How to Zero Your Rifle Scope Like a Pro
- Fun Guns
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
A no-nonsense guide to rifle scope zeroing, sighting in your scope, and building a precision shooting setup that works for Waco shooters.
Whether you’re heading to the range off I-35, prepping for a hunt out near Lake Waco, or just dialing in your gear for the season, there’s one thing every shooter in town needs to get right: rifle scope zeroing.
If your scope isn’t properly sighted in, even the best gear won’t do much for accuracy. Getting zeroed is the difference between consistent, confident shots and frustrating misses. And honestly? It’s not as complicated as people make it.
At Fun Guns in Waco, helping you lock in your setup with confidence is part of the experience. This guide will walk you through what it really means to zero a rifle scope, how to do it right, and how to make it part of a full precision shooting setup.
What Does “Zeroing” a Scope Actually Mean?
Let’s clear up a common misconception: zeroing a scope doesn’t mean your rifle is "perfect." It means that your point of aim matches your point of impact at a specific distance.
So if you zero at 100 yards, your bullet should hit exactly where your crosshairs are aimed at that range. The key is consistency—every shot behaving the same way under the same conditions.
Once you achieve that, you can adjust for other distances using holdovers, turret clicks, or ballistic calculators. But it all starts with a clean, reliable zero.
Step 1: Set Up Your Shooting Environment
Before you even think about touching your turrets, get your space in order. Here in Waco, the wind can be a sneaky factor, especially mid-morning or around open terrain.
Checklist:
Choose a range with minimal wind if possible
Set up on a stable bench or shooting mat
Use a good rest (sandbags, bipod, or shooting sled)
Have spotting gear or a buddy to help you watch shots
Pro tip: If you’re zeroing out near Chalk Bluff or any outdoor range around Waco, go early when the wind is calm.
Step 2: Bore Sight First (Save Time and Ammo)
Bore sighting gets your shots on paper before fine-tuning. It doesn’t replace live-fire zeroing, but it can save you a lot of guesswork.
If you’ve got a bolt-action rifle, remove the bolt and physically look down the bore at a target 25 yards away. Then, adjust the scope so the crosshairs line up with what you see.
For AR platforms, or anything that doesn’t allow visual bore sighting, a laser bore sighter does the trick.
Step 3: Fire a 3-Shot Group at 25 Yards
Yes, start at 25 yards, not 100.
This short-range start helps you see exactly where your rounds are landing without wasting ammo. Fire a three-shot group, aiming at the center of your target. Don’t adjust the scope after each shot—adjust only after the group.
If your group is tight but low and left, for example, adjust your scope’s windage and elevation knobs accordingly.
Reminder:
Most scopes adjust in 1/4 MOA increments
That’s roughly 1/4 inch per click at 100 yards (so at 25 yards, it’s 1/16 inch per click)
Make your adjustments, fire another group, and repeat until you’re centered.
Step 4: Move to 100 Yards and Fine-Tune
Once your shots are centered at 25 yards, move back to 100 yards—that’s the standard zero distance for most setups in Central Texas.
At this range, fire another 3- to 5-shot group. Don’t rush. Let your barrel cool slightly between groups if needed. A hot barrel behaves differently than a cold one.
Dial in your scope adjustments again, keeping an eye on consistency.
You're zeroed when:
Your group is centered on the bullseye
Shots are tight and repeatable
Your scope adjustments are locked in
Step 5: Confirm and Document
Once you’re confident in your zero at 100 yards, confirm it with at least two solid groups. Then make it official:
Write down the distance you zeroed
Note ammo brand, grain, and conditions
Take a photo of your target (great for future reference)
Consistency is king. If you change ammo or shoot in drastically different weather, you might need to re-check zero. But with solid habits, re-zeroing becomes rare.
Sighting In vs. Zeroing: What’s the Difference?
You’ll hear both terms tossed around, sometimes interchangeably. But there’s a subtle difference:
Zeroing = Aligning your scope so point of impact matches point of aim at a known distance
Sighting in = The overall process of getting a rifle ready for accurate shooting, including zeroing, scope leveling, and turret adjustments
At Fun Guns, we help customers with both. Whether you're just learning how to adjust for windage or you're fine-tuning a long-range rig, both matter.
Building a Precision Shooting Setup in Waco
Now that your scope is zeroed, let’s talk about dialing in the rest of your rig. A precision shooting setup is more than just optics—it’s the entire system working in sync.
Here’s what matters:
1. Rifle and Scope Pairing
Make sure your scope's magnification, reticle type, and adjustment turrets match how and where you plan to shoot. For Waco-area shooting, a 3-9x scope is plenty for mid-range. Going longer? Consider first focal plane scopes with mil-dot or BDC reticles.
2. Ammo Consistency
Stick to the same brand, grain, and load for zeroing and regular shooting. Ammo variation is a common reason people think their zero “moved.”
3. Trigger Familiarity
Learn how your trigger breaks. Smooth trigger control reduces shot disturbance and keeps your groups tight.
4. Stance and Breathing
You’d be surprised how much posture and breath affect accuracy. Practice natural point of aim and control your breathing before each shot.
5. Ballistic Tools
Apps like Strelok or a basic dope chart help you adjust for different ranges once your base zero is set.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let’s keep it real. Even experienced shooters in Waco make mistakes when zeroing. Here are a few to watch for:
Adjusting after every shot: Always shoot a group before dialing in
Changing ammo mid-process: Stick with one load throughout zeroing
Over-tightening mounts: Use torque specs to avoid scope shift
Zeroing on a windy day: Gusts can skew your results—pick a calm morning
Ignoring parallax: Set your parallax adjustment to match your distance
What About Red Dots and LPVOs?
If you're running a red dot or low-power variable optic (LPVO), the concept of sighting in your scope still applies. The process is similar, though your effective zero range might differ.
Red Dots: Many shooters zero at 36 or 50 yards for close to mid-range consistency
LPVOs: Often zeroed at 100 yards like a traditional scope
Regardless of your optic, the rule holds: tight, repeatable groups at a known distance = success.
Staying Zeroed: Maintenance and Checks
Once you've gone through the effort of zeroing, you want it to stick.
Here’s how to keep your rifle scope zeroing locked in:
Check mount torque periodically
Use scope caps during transport
Avoid dropping or bumping your rifle
Re-check zero after any major change (ammo, environment, hardware)
Even small shifts in your scope or mount can cause issues. A quick zero-check every couple months is worth it.
Why It Matters in the Real World
When you're hunting near Waco Creek or competing in a local match, your gear doesn’t get a second chance. A clean zero means every squeeze of the trigger counts.
Whether it’s a hog moving through mesquite or a paper target at 300 yards, confidence comes from knowing your gear is dialed in.
And when you know your rifle, your scope, and your skills all match up? That’s when shooting becomes instinctive. Relaxed. Repeatable.
Recap: The Core of Rifle Scope Zeroing
Let’s wrap it up with a quick summary for Waco shooters:
Zero means point of aim = point of impact at a set distance
Start at 25 yards, then confirm at 100
Bore sight first, then fine-tune with live ammo
Always fire groups before adjusting
Document your zero and check it often
And finally, understand that sighting in your scope and building a precision shooting setup is part science, part habit. The more often you do it, the more second-nature it becomes.
Looking to gear up or get hands-on help?Fun Guns is part of the shooting community here in Waco. Whether you’re zeroing for the first time or just want to upgrade your optic setup, we’re here to keep you dialed in, confident, and ready for the next shot.