Sighting in your rifle is something every deer hunter has done and will do in every upcoming deer season.  Let’s take a step back and think about what we are trying to achieve in this process.  What I am looking for is my first shot to be an accurate vital shot in the woods.  Hunter’s normally sight in their rifle at 100 yards and are looking to shoot tight groups.  Hunting in the mountains of East Tennessee, it is rare to shoot distances farther than 200 yards.  Depending on the hunter’s location, it may be necessary to sight your rifle in at longer distances depending on what distance you expect to shoot to place an accurate kill shot.  In saying that, I am basing this on what distances I would typically shoot.         

            In years past, I would set my target at 100 yards, shoot, and then adjust my scope depending on how far off from center I was.  I would then shoot again, continue to adjust my scope, and repeat this process until I was shooting a tight group.  Who doesn’t love the preparation for hunting?  What hunter doesn’t love shooting whether it’s archery, muzzleloader, or your rifle?  What if this process takes 10 to 15 shots to get to center target? The barrel of your rifle gets hot.  After getting to center target hits, most hunter’s will then put their gun up and think they are ready for hunting season.  In my opinion, if that hunter would take their gun out the next day and fire one shot, they would be surprised at where their bullet hits.

            My suggestion would be to shoot over the course of three days.  Take your first shot, see where your bullet hits, and adjust your scope accordingly then wait 20 minutes.  Shoot again to see where your bullets hits and adjust your scope accordingly then wait another 20 minutes before shooting.  Once you have reached center target, put up your rifle.  The following day shoot one shot.  This shot is a true cold bore shot.  A hunter should now have their rifle shooting accurately.  If the shot is off now, adjust your scope accordingly wait 20 minutes, and repeat until you have reached center target.  If the rifle did shoot accurately on the first cold bore shot, repeat this one cold bore shot for a second and third day to then see how your rifle groups three shots.  Once you are pleased with this three-shot grouping, your rifle is now ready for the woods.

            Many readers might think this is excessive or overkill, but talk to the hunter who missed a mature buck they have been chasing for years and see what they have to say.  Every hunter has heard that story sitting around a campfire of the hunter who missed the buck of a lifetime.  I would much rather know I missed because I missed, rather than go home to find out your rifle was not sighted in properly. 

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(423) 507-7586 or (423) 435-4698

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Whitetail Property Improvement