A precision shooter knows that zeroing isn’t just about making rounds land where you want them; it’s about controlling variables. Every step before the first shot fired is an investment in efficiency, and if you can get that right, you are good to go.
This is why boresighting without firing is so practical and beneficial. Done right, it’s not just a shortcut to “get on paper.” It’s a mechanical alignment process that will help you reduce wasted ammo, accelerate zeroing, and build confidence in your optic setup.
But the experience of boresighting changes dramatically depending on the glass you run, and red dot sights have unique advantages in this context.
Let's explore.
Why Is Boresighting Without Firing Different?
At its core, the objective of boresighting without firing is to bring your sighting system into mechanical coincidence with the bore line of your rifle. Instead of using bullet impact as your reference, you’re using either:
- Visual bore alignment: sighting through the barrel itself (works great for a bolt-action rifle or an AR platform where the bolt carrier can be removed).
- Laser boresighting: projecting a dot from the chamber or muzzle to represent the bore axis.
The goal is simple: align your optic’s point of aim with the bore line at a chosen reference distance (most often 25 yards).
The special thing about this process is that it does not and cannot account for external ballistics. Barrel harmonics, ammo variation, drag, and gravity don’t enter the equation yet. That’s why no-firing boresighting is always a first step rather than a final zero.
But it’s a valuable one: a properly boresighted rifle at 25 yards will almost always be “on paper” at 50 or 100, saving you the frustration of chasing shots across a target backer.
Boresighting Without Firing vs. Live-Fire Zeroing
There’s an important conceptual difference between boresighting without firing and live-fire zeroing. Here’s how you can understand it:
- No-Fire Boresighting aligns two mechanical reference points: the bore axis and the sight’s optical axis.
- Live-Fire Zeroing aligns the sight’s optical axis with the projectile’s actual point of impact, taking real-world ballistics into account.
Think of it this way: no-fire boresighting is geometry. Live-fire zeroing is physics. You need both for a truly reliable zero.
Why Red Dots Work
Here is a major tip: boresighting without firing makes much more sense when you introduce a red dot sight into the equation. A red dot has certain inherent optical characteristics and features that streamline the boresighting and make it easier. Consider the following:
1. Unlimited Eye Relief
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With a scope, visual boresighting means carefully lining up your eye, your reticle, and the target- it's a juggling act.
- With a red dot, you don’t care where your head is. If the dot is on the bore-centred target, you’re aligned.
2. Minimal Parallax Error
- Most quality red dots are effectively parallax-free past 25–50 yards. This means the dot’s apparent position won’t shift significantly with small changes in eye position.
- During boresighting, this makes alignment with the bore or a laser projection faster and less prone to error.
3. Simplified Adjustment Path
- Scopes often have higher adjustment values per click (¼ MOA or finer), which is great for precision but slow when you’re making gross corrections.
- Red dots typically adjust in larger increments (½ MOA or even 1 MOA per click), which speeds up the process of “walking” the dot onto the bore reference point.
4. Single Aiming Point
- A crisp dot is easier to align with a laser or bore-centred target than crosshairs, hash marks, or a complex reticle.
- In other words, red dots remove variables and friction from the no-fire boresighting process.
What to Look for in a Red Dot if You Care About Boresighting Consistency
Not all red dots will give you the same results. For consistent, repeatable boresighting, a few technical features matter:
1. Adjustment Integrity
Look for tactile, audible clicks that track true. Sloppy or spongy turrets make it impossible to confidently align your dot.
2. Dot Size
Smaller dots (2–3 MOA) are superior for alignment work. A 6 MOA dot may cover your entire bore-centred target at 25 yards, making precision alignment guesswork. Remember that MOA really matters, especially in a red dot.
3. Optical Clarity and Emitter Quality
A clean, round dot without blooming ensures you’re aligning with precision, not a fuzzy starburst. Adjustable brightness across a wide range is critical here.
4. Mount Stability
Even the best boresight is wasted if your mount shifts under recoil. Invest in a quality mount with proven return-to-zero reliability.
5. Parallax Performance
Not all “parallax-free” claims are equal. Serious shooters should test their sight by shifting head position at boresight distance to see if the dot drifts.
6. Power Management
Long battery life or “shake-awake” technology ensures your sight is always ready to use when you set up for boresighting- and won’t die halfway through zeroing.
The Bottom Line
Boresighting without firing is not about precision; it’s about efficiency. It gives you a reliable baseline so that your live-fire zeroing can focus on fine-tuning rather than target acquisition.
And while you can boresight through the bore or with a laser using any optic, red dots make the process cleaner, faster, and more consistent. They remove the eye relief problem, minimise parallax error, and give you a single crisp reference point to work with.
For shooters who value time, ammo, and repeatability, pairing a good red dot with a disciplined boresighting process is a smart investment. Geometry first, physics second, that’s the formula for a reliable zero.
Consider these red and green dot sights for easy sighting.
