Sighting in someone else's deer rifle

Gil Martin

A coworker has a Ruger Model 77 .270 with Leupold 3-9X scope and was distressed that he missed a deer last season. He asked me for help. I asked if he had a full field of view in the scope, he did not. I moved the scope forward a bit and shot a few rounds at the range. The rifle printed a 3/4" group at 50 yards using 130 grain reloads ahead of 52 grs.of IMR4350. I left a message telling him his rifle was OK and saved the target. The fellow just needs to do a bit more practice and he will be fine. All the best...
Gil

hunterjoe21

I have a brother-in-law who's .222 suddenly couldn't hold sub 2" groups with him firing it. He used to shoot the bull outa the target all day long. I took it and was able to shoot (3) 5/8" groups in a row with it. Turns out that something is wrong with the trigger, and since he was used to it firing slightly different, he couldn't shoot it worth a damn. Since I had barely used it before and wasn't used to it, the difference in the trigger meant nothing to me.

Joe Boleo

Gil,
Been there, done that. In the final analysis, they have to sight in and practice with their own rifle. You did well to verify the rifle was OK. Take care...
Joe

Pumpkinslinger

A friend and I shoot together a lot and always try each other's new guns and loads. Frequently the guns show a significant difference in point of impact depending on who's shooting. As a side note I've had guns that were bore sighted be well over a foot off at 100 yds. My advice is always to do your own zeroing.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

Sighting in someone elses rifle for them is akin to trying on a pair of shoes for someone. I've done it lots of times at the rifle range but I never figured out what the owner gained from it all.

lone wolf

If nothing else, it will show if there is a problem with the rifle or soething with the shooters form that needs correction.

Also an interesting comment from Pumpkinslinger, as I had a similar experience last weekend. I have been working up a load for my 7mm-08 and was more concerned with where the shots were in relation to each other than the bull. Picked a load and put the boresighter on for a "final adjustment" to be 2" high at 100yds. Next day at the range, group was good, but almost off the paper. If it had been a deer I would have missed clean.

vint2

I will gladly boresight weapons for all of my friends, but they have to do their shooting them selves!!!! :>))