Bore Sighters or Collimators "Information needed"

.22 L.R

I was looking at purchasing one of these units. One that I tried recently was a "Bushnell Professional" the one with the 3 expandable arbors. I was able to adjust the scope easily with this unit. I did however not have an opportunity to try the rifle out to see how accurate the results were. I was using it on a .22 rimfire and was mainly concerned with the windage adjustment as opposed to the elevation since the mounts were windage adjustable. I wanted to keep my scope adjustments centered as close as possible and use the mounts first to get it centered. I was thinking about buying some type of bore sighter and was wondering what peoples opinions were on these units. Another one that I am considering even though I have never seen one is the "Sweany" brand that is sold by Brownells. It supposedly is USA made as opposed to Bushnells being Japan. The only thing is that the Sweany uses seperate arbors as opposed to Bushnells ajustable. Is one necessarily better than the other. To me the Bushnell system sppears to be well thought out,simple,well made and easy to use. It appears to be able to cover just about every bore size most people would have need for. As to the Sweany it costs more especially it you start buying alot of seperate arbors. I personally wouldn't need more than a handfull of arbors myself. I question wether the Sweany offers any real advantage over the busnell design. As I said earlier their adjustable arbor system seems to be very well thought out. Does anyone have more experience with these systems than myself and could let me know what the pros and cons are of both. I also thought of a lazer type system but unless I can see a real advantage with one of these I'll stick with one like I mentioned above. Please help I need some advice.

mrbruce

I have my poor old Sweany about wore out from so much use, and I would replace it in a heartbeat if I ever lost it.. Seen a few others but never seen where they were any better than what I have....

perry shooter

Hello I have one with 14 different size SPUDS . I love my unit and it gives me confidence that my rifle is still ZEROED after shipping ETC. I keep a small note book with where on the grid each rifle /scope combination results with final Zero Now I can take the scope off and as long as I don't change rings I can reinstall on rifle go to my notes and be less then 2 inches off at 100 yards . I can use the same scope and rings on more then one rifle. IMHO having this note book is the key to getting the most value out of one of these units . No need to re-zero that rifle at a once in a lifetime hunt. Just check against your notes.You can also use one of these units to check a rifle that does not group well shoot a shot and use collimator then shoot another shoot and check if collimator is in same spot or if scope or mounts have shifted . I guess you can say I think this is one of my most important tools / time-savers.

edit IMHO the reason you need to keep notes and the reason you need spuds instead of a magnet type is TWO-FOLD Because the fact that the sightline /center of a scope can vary as to the bore center-line you most likely have to do some adjustment to get perfect Zero . Then you make a notation by placing the spud back in the bore For instance you may find that the collimator is now one square to the left and three squares high on the grid. a week /a month / a year later you can take your collimator the same rifle and your note and instead of adjusting for the center of the grid you adjust for your note on this combination of rifle and scope. A magnet type will not repeat to the same spot. The second reason is you can take your Collimator in your luggage when you ship your rifle check your note when you get to your hunting site and have no worry the scope or mounts was damaged in transit a magnet type again is worthless for this type of use.

dcs shooters

I have both types and don't see where one is better than the other, once you get used to them. The only thing I can see, is that with the fixed arbor there can be some slight movement, where the expandable ones center and hold tighter.

5mmgunguy

I like the leupold unit. And if I leave it on the gun and fire it I don't blow up my gun like the guy that is on internet now.

Nwcid

I guess it depends on what you are using it for. If you are using just for setting up a new scope from time to time, why? With the gun secure in a "vice" I either use one of two methods. The look down the bore at a target the move the cross hairs to the same spot. The other is shoot one round at the center of the target, then put the cross hairs on the impact spot, then adjust the cross hairs to the point to the center.

A bore site is not intended to be 100% accurate and still require putting rounds on target to make finally adjustments.

Perry that is a very interesting use and makes good sense.

Hawkshaw

I have bore sighted many-many scopes with several different brands of equip. I've prety much settled on the Leupold, because of the magnetic feature. However, that said , this style assumes that the crown is perpendicular to the bore, where as the arbor, "should be centered" in the bore. The most frustrating part of this whole operation is that, on any given day, with any given rifle, you'll bore site, go to the range, and be just about dead on. The next day, with a different rifle, you may be off 12" at 50 Yds. Bottom line is you must do the range work. Bore sighting is cheaper than ammo though.

JIM STARK

I have been using the Bushy with 3 expanable arbors for about 20 yrs...No complaints..I actually had two rifles that shot to dead center..as bore sighted...just dumb luck I guess...
JIM...............

tsr1965

quote:Originally posted by Hawkshaw
I have bore sighted many-many scopes with several different brands of equip. I've prety much settled on the Leupold, because of the magnetic feature. However, that said , this style assumes that the crown is perpendicular to the bore, where as the arbor, "should be centered" in the bore. The most frustrating part of this whole operation is that, on any given day, with any given rifle, you'll bore site, go to the range, and be just about dead on. The next day, with a different rifle, you may be off 12" at 50 Yds. Bottom line is you must do the range work. Bore sighting is cheaper than ammo though.


If you have to use equipment other then a device to securely hold the firearm, then you are not BORESIGHTING, you are columnating. BORESIGHTING entails of sighting thru the bore of the weapon, and adjusting the sighting system to correspond.

Decent Columnators can be used to make sure the scope is mounted so the crosshairs are square to the bore, which is very important. They can also be used to do as perry shooter described, to refference a zereo after shipping or traveling with a gun. The chamber lasers can do the same thing, but one must make sure they are indexed/oriented in the chamber the same everytime they are used.

Best

hedgehopper62

Always eception to the rule,I have a old mil. unit marked boresighting gage TXII-7-195.tks hedge[:D]

rock,roll,n,load

Remember to remove it before touching off a round!!

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No that's not a crack pipe.
It's a Laserlyte bore sighter after being launched by a .50 Beowulf.
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