It's the direction that you want the bullet to move on the target.   so if you were hitting the target at 4 O'clock, you'd move it up and left.

Hi OG.

What sort of rifle are you working with?  Just curious. 

at the risk of sounding like I actually know something about firearms, I'd like to add a post describing a really old, tried and true method for sighting in a scope with very limited expense of ammunition. I don't remember when I learned this, or where it came from, but it's been almost like something "you just know"....

The only tools you need are either a good solid lock down gun vise if you're working solo, or a cheap gun vise and an assistant, or a bunch of sandbags and an assistant (the way I learned).

First step is to get on paper at 25 yards.... either bore sight directly through the breach of a bolt gun and rough adjust the scpoe, or with a rifle that still has irons that are useable, bench the gun (either the vise, or a friend to steady the gun on the sandbags while you adjust) and adjust the scpoe to the POA of the irons..... or use a laser bore sighter to get started.

Once you're on paper at 25, you're ready for the easy part. With the gun "on paper", set up a target with  a nice cross hair pattern (paper plate with magic marker works fine), either sandbag or bench vise the rifle and take one good shot at the target. It doesnt matter if you're up, down, right or left at this point, as long as you're "on paper". Next with your rifle firmly in place in the vise (real vise or sandbags and assistant holding) point the scope dead center on the cross hair mark on the target.... then with the gun held firmly in place, pointed at the target cross hair, turn the scope adjustment knobs to align the scope cross hair with the bullet hole you just shot.

Next, for good measure, it doessn't hurt to take another shot at the 25 yard target to make sure you're gaining ground. Then, move out to 50 yards and repeat. When you're within one MOA (normally no more than 2 shots needed), move out to 100. Beyond 100 yards, it's best to know your equipment, and adjust for wind and atmospheric conditions, or basic fine tuning for ammunition variations.

I've mounted new scopes and had them dialed in to the ability of the rifle at 100 yards with as little as 5 rounds using this method.

Hope it made sense


surv

Only 5 rounds?!   Aww heck - that takes all the fun out of it!   I really like the whole sighting process.   

When I got my last scope, I ended up moving 3 other scopes to get the combination's that I wanted.  I spent 8 hours at the range, and probably went through 400 rounds of ammo in the process.   It was so much fun!

OG, I use roughly the same method as Mr. Surveyor. The only time you really need to have the gun rock steady is after you've lined up the crosshairs on the target and are moving them to center in on the bullet hole. I've done it with both sandbags and with a cheap plastic rest. It's gotten both my Marlin 30-30 with an old Redfield scope and my son's Winchester with an old Weaver good to go out to 100 yds. Last spring we switched scopes, So it will be time to sight in from scratch again once the weather gets a little cooler.

what will help during sighting in at the range are those "Shoot'N'See" targets you can buy at WalMart. Stick several on your target holder then you won't have to walk to the target and can see the hits fairly easily. Either way, Surv's method or EJ's method, that target will help.
og

BTW, just browsing came across this thread on scope adjustment.....
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327874&highlight=scope+adjustment