raybird2112

I'm interested in buying a boresighter and don't know which one to buy. I'm looking for one that comes with a scope level, fit a .50 cal. muzzleloader, and fit a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun. Any ideas. Thanks.

rozman62

I certainly do not want to rain on your parade but IMO boresighters are a waste of money. Start at 25 yards and use a pc of plywood big enough to frame your target. Shoot 3 shots to confirm it is not your shooting formthen make the necessary scope or open sight adjustment to get on paper. I usually hit paper on the first try and adjust. Then move out to 100 yards and repeat.A bolt action is easiest as you justremove the bolt and center the target as best as you can through the pipe with your naked eye.

Highpower

I disagree with the last poster. Bore sighters have their place and they work fairly well to get you "on paper" the first shot. We also use them to check zero on our scopes after we arrive in camp, a days ride on a horse can really do a number sometimes. After the rifle is sighted in, check where it zeros in the boresighter and make note of that with the gun. When you get into camp, check and see if it's still holding that "mark". Works just fine. As far as which one, I've been pretty impressed with that little Leupold model. Extremely compact, and it works.

HEAD0001

Any time you put metal into the end of your barrel is a no-no for me. Personally I do not like the bore sighters, and would not buy one. I also believe they are a waste of money, and most people I have seen over the years who supposedly know how to use them are normally hit or miss.

If I did buy one it would be one of the laser ones , however as I said above I would never put one in the bore of my rifle. Tom.

eldeguello

rozman summed it up. But the boresighter does allow you to check the scope when in hunting camp (after you zeroed and used the device to see where the sights are pointing in relation to the center of the sighter). This keeps you from having to fire the gun to reconfirm zero when it is undesireable to have to shoot....

I prefer an optical boresighter (collimator)vs one with a lazer. The optical collimator sticks up into the line of sight, so you cannot forget to remove it before firing!

driftrider

Bore sighters are a waste of money, unless you mount and boresight scopes for a living or you like guns that you cannot remove the bolt from and see through the barrel from the breach (many semi-autos, for example). For bolt action rifles, muzzleloaders with breach plugs, single shots, etc..., you're better off saving your money and just using your eye. Just take out the bolt or breechplug or open the action, mount the rifle in a solid vise or rest, and look through the bore keeping it centered like a peep sight while you adjust the rifle so the center of the target at 25 yards in dead center in your view. Then, without disturbing the rifle, move the turrets so the crosshairs are also centered on the 25 yard target. Double check your work, and get it as close as possible, then reassemble, load and fire. You should be easily able to get your shot onto an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper at 25 yards. The last rifle I mounted a scope to I used the eyeball method and was within 2" of dead center at 25 yards. That's as good or better than most boresighters, and it didn't cost me a dime. It took 2 shots to have the rifle ready to shoot at 100 yards, and the third shot ever from the rifle was 1.5" from dead center at 100 yards.

Mike

game4lunch

Looks like around here you either love 'em . . . or hate 'em.
I love 'em.
I do not rely on them for final set up, but to get the cross hairs close for that first time you punch paper, there is nothing better. I've done the 25 yds, then 50, then 100 and beyond with live rounds and yes, that works.
But with a laser sighter, I can sit in my kitchen and sight in all my guns (long and short) out my back door and know I'd be ready to go to the range.
I've been using a Laserlyte for years and would be lost without one. I don't think they make this one any more, but Cabelas has one just like it for about $40.00.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601622-cat200006_TGP&id=0012854713004a&navCount=2 &podId=0012854&parentId=cat200006&mast erpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UJ&am p;rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat200006& amp;hasJS=true

This link goes to the model that comes with a level, and shotgun adapters for about $65.00. These types of bore sighters work from .22 to .50 and shotgun.