Q&A for How to Zero Your Rifle Scope

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What is the best way to use a rifle scope?

Dr. Jeffrey S. Harmon
Firearms Instructor
Dr. Jeffrey S. Harmon is a Firearms Instructor based in Southern New Jersey. He is the Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Ironsights Academy, a firearms education & training organization that he launched to continue his love of teaching and learning. Dr. Harmon is a higher education educator with over 20 years of experience who blended his passion for teaching with shooting sports as he launched Ironsights Academy: Firearms Education & Training. Dr. Harmon is an NRA Certified Instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside & Outside the Home, Concealed Carry Weapons, Defensive Pistol, and a certified Chief Range Safety Officer. Dr. Harmon is also certified by the American College of Surgeons to teach Stop the Bleed courses.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Harmon

Firearms Instructor

Expert Answer

Magnification and cost of scope vary greatly. So, depending on whether you're shooting 50, 100, or 1000 yards, you may need a different type of scope, but once you're sighted in and that scope is sited in for the correct distance, using a scope is fairly easy and intuitive. Most have a simple crosshair. Some have more advanced radicals where they have what we call bullet drop compensators, different hash marks on the scope reticle for different distances that allow you transition between close and far distances relatively easily.

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Question

How do I get rid of a black circle inside the eye piece?

Community Answer

Move the scope closer to your eye. This will increase your field of vision and eliminate the black ring you see inside the scope eyepiece.

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Question

Do the left buttons make it go up and down? Also, what do the knobs do?

Community Answer

Refer to your user manual for the specifics of any particular scope. If the knobs click, they probably adjust the reticule. If not, they could adjust magnification. Or, it could be a rheostat if your scope is illuminated.

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Question

What should I do if the scope is shooting low, but I am out of adjustments to raise it?

Community Answer

Shim the scope. In other words, in the front scope ring place scope tape on the bottom part of the ring where the scope rests to lift it in relation to the back scope ring.

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Question

Can I take my air rifle to be zeroed by a gunsmith?

Community Answer

Depends on the gunsmith.

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Question

My windage adjustment right is maxed out, but I still need to go more right. Do I need to shim somehow either at the scope/ring connection or ring/rail connection, turn dial back 50% L and start over?

Community Answer

First, if you have not already, I would make sure that I started with a mechanical center. Basically, remembering your starting point, turn dial in one direction and count the number of clicks/moa until it stops. Note that number. Return to your starting point and then go all the way in the other direction and make note of the amount of adjustment. Use the two numbers, find the actual mechanical zero (mechanical center) to maximize the amount of adjustment you can get. Sometimes, scopes ship with the knobs not being in the mechanical center. If this does not help, I suggest getting adjustable rings like Burris signature rings that can give you up to 40 moa adjustment using just your rings.

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Question

Should I wear my glasses all the time or zero the scope without my glasses on?

Community Answer

If you wear prescription lenses, I would strongly advise you to keep them on. Or, try contacts.

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Question

What do I do if my rifle is shooting 10 inches low, and the scope can't be lowered any more?

Community Answer

Re-adjust your scope mount, so that your scope is at a more parallel angle compared to your rifle's barrel.

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Question

How do I adjust my rifle scope?

Community Answer

You should be able to adjust your rifle scope using the knobs on the scope, one for horizontal adjustment and another for vertical adjustment.

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Question

Are different zero adjustments needed for different elevation shots?

Community Answer

Firing uphill and downhill subject the projectile to less alteration of path, and more alteration of velocity. So in short, yes. If you're sighted for level firing, you will find shots uphill and downhill will hit high.

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Question

Do these steps work for iron sights?

Community Answer

No. Most of the older iron sights are not adjustable, though some are. Check your manual to see if your gun's iron sights are adjustable first; if not, then follow this method: fire a shot at a target. Note how far off and in what direction the bullet was from the bulls eye. Then, use that information on your next shot. For example, if I take a shot with my 30/30 rifle and notice the bullet hit the target slightly to the upper left, then on my next shot, I will move the gun barrel slightly lower to the right. This method is simple, but it will help if you have no other option.

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Question

How should I adjust the scope if my shots are going to the left?

Community Answer

Twist the knob on the left side of your scope, this moves it left and right.

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Question

How do I dial elevation and wind when zeroing my rifle scope?

Community Answer

Think of your scope and rifle barrel as opposing one on the other. If you move the cross hairs up, the barrel will go in the opposite direction down, so move the cross hairs to the bullet impact (off the zero mark) of your first shot. The next shot will put the barrel downward, correcting to zero.

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Question

After I sight my scope, can I remove it until needed without re-sighting?

Community Answer

No, your scope will almost always need to be adjusted, because you will have moved the mounts, and once you loosen and tighten the screws you have relocated them to a different setting.

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Question

How do I fix my blurry rifle scope?

Community Answer

Some scopes have a minor adjustment to compensate for focus. Do you wear glasses? Are you wearing them with the scope? Have someone else see if the scope image is sharp for them. It might not be the scope, but your eye. Finally, have your scope checked out by a specialist. The scope might be defective.

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Question

How do I fix my blurry rifle scope?

Community Answer

Depending on the scope, the eye piece is adjustable to focus the crosshairs. The scope may also have an adjustment at the front lens used to focus the object you're shooting at.

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Question

I mount a new scope on a AR15 carry handle, I shot 30 rounds at 25 yards and 50 yards, the target size is 8" x 8", but none hit the target, is that the scope mounting too high?

Community Answer

Yes, it is not a good idea to mount the scope on the carry handle. Remove the carry handle and mount the picture rail, then mount the rings and bases to the rail.

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