A Complete Guide on How to Sight in a Rifle Scope

One of the best things to do over a weekend is to visit a shooting range. Whether for personal security purposes or trying a new hobby, learning to use a rifle is both a fun and thrilling experience.

Kenya is home to several shooting ranges, which include KRRC (Kenya Rifles Regiment Club) and NGAO (National Gun Owners Association Range).

To test your marksmanship skills, head to a shooting range with your identification and pay a small fee.

But before then, it’s also necessary to know a few things, like how to sight in a rifle scope, which I will tackle in this complete guide.

How to Sight in a Rifle Scope

A rifle scope is a device attached to a rifle and used to assist in aiming. It is an optical sight with magnification used by marksmen to improve accuracy. It can also be equipped with different sighting devices, such as a red dot or iron sights.

Most scopes are designed for specific firearms, such as a handgun, rifles, or shotguns.

Some scopes can be used on multiple types of firearms by mounting them on Picatinny or Weaver rail systems that are commonly found on the top of most rifles and shotguns.

Scopes come in many shapes and sizes, but all share the same basic features: an eyepiece, an objective lens, and an adjustable reticle. The part of the scope you use to aim is called the eyepiece, while the objective lens, which is at the front of the scope and helps collect light, is where you see the target.

How To Align a Rifle Scope

A rifle scope is a precision instrument that needs to be properly aligned with your rifle to be accurate. The process of aligning a scope is called “sighting in.” Although sighting in can appear difficult, it’s actually rather easy once you know what to do. A step-by-step tutorial for sighting in a rifle scope is provided here.

#1 Install Your scope Properly

Even the most experienced marksman can have difficulty hitting their target if their scope is not properly installed.

Make sure that your sight is fitted properly on your rifle before you head to the range. Start by making sure that the rings are properly aligned and tightened.

#2 Adjust Eye Distance

You must adjust the eyepiece in order to focus your scope. You can regulate the amount of light that enters your eye as well as how sharp or blurry the images in the scope seem by adjusting the eyepiece.

To do this, first look through the scope without adjusting anything. Next, slowly turn the eyepiece until the image comes into focus.

Once the image is in focus, stop turning the eyepiece. If you want to make adjustments to the focus, you can turn the knob on the side of the scope. By doing this, you can alter the focus without having to move the eyepiece.

#3 Get In a Shooting Position

When firing a rifle, getting into a stable shooting position is important. This will help to improve accuracy and prevent the rifle from recoiling too much.

There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is to put one hand on the grip and the other on the forearm. The feet should be shoulder-width apart, and the body should be balanced.

Once in position, the shooter must breathe deeply. The rifle should be raised to eye level and aimed at the target. The trigger should be squeezed slowly and evenly to fire the shot

#4 Align The Reticle

The reticle is the crosshair or aiming point in your scope. To ensure accuracy, it must be properly aligned with the barrel of your gun. Most scopes have an adjustable reticle, so you can fine-tune the alignment as needed.

The sight must first be mounted on the weapon. Once the scope is in place, look through it and have a helper slowly move the gun back and forth. As they do so, watch the reticle and make sure that it remains stationary in the center of the field of view. If it moves, adjust the screws on the scope until the reticle is properly centered.

#5 Set Minute Of Angle

In marksmanship, minute of angle (MOA) refers to the size of an error one can expect when firing a rifle. For example, if a rifle is set to one MOA, the shooter can expect the bullet to land within one inch of the point of aim at 100 yards.

MOA is a convenient unit of measure because it remains constant regardless of the distance between the shooter and the target. As such, it can be used to make fine adjustments to a rifle’s firing range.

To set the MOA on a rifle, the shooter simply needs to sight in on a target and make adjustments until the bullet hits the desired spot. By following this process, shooters can ensure that their rifles are properly calibrated and can hit their targets with precision.

#6 Fire Shots

Before taking a shot, it is always important to test the site of the rifle scope. You can accomplish this by launching three shots into the air. This way, you have a better idea of where the bullets will land and make any necessary adjustments.

Furthermore, when shooting, it’s crucial always to be aware of your surroundings. You never know when something or someone might enter your line of fire, so it is important to be cautious at all times.

#7 Keep Making Adjustments

This means spending some time at the range, making adjustments, and taking note of where your shots are landing. Once you have a general idea of how your scope works, you can start to focus on making more precise adjustments.

The goal is to get as close to the bull’s eye as possible, and this takes practice and patience. Keep at it, and eventually, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to shoot with pinpoint accuracy.

It is important to know what the numbers mean on a rifle scope in order to adjust them as per your needs.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should have a much better understanding of how to sight in your rifle scope. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you can be sure that your shots will be on target every time.

So go out there and start honing your skills! You can quickly become an accomplished shooter with a little amount of practice and patience.