Sighting In At An Indoor Range

[sloan223]

I was wondering what people do to sight in your rifle at an indoor range if you don't have a support like a Lead Sled. I have been using a bipod on the front of my rifles. I either sit on folding stool or kneel.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Best to sight in the same way you plan on hunting

 

[SEM]

5 minutes from my house but causes to much stress, suck it up and find an outdoor range. I know almost as bad. I tried to convince myself to put together a range box on wheels to carry all my stuff and double as a better bench, but can't lift it back into my truck with out help, City life just blows

 

[Rocketvapor]

I don't have a Lead Sled, or go to indoor ranges but have read;
That what even gains in precision you get with a Lead Sled are instantly lost as soon as you shoot without it.

 

[3Sigma]

Using an indoor range for a zero (assuming it is only 25 yards) is not ideal, but sometimes it is the only option. BTDT, but with a shotgun before IL deer season some time ago (there were no outdoor public ranges around Chicago).

Some ranges have bigger benches and stools/chairs. I used a range bag as a rest and packed a rear squeeze bag.

 

[R.Morehouse]

It sounds like you have a long-legged bipod. I will suggest getting an adjustable height " stick ?" with a "V" top on it to brace the rear of the stock. That will give you a rear solid anchor point and most likely help with better consistency from shot to shot from your seated position.

Regards
Rick

 

[47WillysGuy]

I was wondering what people do to sight in your rifle at an indoor range if you don't have a support like a Lead Sled. I have been using a bipod on the front of my rifles. I either sit on folding stool or kneel.

At the 25 yard target shooting lane, I place my 721 Remington (.270) and bipod with bag filled with sand under the stock area of the cheek piece on a shooting table.

The bolt is removed from the rifle and I bore sight and align the rifle to the center of the 25 yard target center adjusting the rear bag as necessary.

I then back away from the table and rifle and do another eyeball of the setup to check the alignment of rifle to the target center. Without moving the rifle at all, I check to see where the scope cross hairs are located on the target center and adjust both windage and elevation turret to align on the center of the 25 yard target. Once the scope is adjusted to the target center, I do a sanity check to make sure the barrel bore and scope are aligned to the target center. I use a 1" red target sticky at 25 yards and I can see it through the rifle bore.

Without moving the rifle from the rear rest, I'll load and fire a couple of rounds and make the finally scope adjustment. If I'm satisficed with the results, I go to the 100 yard target and shoot my .500 groups. I wish, ha ha!

I will not ever use a lead sled as I believe they will destroy the rifle scope. To rigid!!!! All the heavy vibration is detrimental to the delicate turrets in the scope.

If it's a hunting rifle with a pencil thin barrel, a lot of heat is generated with much firing and much heat will cause .500 inch groups to expand to 1.5. Don't ask me why I know this!!!!

My heat gage is my hand. If I can not keep my hand on the barrel for more than a couple seconds, the barrel temp is around 175 - 200 degrees Fahrenheit. A barrel on a hunting rifle should be warm at the most.

Know where your bullet strike is at during a cold bore shoot and when a monster buck is in the scope. Good luck.