Sighting in your Rifle for Deer Season
Sighting in your Rifle for Deer Season
Whether or not you plan to hunt with your firearm you will need to verify it shoots where you aim it. This is true for any firearm with an optic, and sometimes even with factory installed iron sights. To gain accuracy you must first obtain consistency. To gain consistency, you need a few things- a steady place to fire from repeatedly, targets that show where multiple shots impacted and enough of the same type of ammunition to complete this.
Starting Distance
Determining what distance to sight in is a topic of many opinions but typically once you have once distance set, it is very easy to adjust to another distance so don’t worry too much about that if you are starting with a new firearm. If you have a specific distance you are able to sight in that is close to the same distance you plan to shoot- great. If not, picking a distance of 25, 50 or 100 yards makes for easy math when it comes to adjustments.
Get a Stable Rest
Most of this will apply directly to pistols too. Having a stable bench to sit and use, either a shooting rest like Caldwell’s Lead Sled or stacked sandbags, will help hold your firearm consistently. There are some models of shooting rests that accommodate the use of box magazines where you won’t need to remove the firearm to reload, especially handy if you only have the standard magazine and not a shorter less capacity one. Also consider one that might even allow you to strap the rifle down and that has a place to receive the rear of the stock, so you can concentrate on pulling the trigger smoothly with out worrying the gun will go anywhere when fired. Elaborate models even include fine adjustments for windage and elevation in the rest once the firearm is secured- which is great if you plan to sight in multiple firearms, or plan to make multiple adjustments over time.
Paper Target Selection
Using a target that has a marked grid system like some from Birchwood Casey are my favorites because you can clearly see what vertical or horizontal measurements you will need to make either by eye or with binoculars or spotting scope. Some targets reveal a brighter color around the impact of each shot, allowing you to see even easier where you last shot. I like to bring a permanent marker so that I can mark known impacts and still use the same target longer if needed.
First, if the type of firearm allows it, remove the bolt and position the rifle so you can see the target down the bore of the barrel and without moving it, see the target in the sights as well. This may show obvious large adjustments to be made first. This doesn’t guarantee, but makes it highly likely you will be on the paper for your first few shots. If you can comfortably, take three shots as consistently as you can, aiming at the same place each time. You will notice two things- where your impacts are, and how closely together they are. If these are close to touching or sharing the same hole- even better. You should be able to feel if any of the shots were inconsistent, and using your marker, mark it accordingly.
Adjust Accordingly
If your shots were lower than your aiming point- move the rear sight (or scope) adjustment up. if your shots were left of your target, move the rear sight (or scope) adjustment to the right. Use the opposite of these if the impacts were high or to the right. Read the manual for the optic or look on the optic itself to find the adjustments increments. Typically, these are 1 per 1/4 inch at 100 yards. If you are adjusting iron sights which may not move incrementally you will need to move them very little to make a difference on target.
Repeat this until you can consistently assure that your shots are impacting your point of aim, making sure each shot is as good as the last one. This can be the starting point to using your firearms or the repetitive enjoyment that brings you out to shoot each time you can. It can be fun experimenting with different ammunition, distances and target types.
by Nathan Graham
July 2024
