Is a Laser Bore Sighter worth it?

Nope there are other better methods.

I have bought several different kinds of these and none of them even got me on paper. Waste of money..

On a bolt action, you can generally rough sight it by looking through the bore with the bolt removed. The all in one stuff is hard to use because of the precise placement needed. However, I have used some cartridge (specific to one cartridge) laser boresighter types to roughly place old iron sights where they needed minor adjustment in the field. Not as useful for a scope.

I do not. On a bolt action, I'll rough sight through the bore. One shot at 25 yards (or 50) and adjust. That usually gets me on paper at 100.

I use one. Most of the time it gets me in paper at 50 before I go to the range.

I am in the minority by having good luck with these.

I wish I had one for my new Mini 14 when I went to get it on paper. It took me roughly 50 rds to get it on paper. I didn't have a spotter tho. That's about $10 worth of reloaded ammo so I would say they aren't worth it. For a bolt rifle they definitely aren't worth it. I can get on paper in 3 or 4 rds usually by sighting thru the bore.

Some people like to have gadgets tho so I won't take their fun away. My wife buys every kitchen gadget that Pampered Chef makes.

maxxhavoc said:

I use one. Most of the time it gets me in paper at 50 before I go to the range.

I am in the minority by having good luck with these.

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You're not alone.

I have an old Leupold Zero Point that's been great, not only a getting on paper, but for recording zeros when swapping scopes, changing loads etc. It's small enough to bring along on hunts just in case. I take a picture of my TGT grid, so if something gets whacked I can check things out in a couple minutes. For example, this year I sent a MK4 in for a reticle change, they ended up changing the turrets instead. Got it back, remounted and trued the scope, then re-zeroed using my recorded grid sheet. Just for chits and giggles I stepped out the back door and took a shot at my 407 yard turkey swinger and was rewarded with a hit. Honestly the correction was just a little more than I'd normally see due to conditions. When I actually sat down and re-zeroed, it was only a couple clicks off.

I also have a Site Lite SL150 laser that works pretty well. It also comes with a grid tgt that allows me to record, it's not quite as accurate as the Leupold though.

The "distant aiming point through the bore" works well, right up until you can't see through the bore.

Aim1 said:

I’m assuming you use a laser bore sighter to reduce the time it takes to sight in a rifle and also save ammo. If I’m incorrect please correct me.

If this is the case though, are they worth it?

Who uses one and who doesn’t?

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I use the older style manual bore sighter, for non bolt action rifles, and have for years. When used correctly, it works very well. It usually takes three shots at most be right on.

Most of my rifles are bolt action or AR style. I have looked through the bore with the bolts and bolt carrier groups out to do a line up of the sights or optics. I then shoot a round or two at my target to see where I am, then adjust my crosshairs or reticle to the impact spots on the target and am usually on at that point, with one or two clicks to finalize everything. Then I start shooting for groups.

Aim1 said:

One of the rifles is a bolt action the other is an AR15 so can’t bore sight that one I’m guessing?

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You can take the upper off and bcg out and with the upper stable and level look through the barrel and sights that way, that's how I have done it.

mdThanatos said:

You can take the upper off and bcg out and with the upper stable and level look through the barrel and sights that way, that's how I have done it.

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Same here. I've thought about buying one but with the success I've had without one, I can't justify the expense.

I've never used one. I bore sight bolt actions like most of the guys above described. On others, I just put a target on a big box at close range.

If you are a reloader, a deprimed case placed in the chamber gets very good results.
This is my preferred method.

I have some that are caliber specific that I have had good luck with. Gets me on paper without wasting ammo.

I use one that goes in the muzzle for rifles. It's worked great on my .308 bolt with scope as well as my AR with RD, although that was a little tricky. Worked great for getting on paper at 50yds.

I like the bullet versions that can be chambered for pistols and dry firing, not necessarily sighting.


The one I have that goes in the muzzle was $30 or so and well worth it. The "bullet" versions I use for dry fire can get a little more pricey, as much as $100, but IMHO they are extremely useful for dry fire practice.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...laser-bore-sight-22-to-50-caliber-20-12-gauge

I have one of these. It has always got me on paper at 25yds. And it's good for handguns too. One of the useful tools in my toolbox.

I use a laser boresighter on my handguns to sight in my weapon laser. It gets me very close to where the round is going to go. The final test always comes at the range. Haven't used my bore sight on any rifles though.

I use one. A cheap $40 version that goes in the muzzle. It’s especially handy for putting sights on pistols and getting almost exactly where I need to be. It’s very handy for getting close with rifles too - much more so than just looking down the barrel.

The ones that go in the chamber haven’t worked well for me.

I've used one of the ones that fit into the bore for a number of years. It hasn't failed to get rifles on paper at 50 yds or pistols at 20 yds regardless of scoped or iron sighted and it's adjustable for almost every caliber.

I use one. Most of the time it gets me in paper at 50 before I go to the range.

I am in the minority by having good luck with these.

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Well, technically yes, they do work. But it ain't rocket science to do the same thing without one. I've never seen where one ever saved me a single round of ammo nor one minute of my time. I'm within 1-2" of the bull at 50 yards without using one and am usually zeroed at 100 with 3-4 shots.

A guy I shoot Trap with just lent me one to check choke alignment. I graciously accepted, but had actually just patterned the three chokes I will be using. (the gun came with Skeet, IC Lt. Mod., Mod. and Full. I bought a Turkey choke. I'll never use the Skeet, IC or Lt.Mod.) I'll bring it back to him, unused, in a week or two.

troy fairweather said:

Nope there are other better methods.

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Can you elucidate!

Hokkmike said:

Can you elucidate!

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Most better methods have been posted above.