks 'up'.

They'll tell you what movement to expect per

'click' at 100 Yd.s.

Same for left and right.

Trying to think the other way is whats confusing you.

Answer 5

Calibrating a scope for a weapon shouldn't be to hard, all you should need is some time, a target to shoot at for accuracy, and a flathead screwdriver.

First, steady the rifle and choose your target, after you have this all set in a safe location remove the plastic covers on the top middle of the scope and right side (also middle) of the scope. Usually these are covered by a plastic cap with some threading on them for your fingers to grip, they unscrew or slide off.

Second, start shooting! Take note of where you hit the target and then you can move to the final step.

Third, make adjustments to the two exposed dials/screws which were previously covered. Usually dialing the top dial/s***w clockwise raises the scopes cross-hairs on the target, and counter-clockwise lowers it. The dial/s***w on the right side will adjust the cross-hairs to the right when rotated clockwise, and adjust it leftwards counter-clockwise.

Just make the adjustments accordingly until your happy with it's accuracy, fine tune it by zooming in after you get it right on the lowest setting first! Good luck and have fun!

Answer 6

Scope sight move the X hair in the direction you want to move the bullet.  

Answer 7

Here's the simple thing to do. Triangulation fire.

Set up a plain white target with a circle about the size of a hardball. Go back to a point, pick up your rifle, using the scope fire and then note where the round has punched through the target. Wind age (left and right ) is on the side. The height is of course on the top. Fire....look...then readjust. Keep doing so until your group is tight and in the circle.

Answer 8

Get a bore sighter, that will make it a lot easier, and you move the crosshairs over the point of impact