How Accurate is Bore Sighting a Red Dot?
In shooting practice and combat preparation, precise aiming is crucial. For shooters using a red dot sight, bore sighting is a commonly used and convenient method for initial calibration. However, many people ask, “How accurate is bore sighting a red dot? Can it completely replace live-fire zeroing?” In this post, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the principles of bore sighting, its accuracy range, and how to maximize the performance of your red dot sight. Here we go!
Part 1. What is Bore Sighting?
Bore sighting is a procedure to preliminarily align a gun with a target either by using the barrel itself or with the assistance of optical aids. Its primary purpose is to give shooters an initial point of aim reference and reduce the level of live-fire adjustment needed to achieve accurate red dot sight zeroing. Bore sighting never replaces live-fire zeroing but gives a simple and fast preliminary alignment.
Some of the popular bore sighting techniques include:
Laser Bore Sighter:
It involves inserting a laser device into the gun barrel or a proper sight interface. The laser projects a dot on the target, and then the shooter can align the sights or optics with the laser dot. It is a quick, highly visual technique that is particularly convenient for rifles or firearms where the removal of the bolt or opening the action is simple.
Optical Alignment Down the Barrel:
In this method, the shooter looks down the gun’s bore, visually aligning the center of the barrel with a target. Once the barrel is visually aligned, the sights or red dot can be adjusted to where the line of sight of the barrel is. This is a more deliberate and accurate method but effective in a scenario where laser devices are absent.
The main goal of bore sighting:
- To significantly reduce the amount of live-fire adjustments needed.
- To establish a repeatable reference for zeroing the optics or sights.
- To save time and ammunition, especially for first setup or optics changeover.
With an initial alignment, bore sighting causes the initial shots fired during live-fire zeroing to be much closer to the point of aim impact, and the remaining adjustments are faster and more accurate.
Part 2. Red Dot Sight Bore Sighting Accuracy
Bore sighting can significantly improve the initial accuracy of a red dot sight but is no replacement for live-fire zeroing. Its accuracy is reliant on a number of variables:
Shooting Distance
At short range (typically 10–25 meters), red dot and bore divergence can normally be kept within 1–2 inches, which is sufficient for initial alignment. As distance is increased, even minor angular misalignments are exaggerated—for example, at 50 meters or more, minor misalignments result in the red dot missing the target by several centimeters, and live-fire zeroing is necessary for long-range accuracy.
Firearm Accuracy
Barrel length, ammunition type, and the inherent accuracy of the firearm directly impact the practicality of bore sighting. Highly accurate rifles can be more closely aligned with bore sighting, while less accurate firearms or firearms with dubious ballistics may require significant adjustments during live-fire zeroing.
Sight Quality
High-quality red dot sights with crisp reticles, precise adjustment knobs, and mounts that fit snugly can maximize the value of bore sighting. Lower-quality sights or those with blurry reticles may induce alignment errors when establishing the initial setup, necessitating further adjustments using live rounds.
Bore sighting is an excellent method to obtain approximate alignment of a red dot sight quickly so that shooters can aim nearer to the target on first shots. However, true accuracy requires live-fire adjustments. In other words, bore sighting provides the “quick starting point” and live-fire zeroing ensures the “accurate endpoint.”
Part 3. Tips to Improve Bore Sighting Accuracy
To maximize the benefits of bore sighting, shooters can heed these practical tips:
Choose a Quality Red Dot Sight
A crisp reticle, click-adjustment controls, and a sturdy mounting system are essential. Good-quality red dot sights minimize alignment errors, so initial bore sighting is more precise. A rugged mount also prevents the sight from shifting with handling or motion, so accuracy is maintained over time.
Stabilize the Firearm
A gun rest, tripod, or sandbags help to keep the gun level and steady, preventing slight movement or shaking that can disrupt alignment. Stability is more critical when performing optical bore sighting because small movements result in noticeable deviations.
Use a Laser Bore Sighter
Laser devices show a point on the target quickly, which is used as a visual cue for the barrel direction. This significantly speeds up the initial alignment process and is especially useful for rifles or zeroing multiple weapons efficiently.
Record Adjustment Data
After bore sighting is finished, record the sight’s adjustment settings, along with the ammunition and firearm used. This allows for quick reference or repeat use at a later date, which conserves time when shooting several firearms or alternative kinds of ammunition.
Part 4. Difference Between Bore Sighting and Live-Fire Zeroing
Both live-fire zeroing and bore sighting are used for sight calibration, but they serve different purposes and have different standards of accuracy. Knowing the differences between them will help achieve consistent shooting performance.
Role of Bore Sighting
The primary use of bore sighting is for initial alignment. By using the firearm bore or optics, it allows the red dot sight to be roughly aligned with the target. Its most important advantage is speed and convenience, with shooters being closer to the target on the first shot, firing fewer test rounds, and wasting less ammunition.
Bore sighting, however, cannot account for all the variables that exist in actual shooting. While fairly accurate at close distances, its accuracy can significantly decrease at a distance. It’s more like a “starting point” for more precise adjustments.
Role of Live-Fire Zeroing
Live-fire zeroing is a matter of refining the red dot sight at the shooting range under real-world shooting conditions. Through the process of shooting a few rounds and noting the impact point, shooters can eliminate mistakes that cannot be resolved by bore sighting, such as:
Bullet Drop: The trajectory of the bullet is influenced by gravity, particularly at medium and long ranges, which makes the impact point lower than what is estimated through bore sighting.
Firearm-Specific Variances: Even high-precision firearms may possess minor variances in manufacturing or assembly that cause a slight misalignment between the sight and the bore.
Environmental Conditions: Wind, temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions will all affect the path of the bullet, conditions that cannot be duplicated by bore sighting.
Live-fire zeroing ensures that the sight is calibrated for real-world conditions, accounting for both mechanical and environmental variances.
Best Practice
- To balance efficiency and accuracy, shooters typically adhere to the “bore sight first, then fine-tune with live fire” strategy:
- Start with bore sighting to approximately match the red dot sight to the target so that the initial shots are near the desired point of impact.
- Follow up with several live-fire shots to make fine adjustments based on real hits, obtaining a true zero for sight.
Conclusion
Bore sighting is an excellent method for achieving quick initial alignment of a red dot sight, which conserves time and ammo. Its precision, however, is constrained by the distance of the shot, gun features, and sight quality. Choosing a good quality, easily adjustable red dot sight and complementing it with live-fire zeroing is the secret to achieving best shooting results.
For a reliable red dot sight, the Shotelex Red Dot Sight offers a clear reticle, a secure mount, and simple adjustment, making it ideal for both bore sighting and practical shooting applications.
