After the bases and rings screwed down to the rifle.

Mount the scope in the rings loose do not tighten the screws down enough to make the scope so you cant move it, just enough to have a very small amount of pressure on the scope tube. Set up your benchrest gear close your eyes and get comfortable on the rifle, than open your eyes without moving your head bring the scope to wear it needs to be....make sure of proper eye relief and cross hairs look level. Than without moving the rifle or scope tighten down the screws like you would tighten down lug nuts, star or X pattern insures even pressure. Now pick up the rifle close your eyes get comfortable and shoulder the rifle, open your eyes the crosshairs should be right there where they need to be if you have to move your head the scope needs to be adjusted. Aim at a window sill or something else that is level, if the horizontal crosshair is level with the sill you are ready to sight in.

To save ammo and money without a bore sighter, assuming your rifle is a bolt action, take the bolt out, set up on a bench with bags and a bench rest if you have it, put a peice of paper on the target 25-100 yards look down the bore and center the paper, adjust the scope so the cross hairs are centered on the paper. Start at 25 yards fire one shot adjust so they bullet will strike the bulleyes than zero at 100 yards. I can zero a rifle in 3 rounds doing it this way, fine tuning might take a bit more but I shoot tiny tiny groups at long range.


USE LOCKTITE ON THE SCREWS GOING INTO THE ACTION!