Zeroing a new rifle is my least favorite thing

Og.mont

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Joined
Jan 16, 2026
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I spent two hours and probably 60 rounds getting my new scope zeroed yesterday. My shoulder hurts and I'm not even sure it's perfect yet. Why does this take so long? What's your process for zeroing? Please tell me there's an easier way.
 
Zeroing your scope takes time because people try to hurry through it. I bore sight it first, then shoot three-shot groups, make small adjustments and then confirm it later. You end up wasting fewer rounds and getting less frustrated.
 
Are you shooting open sights or a scoped rifle?
I'm going to guess its a bolt rifle with scope, if not then the 1st step won't apply. This is how I sight in a scope.
1st turn windage all the way either left or right . Next turn the opposite way counting turns and clicks then move half the distance. Do this for elevation turret also. This will put the crosshairs in the center of scope.
2nd- take bolt out of rifle and lay it in a stable position so you can look down the bore and scope. Adjust the rifle to aim at a target about 25-50 yards away looking thru the bore. With out moving rifle look thru scope, it should be very close to where you were looking at thru bore.
If not move scope turrets to align with the bore.
3rd- shot 1 round at a target at 100 yards aiming for bulls eye. The bullet should have hit on paper if not move to 50 yards and shot 1 round at center of target.
Next find where the bullet impacted the target. Aim rifle at the center of target and with out moving the rifle adjust scope crosshairs to where the bullet impacted. If you move the gun while adjusting scope stop and put the cross hair back to center of target and continue to adjust scope to bullet impact.
4th-This should put you almost dead on.
Next take 1 shot at center of target you should be sighted in if not repeat step 3
Next shoot a group of 3 rounds and adjust if needed.
 
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