Zero at 100 yards, then confirm at distance

A hunting scope is only as good as its zero. This guide covers a simple path: bore sight, zero at 100 yards, then confirm where you will actually shoot. It applies to the scopes we cover for whitetail and western hunts.

Safety first: confirm the rifle is unloaded, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, and shoot only with a safe backstop.

What you need

• Your scope, mounted and torqued to the maker's specs
• A bore sight (laser or optical) to get on paper fast
• A steady rest: bags, bipod, or a tripod rest
• Targets with a 1 inch grid
• A spotting scope or binocular to read hits without walking downrange
• A lens pen for dust and smudges

Gear we link

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• EZshoot bore sight kit, 64 adapters (about $54.99, price checked 10/30, check price at EZshoot)
• EZshoot portable rifle tripod rest (about $21.99, price checked 10/30, check price at EZshoot)
• Vortex lens cleaning pen ($9.00 → ~$7.83 with ALLBLK, price checked 10/30, check price at OpticsPlanet)

Step 1: Set the scope up before you shoot

1. Set eye relief so you see a full sight picture at the magnification you hunt with.
2. Level the reticle to the rifle, not to the shooter.
3. Focus the eyepiece on the reticle against a plain sky. The reticle should be crisp on first look.
4. If your scope has side focus or parallax adjustment, set it for 100 yards.

Step 2: Bore sight

Bore sighting gets you on paper and saves time at the range. It does not replace a live-fire zero.

1. Put the bore sight in place and aim at a target 25 to 50 yards away.
2. Adjust windage and elevation until the reticle sits on the bore sight dot.
3. Remove the bore sight before firing.

Step 3: Zero at 100 yards

1. Fire a three-shot group from a solid rest at a 100 yard target.
2. Find the center of the group, not the single best hit.
3. Count how far the center is from your aim point, up or down and left or right.
4. Convert to clicks. Check your turret: most hunting scopes are 1/4 MOA per click (about 1/4 inch at 100 yards). MRAD scopes are often 0.1 mil per click (about 0.36 inch at 100 yards).
5. Dial the turret in the direction marked (UP, R) to move the group to your aim point.
6. Fire another three-shot group. Repeat until the group center sits on your aim point.
7. Let the barrel cool between groups so heat does not move your hits.

Tip: If your scope has a zero stop or resettable turret, set it now so you can always return to your 100 yard zero.

Step 4: Confirm at distance

A 100 yard zero tells you where the rifle hits at 100. It does not tell you where it hits at 250 or 400. Confirm at the ranges you plan to hunt.

1. Use a rangefinder to set targets at real distances, for example 200 and 300 yards.
2. Fire a group at each distance holding on your aim point.
3. Write down how far each group lands from the aim point.
4. If you use a holdover reticle (BDC, MOA, or MRAD hashes), note which mark lines up at each distance.
5. If you dial, note the clicks needed at each distance.
6. Tape a small dope card to your stock or scope cap.

Real drop at distance often differs from ballistic apps. Your own groups are the ground truth.

Whitetail vs western

• Whitetail (most shots inside 200 yards): A clean 100 yard zero and a quick check at 200 is usually enough. Low magnification and a simple duplex reticle work well. See our whitetail rifle scope picks.
• Western (open country, longer shots): Confirm at every distance you might shoot. Side focus, a reticle with holds, and turrets you can dial and return to zero matter more. See our western rifle scope picks.

Whitetail scope picks Western scope picks

Recheck before every season

• After travel, a drop, or remounting, shoot a group at 100 yards.
• Check ring and base screws with a torque driver.
• Clean lenses with a lens pen, not your shirt.

Quick checklist

• Scope leveled, eye relief set, reticle focused
• Bore sighted on paper
• 100 yard zero on the center of a group
• Zero stop or turret reset set
• Confirmed at real hunting distances
• Dope card written and on the rifle

More: Sight in a new scope (25 yard step) · All guides · Optics finder