A scope works in tandem with a firearm to provide an accurate shooting experience. Burris has long been used when excellent rifle or handgun scopes are needed, but even the best scope will fail in its function if it is not first sighted in properly. Bragging rights among friends to being the best marksman at the shooting range becomes a more serious issue when the scope is used for hunting. Knowing that you can shoot an animal without causing needless suffering is worth a few hours at the range to ensure a zeroed scope.
Items you will need
White sheet of target paper with a single ¼-inch black dot in the middle
Firearm bench rest or sandbags
Spotting Scope (optional)
Step 1
Attach the Burris Scope to the firearm as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 2
Set the bull's-eye target at approximately the distance at which you plan to do the majority of shooting. Set up the shooting stand and place the firearm on it.
Step 3
Center the scope on the center target dot and fire three rounds using the same trigger pull. Do not let the firearm or stand move during the shooting.
Step 4
Compare the bullet holes to the center dot. If the firearm is inherently accurate, the holes all should be grouped together to one side of the target. If they are scattered across the target, hang another one and try another three shots, and be careful to not move the stand or gun between shots. An inability to group three shots within an inch of each other signals that the firearm has problems and will not be accurate even with a scope.
Step 5
Look through the scope to ensure the firearm is still centered on the center dot. Adjust the windage knob on the scope to move the Burris scope crosshairs to the center of the three bullet holes. Adjust the firearm and scope so it is again centered on the center dot.
Step 6
Fire three more times. The holes should be much closer to the center dot on a vertical line. Adjust the windage exactly as the previous time, acquire the center target again and fire three more times. These shots should be directly on a vertical line running through the center target.
Step 7
Reline the scope with the center dot and adjust the crosshairs with the elevation knob so they are in the middle of the last three shots. Fire three more bullets and check the closeness to the horizontal line running through the target. The firearm should be close to “zero” or directly on the center dot. If not, repeat with three more shots and adjust the elevation again.