Re-centering a scope?

[MD]

I put an old 4X Bushnell Scopechief on my Winchester .22 Hornet last night.

It came off my 270 and it worked well enough on that rifle, but I was wondering, (seeing as it was used when I got it) if it would be wise to dial the adjustment knobs all the way to the end and then back again halfway so as to start off with maximum adjustments possible.

[One Shot]

That will not necessarily recenter the scope's reticle to the rifle. All mounts and mount screw holes are not all created equal. reticles are not always centered equally in scopes. Mount the scope to the rifle and use a bore sighter and relign the reticle to the center of the bore sighter. If you do not have one or wish to pay for it to be done, go to the range or other safe place and put up a target at 100 yds. Take the bolt out off the rifle and place on a gun rest or other stable plateform. Look through the bore of the barrel from the chamber to the center of the target and adjust the rifle so that it aligns up with the target. Then look through the scope without moving the rifle and see if it lines up with the center of the target. If it does not make adjustments to the scope reticle untill it lines up. Keep doing this until the scope and looking down the barrel are the same. (hence the name bore sighting). Replace the bolt and shoot a few rounds at 50yds and make any adjustments to the scope, and then do the same at 100yds etc out to the range you want sighted in to. This will save you at least alot of turning and counting. Good luck.

[the rifleman]

Yup, What he said!

I put my old 4x Bushnell on my .22, and it took very little adjustment. I wouldn't bother to get so radical, until you try it. They sure are great for taking the head shot at grouse. Quick, and quiet!

[Boxhitch]

One Shot has a good technique. I would add a first step, of doing the 'bore sighting' at home from a rest, at a shorter distance, say 10-15 meters. This will say if you are even close for a starting point. Put a + on the wall, level the rifle, level the scope in the rings.