Tired of watchin’ your shots go wide? Getting your rifle scope dialed in at 100 yards is simpler than you think. Lets get those bullets hitting exactly where you aim. We’ll even tell ya what makes a great printable target for the job.
Gather your gear
Before you head to the range, make sure you’ve got a few key things. Havin’ the right stuff makes the whole process smoother.
- Your rifle and scope, of course!
- The same ammunition you plan to hunt or shoot with primarily. Different loads can hit different spots.
- A solid shooting rest. Sandbags, a bipod, or a shooting sled work great. Stability is king.
- Your target. We’ll talk more about the printable kind in a bit.
- Spotting scope or binoculars… saves you a lot of walking.
- Tools for adjusting your scope turrets – could be a small screwdriver, a coin, or just your fingers if you have tactical turrets.
- Ear and eye protection. Safety first, always.
Set up your target
Alright, you’re at the range. Now what?
First, measure out exactly 100 yards. Don’t guess it. A lot of ranges have this marked, but double check if you can.
Place your target so its stable and square to your shooting position. Make sure you’ve got a safe backstop behind it – know whats beyond your target.
For zeroing an optic, a target with a clear grid is super helpful. Think 1-inch squares. This makes it easy to see exactly how many inches your shots are off, which helps with scope adjustments. You can find printable grid targets online, or even draw one up. Look for one with a distinct aiming point in the center.
First shots and adjustments
Okay, time to send some lead downrange.
- Get comfy and stable behind your rifle. Use those rests.
- Carefully aim at the center of the bullseye and squeeze off 3 to 5 shots. Try to make em all good, consistent shots. This is your first group.
- Walk down (or use your spotting scope) and find the center of that group. Don’t worry if its not on the bullseye, thats what were here to fix.
- Now, look at your scope turrets. They’ll likely be marked in MOA (Minutes of Angle) or MIL (Milliradians). These clicks represent a certain amount of movement at 100 yards. Here’s a common breakdown:
| Common Scope Click Value | Adjustment at 100 Yards |
|---|---|
| 1/4 MOA | 0.25 inches |
| 1/2 MOA | 0.5 inches |
| 0.1 MRAD (MIL) | 0.36 inches |
- Adjust your turrets. On most scopes, the direction marked on the turret (e.g., “UP” with an arrow) moves your bullet’s point of impact that way. So, if your group was 2 inches low, and you have 1/4 MOA clicks, you’d need 8 clicks UP (2 inches / 0.25 inches per click = 8 clicks). If your shots were 1 inch right, you’d click your windage turret LEFT by 4 clicks (1 inch / 0.25 inches per click = 4 clicks).
Fine tuning for accuracy
You’ve made your first adjustments. Now what?
Shoot another 3-5 shot group, aiming at the bullseye again.
See where this new group lands. Hopefully, it’s much closer to the center.
If it’s still off a bit, repeat the process: measure how far off the center of your new group is, then make smaller, more precise corrections to your turrets.
For example, if you’re now just half an inch high, and you have 1/4 MOA clicks, that’s two clicks DOWN.
Keep shooting groups and making tiny adjustments until your shots are consistently hitting right where you want ’em. Patience is key here. Don’t rush it.
Once your groups are centered, you’re zeroed at 100 yards! Remember that different ammo can shoot differently, so stick to what you zeroed with, or re-zero if you change loads for your firearm.
A good zero means confidence in every shot. Happy shooting!
Your Printable 100-Yard Zeroing Target
To make zeroing easier, use a target with these features:
- A clear, central aiming point (bullseye).
- A grid overlay with 1-inch squares. This is gold because at 100 yards, 1 MOA is very close to 1 inch. So, if your shot is 3 squares low, you know you need to adjust about 3 MOA up.
- Markings for elevation (up/down) and windage (left/right) can be helpful too.
You can search online for “printable 100 yard rifle target grid” to find tons of free options. Many have 1-inch squares perfect for this. Using one will really help you see your adjustments clearly.