ORIGINAL: HEAD0001
You might think I am paranoid, but I always shoot the first shot out of a tire. I always want to put the first shot down range for safety!!! Just put your rifle in a tire and pull the trigger with a string. Easy to do, and a safe way to do it. Tom.
I do this with muzzleloaders I've made, particularly on ones in which I have installed the breech plug myself, but NOT with a rifle that is proof-tested CORRECTLY by the maker! Believe me, Weatherby cannot afford to sell a rifle that is going to blow up at the first shot with factory ammo!
Yes, I do have some advise! Even if the scope has been bore sighted or adjusted with an optical collimator (bore scope), fire your first shot as 25 yards at a big target, so you KNOW that you are "on paper" and can make your adjustments from there. If necessary, adjust your scope at 25 yards so it is close enough that you are CERTAIN the first round you fire at 100 yards will hit on the target someplace where you can see the hole, allowing you to make precise corrections at that distance.
I have seen guys START OUT shooting a new rifle at 100 yards, "It was boresighted by the gunsmith", or some such bull,then proceed to empty a whole box on expensive ammo and still not have the thing sighted in properly!
