How To Zero A Scope On A Pellet Gun

Are you looking to perfect your shooting skills? Whether you are using your pellet gun for hunting small game or for target shooting, you should have the skills of zeroing in scope on a pellet gun. It is an easy process that will improve your shooting accuracy. It is good to know how to zero a scope on a pellet gun

However, there are some accessories that you need to have to create the best environment for zero in a scope. Most of these accessories are readily available in our homes.

You can therefore do the zeroing activity from your yard.

  • Eye protection

You need to protect your eyes when engaging in any shooting activity.

Safety glasses are essential in protecting your eyes.

Furthermore, you will need them when going to a target shooting competition.

  • Control area

You don’t want your accuracy to be bothered by anything.

This is why you need a control area, an area that is safe and free from wind.

If you have adequate space in your yard, you can set it up as your control area.

  • Target that is set at a distance: 

A paper target is better for this case.

You can buy a piece of a bulls-eye target, download it from online platforms at no cost, or you can also draw across as your target or a bulls-eye.

After all, all you need is a spot to aim.

To measure the distance between your shooting position and target, you can use a tape measure, and for a longer length, you can use a range finder.

  • Backstop

You need to put a stopper behind your target; this will thwart any possibilities of having the pellet ricocheting.

You can use plywood, sandbags, bales of hay, or a pellet trap for a’ stopper’.

However, if you will be shooting from a range, you don’t have to worry about the backstop.

  • A marker

For improvements, you need to mark (make a dot) where you are hitting and your next target.

A handy-dandy marker will do.

You can also consider how to mount a red dot on a scope.

  • A solid gun rest

Your gun should be steady.

You can use rolled-up towels, sandbags, or a shop clap, which will help hold the gun in place.

Besides keeping the gun firm, it will also help you in shooting accurately.

  • Your gun and adequate pellets

Ensure you have sufficient pellets to make any adjustments you may need and check accuracy.

How To Sight In A Pellet Gun Scope In 5 Steps

Will the requirements above in place, you can now start zeroing in your scope on a pellet gun.

Step#1: Setting Up

Position the gun on a flat gradient and hold it up with the desired gun rest. At this point, you should ensure that your rifle is firm with little to no movements.

As you are doing this set-up for the first time, you have to provide the gun does not fluctuate in hitting the target; this means the target has to be set like 10 to 15 feet away with the proper backstop in the rear.

Using your marker, put a mark on the target; this should be like 2 inches under your target.

With the short range of about 10-15 feet away from the target, focus on shooting the bulls-eye, but you intend to shoot two inches below the bulls-eye (where you placed the mark).

Remember to put on your safety glasses.

Step#2: Take Your First Shots

Focus your gun on the target. Align your scope reticle to the bulls-eye; you should hold your gun at a steady position to achieve this.

To get the pleasant sight of your target, you can adjust your magnification lenses to the highest power.

Take your first shot. For an accurate shot, squeeze the trigger of your gun confidently without jerking it. The shot should end on the paper target. You can take 3-5 shots while at the same position.

Step#3: Make Adjustments

You are not going to adjust the position of the gun but the knobs on the scope. Here is how to change the scope of a pellet gun.

With your gun pointing to the target and the scope reticle on the bulls-eye, you need to start adjusting the windage knob horizontally, ensuring the scope reticle is in line with the precise shot you made at first.

Carefully make further adjustments to the elevation knob appropriately and align the scope reticle with your first shot.

As you dial the knobs, you are likely to hear a tactile click which signifying an adjustment has been done.

It is important to note that the gun has not moved even an inch. Instead, you only caused alterations to the scope reticle. For easy adjustments, check the user manual that came with your scope.

Step#4: Take Second Shots

With your scope having have been sighted in on the initial shot, point the rifle towards the bulls-eye again and align the scope reticles to the bulls-eye point.

Go for a shot. This time around, you need to be very near. Bear in mind that the second shot may hit like two inches just under the bulls-eye.

You can fire maybe 5 or 6 more shots in quick succession to be sure of hitting your target.

You can walk to the target to check your proximity to hitting the target.

Among the several shots you have taken in quick succession, do not be surprised to find one or two entirely off-target; it is likely to happen due to human error.

Step#5: Shifting The Target Back

Take the target 30 feet backward and reiterate steps #1 to 4.

This being the second round, it should not take you much time, and your shots should be on target or very close to the target.

And if need be, you may make very few alterations to the scope.

When your shots are on target, take your target back again to 75 feet and redo steps 1 to 4 again.

You will be more confident at this time, and your shots should be going directly to the bulls-eye and not anywhere else.

How to Discover the Best Zero Distance

There is no fixed zeroing distance; the task at hand should determine the zeroing distance. Here are the factors that guide the zeroing distance;

  • The intended target
  • How far the target is from your shooting point
  • The type of optic or scope in your rifle

Besides these factors, you can also determine your zeroing distance with the help of a ballistic calculator. This calculator eliminates a lot of guesswork and enhances precision.

Whether you are shooting short ranges or long, the ballistic calculator will help you zero in.

Alternatively, you can find MPBR (Maximum point-blank range). The MPBR can be achieved by using modern smartphone applications such as the Shooter phone app.

As a good target shooter or hunter, you need to zero in your scope regularly.

Key Factors To Look At When Buying A Scope For Your Gun

There is no perfect gun without a reliable scope. Without a good rifle scope, you will not shoot your target from a long-range.

With the many rifle scopes in the market, you need to look at them when buying one.

  • The image quality

A good rifle scope should help you get a good aim at your target.

This is only possible when you have a clear image of the target.

A reliable rifle scope should have adequate light and magnification to ensure that you get a good quality image.

  • Adjustment capabilities

When zeroing in your scope, there is an adjustment that you are going to make.

When shopping for a rifle scope, find one that allows you to make the necessary adjustments to fit your needs. 

The vertical and horizontal knobs used in adjusting the scope should be available and in a good state.

  • Mounting the scope

Look at how easy or hard it is to mount your pellet gun’s scope.

Easy mounting means that you will have an easy time using the scope and clear images on your scope.

  • Check on the magnification power:

When hunting or shooting in a long-range, you need to have a clear sight of your target.

A scope with powerful magnification will help you achieve this. If you are not good at shooting long ranges, ensure that you choose a powerful scope.

You can check the power of the riflescope by looking at the magnifying powers of the lenses.

The power of the scope lens is by the × sign followed by a figure.

The figure shows how many times you can magnify the target image.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.       Are different zero adjustments needed for different elevation shots?

Yes. The scope reticle is likely to shift upwards or downwards once the elevation angle changes.

Furthermore, a change in the elevation angle also changes the light’s angle entering the scope.

As a shooter, you will, therefore, have to make adjustments.

2.       Do these steps work for iron sights?

No. A large number of the older iron sights model cannot be adjusted. However, some models are adjustable.

You can confirm the adjustability of your gun’s iron sights by checking the user manual that came with it or checks on the manufacturer’s website.

Even so, iron sights also come with an adjustable aiming point.

3.       What do you need to do before you start the zeroing process?

Whether you are an experienced shooter or an amateur with a new rifle, you need to zero in the gun to hit the bulls-eye. 

Here is what you need to do before you start the zeroing process;

  • You should first ensure that your rifle is clean; if not, you can clean it to the required standards.
  • For safety reasons, you should ensure that you have fixed a backstop on your target. This is to provide the pellets do not fly everywhere.
  • You should remember to lead the barrel before zeroing. This is to help you get the best accuracy.

4.       How far should I be from my target?

To ensure that you will hit the target, you should start by standing 10 feet away from the target.

Your chances of hitting the target are improved as you stand closer to the target.

5.       What’s the Best Distance to Zero an Air Rifle Scope?

An average range of 90 feet (30 yards) is suitable for zeroing an air rifle scope for most shooters.

However, if you are doing indoor shooting, you should sight in your air rifle scope at 60 to 75 feet.

On the other hand, if you are doing long-range shooting or hunting, you should consider zeroing at a 120 to 150 feet distance.

6.       How Do Air Rifle Scopes Work?

An air rifle works by using a chain of lenses found inside the scope to bend the light entering the scope to magnify the targeted image’s size.

In other words, it magnifies the image you are targeting and keeps you on a similar visual level just as the object.

The air rifle scope is considered a peculiar tool because it can hold out against the unique vibrations caused by the air rifle. It can also double the recoil of an air rifle.

Final Thought

Target shooting or hunting can be a fun activity to engage in. However, to enjoy the fun part of it, you need to be accurate in shooting the targets.

A rifle scope is one of the tools you can use to help you in hitting your target.

Even so, before you start using a scope on a gun, you need to zero it. It is a crucial skill that renowned hunters or target shooters have.

With the easy steps outlined above, you don’t have to worry about zero a scope on a pellet gun. Do not ignore any of the steps above; otherwise, it may hamper your shooting.

Even when you are zeroing in your scope on a pellet gun, remember that you need to keep yourself safe, ensure you are in a safe place, and put on safety glasses and hearing protection.

The latter is not a must. Before going for any shooting, always ensure that your rifle scope is zeroed in.

Leave a Comment