How does a scope on a rifle work?

Proberly a silly qυеѕtіοn, bυt іf a scope οf a rifle іѕ attached tο thе top οf thе thе rifle, аѕ mοѕt аrе, whу dοеѕ thе bullet nοt hit below whеrе thе scope ѕауѕ іt wіll?

Tags: Rifle, scope, work

6 Responses to “How does a scope on a rifle work?”

1. Maker says:

   June 5, 2011 at 6:19 am

   The centerline of the scope and the centerline of the rifle barrel are not parallel. The centerline of the rifle barrel intersects the centerline of the scope at a predetermined distance. Because gravity always pulls on the bullet at some point the bullet will fall through the centerline of the rifle scope at another predetermined distance some further distance away.
2. #20 Home Depot Fan says:

   June 5, 2011 at 7:01 am

   A rifle scope, simply affixed to the rifle, will do no good. The scope [ its crosshaired lens] needs to be aligned with the bore of the rifle. There are many ways to do this, but if you want to do it yourself, fix your rifle to a stand, get a good spotting scope or binoculars, and practice on a target. Use the dials of the scope to adjust the vertical and horizontal alignments.
3. DT89ACE says:

   June 5, 2011 at 7:02 am

   Simply, because the scope and rifle are not parallel. The line of sight of each intersect at a point. Once you sight in, you make the ever dropping bullet intersect a certain point with the crosshair of the scope.
4. W W D says:

   June 5, 2011 at 7:11 am

   They aren’t lined up in exact parallel. The bore and the sight plane converge at some distance, and the shooter can use the little knobs on the top and side of the scope to fine-tune exactly where they converge. That means that there will be a point at which the bullet hits exactly where the point of aim is, and it’ll be a bit off for other distances. That is where the “nut behind the bolt” (the shooter) comes in.
5. targetbutt says:

   June 5, 2011 at 8:04 am

   It’s because bullets travel at an arc, like any projectile. Once it leaves the barrel of the rifle it will go up to a maximum height and then down until it hits the target or the ground. The rifle scope is “zeroed” to a certain distance, so that the line of sight from the scope bisects the trajectory of the bullet somewhere down range. If you place the target close enough to the muzzle of the rifle the bullet will in fact hit lower than where you aim it. Move the target further and at some point it will hit where you aim. move it further still and it will hit higher than you aim and still further it will again hit where you aim.
6. Nick M says:

   June 5, 2011 at 8:59 am

   All good answers here. Basically as the other guys say, the projectile and aim point intersect at a certain point of distance due to the arc of the projectile AND how the scope is set up – Many people call this “Zeroed” which is the military phrase I’ve always gone with.

   Basically when you fit a scope to a gun the cross hair on the scope and the barrel of the gun have different ideas about where the bullet or pellets will land – at different ranges –

   You the shooter must get them to “agree” This process actually starts before you fit the scope – it starts with scope mount fitting and then goes on to encompass scope fitting and then a series of test shoots and scope adjustments to get them zeroed in.