There’s nothing like building a new custom AR-15, affixing a new optic, and hitting the range. But before you can call it a nail-driver, you’ll need to zero the rifle in, regardless if you’re using iron sights, sophisticated electronic tactical sights, or long-range scopes. But what’s the best way to do this without wasting ammo?
One of the easiest ways to do this is with a laser bore sight. This is a laser-equipped device that can fit in your barrel, either as a cartridge, or sticking out of the end of the barrel so you don’t have to keep disassembling your AR-15, and assist you in making the adjustments to your sights that you’ll need in order to be on-target for each shot. It’ll help you minimize the amount of ammo you use, and many ranges will require you to bore sight your new rifle if you’ve never shot it before.
A typical range will have targets at 25 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, or more yards, plus or minus. The big question is, at what range do you zero in your rifle? With an AR-15, typically your sight is going to be 2.5 inches above the barrel, when you’re using a handle-carry height sight, regardless of the type. Because of this, when you sight in with a laser bore sight, the barrel will actually be angled upwards in relation to the sight, so you’ll have to understand the ballistic characteristics of the ammo you’re using. A 55gr 5.56 XM193 cartridge sighted in at 50 yards will also be at zero for ~200 yards; at 25 yards it will also be zeroed in for about 300 yards.
Here’s a chart that illustrates this, complete with a terrorist target. 😉
So, if you zero in at 50 yards, keep in mind that you’ll have to aim higher at shorter distances, and lower between 50 and 200 yards. A little counter-intuitive, but it makes sense if you just keep in mind the distance between the sight and the barrel is not an insignificant amount, so hitting your target where your reticle is placed will unavoidably be on some point of the arc of the path of the bullet. Where you want this point to be is completely up to you, your optics, and your shooting needs.
Here’s are popular bore sighting tools that you can purchase on Amazon that will help you get your tactical scope, reflex sight, or long-range scope zeroed in at the range without wasting ammo:
223 5.56mm Rem Gauge Laser Bore Sighter Boresight (Brass)
Features
- Simply chamber the bore sight like a regular bullet and a laser dot will show exactly where the rifle
- Laser output less than
- It projects a straight laser beam allowing precise optical adjustments to sight in your scopes & sights without firing any ammo
- Takes the frustration out of sighting in almost any gun
- Compact and lightweight
.223 rem AR15/M4 Bullet Type Laser Chamber Bore Sight AIM Sports
EconoLed Optic All in One .22 to .50 Caliber Rifle Gauge Red Dot Laser Bore Sighter Boresight
Features
- ✔ EconoLed Universal Laser Boresighter with Quick Push Button Activation
- ✔ Allows for Quickly and Accurately Resetting of Any Sights (Iron, Optical, Laser, Holographic, Etc)
- ✔ Easy to Mount On Any .22 - .50 Caliber Rifle or Pistol
- ✔ Comes with Tools, Four Adapters, and Batteries
- ✔ Premium Case Included
Pinty Laser Red Dot for Scopes 223 REM Bore Sight Cartridge Sight 5.56 Nato
Features
- .223 REM / 5.56 BORE SIGHT, made to fit the .223 / 5.56 chamber, caliber specific.
- Designed for fast gun zeroing and sighting range 15 to 100 yards
- Enhances precision and accuracy , save ammunition and money
- High accuracy, laser display 1.5'' dot at 100 yards
- Made of premium aluminum, solid construction, superior quality
EconoLed All in One .22 to .50 Caliber Rifle Gauge Boresight Red Dot Laser Boresighter US SELLER
Features
- ✔ EconoLed Universal Laser Boresighter with Quick Push Button Activation
- ✔ Allows for Quickly and Accurately Resetting of Any Sights (Iron, Optical, Laser, Holographic, Etc)
- ✔ Easy to Mount On Any .22 - .50 Caliber Rifle or Pistol
- ✔ Comes with Tools, Four Adapters, and Batteries
- ✔ Premium Case Included
.308 Winchester Laser Boresighter/Boresight/Bore Sighter, Freehawk Tactical Hunting 308 243 REM Laser Bore Sight Brass Red Dog Laser Caliber Cartridge Bore Sighter Easy To Use Great Accuracy (.308)
$12.99
Features
- Compact, lightweight and durable; Laser Type:Visible Red Laser
- Easy to use, great for improving accuracy and reducing ammo waste;
- Perfect for professional hunters, shooters and law enforcement.
- Power: < 5mW; Operation: On/OFF by screwing the end cap
- DO NOT attempt to insert this Boresighter into a different size.
And for a more visual explanation of sighting in your AR-15, check out these videos:
- Bore Sighter Cartridge Red Laser Sight Boresighter REM Rifle Gun AR ...
- rifles,scopes,optics,boresighting,how-to boresight an AR-15
- 223 Caliber Cartridge Laser Bore Sighter Boresighter
