How to do a Scope Tracking Test?

by Mac Raven

Competition shooting, long range shooting, shooting sports, reloading, ftr, prs, elr, f-class, sling shooting, service rifle, air rifle, trap, skeet, clay, bench rest, shotgun, target, rifle, how to, shooter spotlight, tutorial, shooter spotlight, interviews, article, mac raven, 5 gun nation, handloading, education, nrl, high power rifle, palma,v2 series, ammo, rifle tunning, bullets

“Observation: I can't see a thing. Conclusion: Dinosaurs.” - Carl Sagen

Have you ever wondered if your scope is a piece of junk? Or maybe it broke on you? How to do a scope tracking test like a pro will answer that question. ELR shooters also use this method.

I will link the video version of this article from Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics at the end of this write-up.

I will also use the same numbers in the attached video to prevent confusion. I have done this many times. It is also why one of my scopes is a $400 paperweight.

Before you begin, I would advise you to already have a hundred-yard zero on your rifle. All other things must be equal, or you will end up chasing your tail.

Step One:

Purchase some heavyweight paper. Using standard paper, your bullet will tear a hole through it. Suppose you don’t have any heavyweight paper. You can put up a cardboard backer on the target frame. It will have the same effect.

Using a marker, draw a horizontal line across the bottom, then an intersecting vertical line is going up the paper. Both tracks must be entirely square. If they are not, this will not work. Also, put a dot/sticker where the two lines intersect. A cross-hair sticker, not My Little Pony. Although that would be funny, but not very helpful

how to do a scope tracking test-

Step Two:

Purchase a construction level, a 300-foot fiber reel tape, a steel tape measure, and a stapler.

Step Three:

Now head to the range and attach the target that you made to a target frame. Use your construction level and stapler. Please do not assume the target frame is square because, most of the time, they are not. The construction level will use gravity to ensure that everything runs right.

Step Four:

Make sure that your gun is level at the firing point. This will be done with the assistance of an anti-cant device or a scope level. Now your gun and target are in a symbiotic relationship. Kind of like your 3rd marriage.

Step Five:

Using your reel tape, measure from your rifle to the target. Where on your gun should you measure from? You measure from the center of your elevation turret on your scope. Write this number down for later.

Never assume; always measure. (93 yards in the video)

Step Six:

Dial your turret up 10 to 30 MOA. Use the round dot and the intersecting lines as an aim point. Now fire a couple of shots.

how to do a scope tracking test-
10 MOA dialed

Step Seven:

Using your ruler, measure the distance from the dot to the center of the bullet hole. (29 inches in the video)

Step Eight:

Here comes the math. 

Range (92.66) x Dialed Elevation (30) x Constant (.01047) =Expected Point of Impact (29.1 inches.)

Expected Point of Impact Shift (29.1)/Actual (29.0) = Actual Correction Factor (1.003) .3% Error

Not to be Mr. Obvious, but you put in your numbers. The only number that remains the same is the constant.

When you watch the following video, you will realize it’s not as complicated as it sounds if you have followed all the steps in the scope series. I can assure you of one thing if something’s wrong, it’s not your scope.

Disclaimer: Reloading/handloading can be hazardous to your health like many things in life. You take full responsibility when performing these procedures. 5 Gun Nation is not liable for your decisions. Don’t be an idiot; if you are, it is not our problem.