OUTDOORS TO THE CORE
Sighting in Your Rifle — Tom
Sighting in your rifle or bow will determine the success of your hunt and yet many people fail to do so every year . It ’ s crazy to go to the time and expense of getting in the position for a shot and then missing because you didn ’ t sight in . Worse yet , you may wound an animal .
To have confidence in your rifle you must know that it will hit your target . Once I took my boss black powder hunting . I bet he took 12 shots the first day . I ’ m convinced he never sighted in his new rifle .
To sight in your rifle do so on a steady bench . If you don ’ t have access to a range then use a steady table and a chair that sets you at the right level . If your gun is way off , start at 25 yards and get it on paper and then move back to 100 yards .
Remove all variables that make you flinch . Wear earplugs plus ear muffs . I also recommend using a Caldwell Lead Sled . It does two things . 1 . Holds your rifle perfectly steady . 2 . Eliminates flinching from too much shooting .
To shoot , take a deep breath . Let out half and squeeze off the trigger . It should surprise you when the round touches off if you have a proper squeeze . Don ’ t stick your whole finger into the trigger guard . Just use the first pad of your finger . You ’ ll have a more sensitive pull .
More so with a bow but if you ’ re wobbling don ’ t fall prey to the tendency of pulling when it crosses the X or you ’ ll invariably jerk the release . Hold it steady the best you can and release your arrow . Try this and it will surprise you on how your group tightens . Let the shot surprise you .
Everyone tells you to shoot a three shot group but to save ammo I shoot two shots . If it ’ s a good group then I will make any necessary adjustments . If they ’ re all over then you have problems . Most likely you ’ re jerking the trigger , not steady , the scope is loose , your rifle has problems , or your gun does not like the ammo .
If your shots are in a tight group but off the mark , prop your rifle up firmly and focus it on the bullseye . Now turn the scope knobs so it sights in on the original bullet hole . It should now be on target . This will save you ammo .
On most scopes one click equals ¼ ” @ 100 yards . If you ’ re shooting iron sights move the rear sight the direction that you want the bullet to go .
Everyone will tell you that every rifle likes certain loads . If you reload you can get down to the inth degree . If you shoot factory ammo , experiment with different manufacturers .
Charts are available that tell you where your particular grain of bullet hits at what yardage . You should know where your rifle hits at 50 , 100 , 200 and 300 yards . I have a buddy that tapes a chart to his butt ( rifle butt ).
If your shots are in a tight group but off the mark , prop your rifle up firmly and focus it on the bullseye . Now turn the scope knobs so it sights in on the original bullet hole .
It should now be on target . This will save you ammo .
On most scopes one click equals ¼ ” @ 100 yards . If you ’ re shooting iron sights move the rear sight the direction that you want the bullet to go .
Everyone will tell you that every rifle likes certain loads . If you reload you can get down to the inth degree . If you shoot factory ammo , experiment with different manufacturers .
Charts are available that tell you where your particular grain of bullet hits at what yardage . You should know where your rifle hits at 50 , 100 , 200 and 300 yards . I have a buddy that tapes a chart to his butt ( rifle butt ).
Due to liabilities , gun manufacturers send out rifles with unacceptable trigger pulls . Years ago this was not the case . Due to this , many hunters do a trigger job or a replacement altogether . Bear in mind , the lighter the pull , the easier it can accidentally shoot off if it ’ s dropped . Set down boys . I have some big news to break to you . Your pet rifle is a machine and can malfunction . I like a moderate pull because in a week of elk hunting I fall 4-6 times and 2 times hard . I hunt rough country .
Once I was walking down an icy trail and wiped out big time . My . 22 went flying in the air and did a complete flip and hit the ground with the muzzle under my armpit . Not good . If you ’ re setting in a deer blind you may get by with a lighter trigger . Granted , there are a ton of people that are better shots than me and if you audit them 99 % will have a lighter pull than me .
I am really , really particular with my scopes . I never lay my cased rifle on hard surfaces as in the back of a pickup even while driving down the highway . Consequently I can go for years without having to adjust my scope . Baby them .
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