How To Sight Your Hunting Rifle Video Lecture | Hunter Education: Becoming an Expert Hunter - Hobbies

[Narration]
If you want to be a capable and responsible
hunter you need to have a rifle that is accurate
and that you are confident and comfortable
shooting.
To achieve this
(gunshot)
[Narration]
you need to spend some time at a shooting
range.
(music)
[Narration]
Many times initial sight adjustments on a
rifle scope will be made by bore sighting,
either with a device or using the naked eye
but this isn't enough.
[Heidi Rao]
Just because your rifle has been bore sighted,
you cannot depend on that alone for accuracy.
It is still your responsibility to take your
firearm to the shooting range to sight it
in so you know exactly how your firearm is
shooting.
Basic equipment that you'll need to bring
with you to the shooting range are sand bags
or rifle rests to help you shoot and also
a spotting scope.
[Narration]
A good staple gun will help putting up targets.
And you always want to wear eye and ear protection.
It is also very important to bring a particular
type of ammunition.
[Heidi Rao]
You always want to use the ammunition that
you will be hunting with when you're sighting
in your rifle.
[Narration]
This is because different cartridges vary
in the way they perform.
If a rifle is sighted in with one type of
ammunition and then a different brand of ammunition
or a different bullet weight is used when
hunting, the shot will not impact where you
expect it.
You risk missing the animal you're hunting
or worse, wounding it.
You also want to pay attention to what kind
of target you use.
[Heidi Rao]
The best type of target when sighting in a
rifle is a target with a one inch grid, this
helps you determine how to set your scope
adjustments.
[Heidi Rao]
Start with a short range such as a 25 yard
range to begin sighting in your rifle.
[Narration]
If your scope has variable powers, dial it
up to the highest magnification.
[Heidi Rao]
It is best to shoot three rounds of ammunition
through your firearm.
One round needs to be loaded at a time.
Take your time, you want to concentrate on
good firing techniques, make sure you take
a deep breath, exhale halfway, squeeze the
trigger, follow through squeezing all the
way through after the shot has been fired
and then proceed two more times.
[Narration]
For each shot, be certain to aim with the
cross hairs of the scope on the exact center
of the target.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
This three shot group will reveal how far
off center your scope is set.
[Heidi Rao]
You will take the average of those three shots
to make your adjustment.
[Narration]
The average location of these three shots
is about here.
To bring the group to center, the scope needs
to be adjusted two and a half inches to the
left, and up three and three quarter inches.
On many scopes the adjustment dials are covered
by caps.
There are 2 dials, one for elevation and one
for windage.
[Heidi Rao]
Once you've made your adjustments, you need
to put another three rounds through your firearm,
one at a time, making sure you follow good
shooting techniques.
At the twenty-five yard range you are focusing
on your windage or your side to side adjustment.
[Narration]
The average of these three shots is here,
with regard to windage, it is centered.
To adjust the elevation, it's time to move
to a shooting line with targets at greater
distance.
[Heidi Rao]
When you're on the hundred yard line you're
going to follow the same procedure you did
at the 25 yard line you're going to shoot
three rounds of ammunition through your firearm
making sure you follow good shooting techniques.
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
[Heidi Rao]
At a hundred yards after you shoot your three
rounds of ammunition you're looking at elevation
or how high up or down you ammunition hits
your target.
[Narration]
If most of the shots you take when hunting
are at one hundred yards then your work is
done.
Your rifle is now zeroed at 100 yards.
Hunters that take longer shots
(gunshot)
[Narration]
will adjust their scope a few inches higher
so it will be zeroed at 200 yards.
(gunshot)
[Heidi Rao]
If adjustments need to made in elevation of
your scope you need to fire three more rounds
through your firearm.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
Be sure to check your barrel between shots.
If it gets too hot, let it cool down.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
A hot barrel can deliver inconsistent results.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
Once you've sighted in your rifle and are
satisfied with the groupings,
(gunshot)
(music)
[Narration]
you're still not ready to go hunting.
Once you arrive at your hunting camp, it's
a good idea to check your rifle and make sure
it's still zeroed in.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
So to review, start at short range to check
the windage.
Use targets with a one inch grid.
Use exactly the same ammunition you will use
when hunting.
Carefully fire 3 shot groups.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
Take the average of the three shots to determine
what adjustment to make.
If your barrel gets hot, stop and wait for
it to cool.
Move to the 100 yard firing line to adjust
the elevation.
(gunshot)
[Narration]
And remember to check the accuracy of your
rifle at the hunting camp before you go hunt.
Being an accurate shooter will make you a
more successful hunter and it can also make
you a more ethical hunter.
(gunshot)
[Heidi Rao]
Not only do owe it to yourself to be a good
shooter, you also owe it to the animal for
a quick clean and accurate shot.