ORIGINAL: stalkingbear
Properly mount scope (includes lapping rings).
Boresight scope.
Center adjustments on scope (adjust mounts or shim if necessary).
Reboresight scope.
Use SOLID rest.
Shoot 1 shot at 25 yards.
Adjust crosshairs to bullet hole.
Shoot to confirm sight in.
Move to 100-300 yards and adjust scope exactly where you want for sight in.
Shoot for group.
Grin.
Exactly the way I do it.
Common mistakes I see include
trying to hold onto foreend on the bench, hand between rest and foreend
resting barrel on front rest
not getting buttstock rest solid
poorly mounted scope/rings/mounts
poor fitting stock
rifle canted
shooting too quickly
poor breathing
switching bullet weights
the expectation of a $50 scope working with the precision that a $800 scope does.
Me and a couple of friends are always running out to the farm to shoot prairie dogs. We take different rifles and some times different rifle/scope combinations that require sight in before we can go make those long shots. We have it down when it comes to getting them 'dialed in' in the least number of rounds. With a great rifle and excellent scope typically I can do one in 5 rds.