Generally, bore sighting a handgun is impractical and is not a common practice. Handguns are close range weapons and are not typically equipped with optics. However, handguns used for hunting (usually revolvers) are often mounted with scopes; these handguns can be sighted in using a laser bore sighter. The procedure is similar to bore sighting a rifle, but at a closer range. The laser bore sighter must be end mounted and capable of accommodating large calibers.
Items you will need
Laser bore sighter (end mounted)
Scoped handgun
Small flat-head screwdriver
Paper target
Step 1
Prepare a paper target at approximately 50 feet.
Step 2
Adjust the boresighter to fit your pistol's caliber by attaching the proper sized plastic arbor (included with the laser boresighter) to the end of the boresighter with a screwdriver.
Step 3
Place the end of the boresighter into the handgun barrel.
Step 4
Turn on the boresighter.
Step 5
Use your scope to aim your pistol at the target and observe the location of the laser on the target.
Step 6
Adjust the pistol scope of so that the crosshairs center on the laser. Move the crosshairs by turning the dial on the side of the scope counter-clockwise for right and clockwise for left; turn the dial on top of the scope counter-clockwise for up and clockwise for down. When the scope crosshairs intersect on the laser, the scope is zeroed in.
Step 7
Turn off your laser boresighter and remove it from the barrell.
Warnings
- Before attempting to bore sight your pistol, check that the weapon is unloaded.
References
Warnings
- Before attempting to bore sight your pistol, check that the weapon is unloaded.
Writer Bio
Peter Timm has been writing since 2002 for both print and online publications. Timm earned a Bachelor of Arts from the New York Institute of Technology in 2008 and emerged a technically astute writer.
