Thoughts on Bore Sites?

[Kadonny]

Once again you can't always look down the bore of a rifle. Not all rifles are AR's. He asked about bore sights. He didn't ask specifically about how they work with an AR. You can't do the redneck method with this one:

I grew up sighting every rifle the redneck way and with a semi-auto rifle that often meant trial and error just to get on paper. I actually learned to shoot something where you could see where your bullets were hitting even if they were missing by 3 feet. Picking the right water hole to try this is tricky but it can be done. You just want to make sure nothing is downrange no matter what. In that type of gun a bore sight is a big plus.

Agreed, but this is the S&W M&P rifle forum, so one could assume he was specifically talking about the M&P 15 rifle so thus the responses here about the redneck method.

 

[cyphertext]

Once again you can't always look down the bore of a rifle. Not all rifles are AR's. He asked about bore sights. He didn't ask specifically about how they work with an AR. You can't do the redneck method with this one:

I grew up sighting every rifle the redneck way and with a semi-auto rifle that often meant trial and error just to get on paper. I actually learned to shoot something where you could see where your bullets were hitting even if they were missing by 3 feet. Picking the right water hole to try this is tricky but it can be done. You just want to make sure nothing is downrange no matter what. In that type of gun a bore sight is a big plus.

Actually, you can... keep a dental mirror in your range bag and you can use it to look down the bore.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Regardless of rifle... I just take it down to the plinking range. Aim at a small rock, weed or debris against the dirt backstop at 60yds and see the dirt splat in relation to where I was aiming. Adjust the optic accordingly, second shot will be on paper.

If you have no reference other than a paper target it can be frustrating if the paper target can't be moved in close to start. A laser bore sight might be worthy of consideration in such conditions.

I've seen a lot of guys struggle zeroing an optic and have helped those who asked. Generally, it isn't the lack of a fancy laser but the operator not knowing what he's doing. And that's not limited to newbies. I've seen seasoned hunters struggle over the simple stuff.

 

[Westie1]

When I bought my bushnell scope from Cabellas, it came with a laser boresight as part of the package. First time to use one-always used the "red neck" method in the past. That method worked great on my Contender barrels. After scope mounting on the Sport II, tried the laser and all it honestly told me was I would be somewhere on the paper at 25yds. And that's all I expected based on the design, inserted into the muzzle.

 

[C J]

The only time I've ever needed a bore sight was when I was zeroing a 36X scope. If you don't have a spotter it can be frustrating even when using the "redneck method". I've used that method plenty and I've also spent over an hour trying to zero a 36x scope. I used one on my AR but only because it was so easy. It is easier to do it with a bore scope. I've done it both ways. That's my opinion anyway. I don't see a lot of reason for using one with a 3-9X scope because you can generally see where you bullets hit if you did the redneck thing first. Again without a spotter it's hard to fell with a fixed power 36X scope. Until you're very close to being zeroed you won't see where the bullets hit and if you're trying to zero at 100 yards then it really gets tough. That's my reason for thinking there is some use for a bore scope. I'm not addicted to them or anything. It was cheap. And it worked better than the redneck method with a high power scope.

Oh and the dental mirror thing - that sounds tedious to me. A bore sight has to be better.

 

[Pro2nd]

well my cheapie bore site came in today.. so this evening i will be doing some comparisons as far as the Red Neck Method VS what the bore site says etc..

Wont be till this weekend (Hopefully) that I will be able to live fire to see whats up..

That said, it did not take me long to figure out why some folks wrote bad reviews consisting of..

"It is not bright at all and flickers on and off"
"it barely comes on when I jiggle it around"
etc..

Well, it comes packaged with FOUR batteries on the side.

On the unit its self, it has a battery position diagram (+ -) on the side of it.. that shows TWO batteries, so I assumed it must have just came with Two spares, so I installed TWO batteries, and sure enough, it had to be jiggled around etc to get it to come on, flicker etc, and was in fact, dim..

So I then tried THREE batteries (LOL). it then came on perfectly, VERY bright!, NO flicker or any other kind of issue..

Apparently.. they include ONE extra battery (But it takes three).. not sure why, other then thinking someone might drop one of the tiny things and loose one.. LOL

Needless to say, I now know exactly why the bad reviews talking about the dim, flickering etc issues.. LOL

P.s.. It turns out that, even though it came with FOUR batteries, shows TWO batteries on the unit its self.. That if you break out a magnifying glass and read the instructions, they do in fact state that it uses 3 batteries..
I wonder how many people sent theirs back, or into a trash can, due to only trying it with two batts.. ouch..

 

[Pro2nd]

Well, here is the conclusion on comparing the Red Neck view, VS what the bore site says..

Late yesterday afternoon, right as day light was starting to fade a bit, I once again checked my Laser/Dot Via the Red Neck method at a set distance..(ROUGHLY 40/50 yards)
There is NO doubt the Laser/dot was/is dead centered with the red neck method.. (My laser is GREEN)

I then installed the Bore site (Which is a red Laser)..

At the Same exact set distance and target area, there was about a 4, if not a 5in gap between the two Dots.. (possibly more, I'd have to have someone stand out there and measure, cause considering the low light i am dealing with while doing this, I am not likely to see numbers unless i make them glow in the dark.. LOL)

Hopefully very soon, I'll be able to get the time to actually go shot the thing, to confirm which is closest..

I HAVE already ran some rounds through my Sport Two, but have had no time to start dialing things in yet.. (Stock sites were dong fine for the day)..

That said.. I am leaning towards the Red Neck method Being closest, but we'll see..

All I know right now, is they don't match and are a fair amount off from each other..

 

[C J]

I don't think either method is perfect. It's just good enough to get you on the paper. After that you walk the shots in to zero.

 

[lrrifleman]

I am not fond of the laser bore sight, but I have started using one to save a few rounds of ammo. When I assemble a rifle and scope, I will use the laser bore to align the cross hairs with the bore at about 25 yards, so my first shots have a greater chance of being on paper. Without using a laser bore sighter, I have become very frustrated when I experienced difficulty getting on paper. The laser bore sighter is not the end all device, but it does make first trips to the range with a new rifle and scope combination more successful.

 

[Pro2nd]

I hear y'all..

I don't expect either method to be an end all etc..

i'm just passing time basically until I can get time to actually go shot it some more, and curious as to the results between the two methods etc..

 

[Kadonny]

I gave up on them when my boresighter had me zero'd in on a wall 25 yards away at home, then when I went to the range I couldn't even hit paper. Used the redneck at the range and got her on paper first shot. Anyway, after going home and rolling the boresight on the table I noticed it was out of round. So much for cheap chinese stuff. Redneck for me and it works just fine.

I'll be really interested to hear your final results.

 

[C J]

I gave up on them when my boresighter had me zero'd in on a wall 25 yards away at home, then when I went to the range I couldn't even hit paper. Used the redneck at the range and got her on paper first shot. Anyway, after going home and rolling the boresight on the table I noticed it was out of round. So much for cheap chinese stuff. Redneck for me and it works just fine.

I'll be really interested to hear your final results.

You don't think they're all like that do you? Mine works just fine.

 

[Kadonny]

You don't think they're all like that do you? Mine works just fine.

Many stories like mine, so you decide.

 

[C J]

Many stories like mine, so you decide.

Really? Where? I hear people saying they don't like bore sights and that they aren't helpful if you can use the redneck system but you claimed your bore sight was defective. I never saw anyone else say that.