How Much Does It Cost to Bore Sight a Rifle?

Check Local Gun Shop Fees Before You Drive Over

Professional bore sighting at a local gun shop or outdoor retailer typically costs between zero and twenty-five dollars. What you pay depends on where you go, whether you bought your gear there, and the specific service you request.

Independent gunsmiths and neighborhood gun shops usually charge a bench fee between ten and twenty-five dollars. The process takes a technician five to ten minutes using an optical collimator (a grid-pattern scope tool attached to the muzzle) or an arbor laser. If you bought the rifle or optic at their shop, most gunsmiths align it for free as part of the sale. If you bring in equipment bought elsewhere, paying their standard bench fee covers their bench time.

Large outdoor retail chains like Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops provide free bore sighting if you buy either the rifle or the optic from their counter. If you bring in an outside setup, store policies vary. Some charge ten to fifteen dollars, while others align it free of charge as a courtesy to build goodwill with local shooters.

Call your local shop before heading out. Ask if the counter handles walk-in alignment on the spot and whether their fee includes checking base and ring screws with an inch-pound torque tool (a specialized wrench that tightens screws to exact tension without stripping the threads). Clarifying these points saves you an unnecessary trip across town.

Align a Bolt Action Rifle at Home for Free

Visual bore sighting is a reliable method that costs zero dollars. It works exceptionally well on bolt-action rifles because you can slide the bolt out of the receiver. That provides a clear view straight down the bore (the hollow inside of the gun barrel) from behind the chamber.

Safety comes first before you touch any tools or turn adjustment dials. Point the muzzle in a safe direction, drop the magazine, open the action, and clear the firearm chamber (the rear opening of the barrel where the cartridge sits). Verify with your eyes and finger that no ammunition is present. Move all ammunition to another room before working.

1. Secure the rifle in a solid rest. Place the rifle on a sturdy workbench using sandbags, a rifle vise, or firm foam blocks. The rifle must not wobble or shift when you let go.
2. Remove the bolt from the rifle. Depress the bolt release lever and pull the bolt out of the receiver. Set it safely aside.
3. Pick a distinct target. Choose a small, high-contrast mark roughly twenty-five to fifty yards away, such as a paper bullseye on a garage wall or a sticker on a backstop.
4. Center the target inside the barrel. Look through the open chamber down the hollow bore. Shift the rifle rest until the target sits dead center in the circle of the barrel opening.
5. Look through your optic without moving the rifle. Lift your head and look through your scope or red dot sight. Notice where your reticle crosshair or aiming dot points relative to the distant target.
6. Adjust your optic dials to match the bore. Turn the windage and elevation turrets (the left-to-right and up-and-down adjustment click dials) until the aiming dot or crosshair rests directly over the center of the target.
7. Re-check the barrel view. Look down the bore again to verify the target is still centered. If the rifle moved, re-center the barrel and adjust the dials once more.

Reinstall the bolt once both views match the exact same point. Your rifle is mechanically aligned and ready for initial live-fire confirmation at the range.

Weigh the Price of a Laser Kit Against Multiple Shop Visits

Deciding between paying a shop or buying a tool depends on how many firearms you own. Paying a gun counter ten to twenty-five dollars makes sense if you own a single hunting rifle that you shoot once a year. You avoid storing extra tools, and a technician handles the alignment.

Buying a laser bore sight kit is the smarter financial choice once you own two or more firearms. A dependable laser kit costs between twenty and thirty-five dollars in 2026. If a shop charges fifteen dollars per visit, the kit pays for itself after setting up just two rifles. A laser kit is also essential for lever-action rifles, pump shotguns, and semi-automatic handguns where you cannot easily look through the chamber.

Owning your own kit gives you convenience and independence. You can mount a scope on a Friday night without waiting on store hours or leaving your gun behind during hunting season. You can also verify your alignment anytime a rifle takes a bump in your truck bed. If you run backup iron sights to achieve cowitness with red dot sights, a laser kit lets you verify that both your electronic dot and your iron sights align cleanly before firing a single cartridge.

Treat Bore Sighting as the First Step Rather Than Your Final Zero

Expecting a bore-sighted rifle to drill the dead center of a bullseye at one hundred yards on the first shot is a common mistake. Bore sighting simply aligns the optical center of your sight with the mechanical center of the barrel at close range. It is an alignment starting point, not a final zero.

Bullets do not travel in a flat, straight line like a laser beam. Gravity pulls the bullet downward the moment it leaves the muzzle, while air resistance slows it down, creating a curved trajectory. In addition, burning gunpowder causes the steel barrel to vibrate and flex in tiny waves. These barrel harmonics subtly change the bullet exit angle, which a laser cannot simulate.

Zeroing is the necessary live-fire step where you adjust your dials so bullets land exactly where your reticle points at a set distance, such as 50 or 100 yards. Bore sighting guarantees that your initial shot lands on a standard paper target backer rather than flying into the dirt. That saves you from burning through expensive boxes of hunting ammunition just trying to locate your shots.

Avoid Common Setup Mistakes That Waste Time and Ammunition

Bore sighting is straightforward, but minor setup errors will waste ammunition at the range. Run through this short checklist before packing your gear:

• Check for loose mounting hardware. An alignment tool cannot compensate for loose scope rings or loose base screws. Use an inch-pound torque tool to tighten screws to manufacturer ratings, usually fifteen to twenty inch-pounds for rings and thirty to thirty-five inch-pounds for bases. Apply removable blue thread-locking fluid so recoil does not loosen the mount.
• Avoid laser alignment at long range in bright sun. Laser beams spread over distance, and bright sunlight quickly washes them out. Trying to spot a tiny laser dot at one hundred yards on a sunny afternoon is frustrating. Bore sight at twenty-five yards indoors, down a dim hallway, or outside at dusk. A solid twenty-five-yard alignment keeps you on paper at one hundred yards.
• Never chamber live rounds with a bore tool installed. Leaving an arbor, expanding adapter, or laser inside the barrel when loading live ammunition creates an extreme safety hazard. Firing into an obstructed barrel causes severe pressure spikes that can split the barrel and cause severe injury. Always pack the tool away before handling ammunition.
• Turn adjustment dials in the right direction. Turret arrows show the direction the bullet impact moves on the target. If your initial shot impacts low, turn the elevation turret toward "Up." If it hits to the left, turn the windage turret toward "R" for right.

Pick the Right Alignment Tool for Your Collection

If you decide to buy your own bore sight kit, choosing the right style of tool ensures it serves you across multiple firearms. The most versatile options are muzzle-mounted laser kits that use expanding rubber or plastic adapters. These adapters slide into the muzzle crown and expand snug against the rifling grooves to center the laser directly down the bore axis.

Check the caliber compatibility range before buying. A quality multi-caliber kit includes adapters that fit everything from small .17 caliber rimfire barrels up to 12 gauge shotgun bores. If you shoot target rimfires like the best red dot sight for Ruger Mark pistols, confirm that the kit supports shorter barrels securely.

Consider the laser color and switch design. Green lasers are significantly brighter and easier to track in ambient daylight, while red lasers are budget-friendly and gentle on batteries. Look for a kit with an external push button or toggle switch so you can turn the beam off between turret adjustments to preserve battery life.

1

CVLIFE Bore Sight Laser Kit with 64 Adapters fit 0.17

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  9.0
• Brand
  CVLIFE

Key specs2

Caliber Range

.17 to 12-gauge firearms

Adapter Expansion

A 64-adapter kit provides tighter diameter steps than smaller sets, helping secure a snug fit inside various barrel sizes without loose wobble.

Pros & cons43

Pros

• Broad caliber compatibility covering .17 caliber up to 12-gauge firearms
• Large set of 64 adapters allows precise fitting across diverse barrel internal diameters
• Bright green laser provides clear dot visibility across indoor and outdoor target distances
• Works across multiple firearm platforms including hunting rifles, handguns, and pistols

Cons

• Battery type and operating runtime are not listed and need verification before purchase
• High adapter count requires careful sorting to locate the exact size for each barrel
• Final zero confirmation at the range with live ammo is still necessary before field use

2

Bore Sight Laser Professional Green Laser Bore Sight Kit with

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  9.0
• Brand
  moloxo

Key specs2

Laser Beam Color

Green laser beam

Included Adapter Count

32 adapters

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Green laser beam delivers high visibility against target backdrops
• Set of 32 adapters spans a wide caliber range from .17 caliber to 12 gauge
• Compatible with both long guns and handguns for versatile bench alignment

Cons

• Specific battery model and expected continuous run hours are not detailed in specifications
• Half the adapter selection of 64-piece sets, which may leave wider size gaps between calibers
• Live-fire zeroing remains mandatory to account for real bullet drop and windage

3

Bore Sight Laser, Professional Red Laser Bore Sight Kit with

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  9.0
• Brand
  Despwolf

Key specs2

Laser Color Output

Red laser beam

Optic Pre-Alignment Role

Using a red laser at 25 yards indoors helps get your crosshairs on paper before firing live rounds, saving cartridges during sight-in.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Red laser beam provides clear reticle reference points for indoor bore alignment
• Covers calibers from .17 up to 12 gauge using 32 dedicated adapters
• Suits both rifles and handguns without requiring separate alignment tools

Cons

• Red laser dots can be harder to spot in bright direct sunlight compared to green beams
• Runtime hours and battery specifications are omitted and require verification
• Requires physical barrel insertion, so barrel cleanliness must be checked prior to use

4

EZshoot Bore Sight Kit for .17 to 12GA Caliber Rifles

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  EZshoot

Key specs2

Power Activation

Large push-button switch

Switch Ergonomics

A large push button prevents unnecessary battery drain by making it easy to toggle the laser off while adjusting optic turrets.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Large button switch allows quick, deliberate activation without fiddling with battery caps
• Supports calibers spanning from .17 caliber up to 12-gauge barrels
• Versatile design supports sighting on both rifle and pistol platforms

Cons

• Adapter count is not listed in product specifications and should be confirmed
• Laser beam color configuration should be checked before ordering due to variant listings
• Does not replace live-fire zero confirmation at your chosen shooting distance

5

CVLIFE Professional Laser Bore Sight Kit with 32 Adapters fit

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  CVLIFE

Key specs2

Switch Mechanism

Push-button power switch

Barrel Fitment Steps

• Select the adapter matching your rifle or pistol bore
• Fasten adapter securely to the arbor tip
• Insert straight into muzzle to project laser onto paper

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Green laser emitter offers strong dot contrast against outdoor targets
• Dedicated push-button switch allows quick power control during turret adjustments
• Includes 32 adapters to match barrel diameters from .17 caliber to 12 gauge

Cons

• Fewer adapters than CVLIFE 64-piece kits, offering fewer intermediate size increments
• Battery life details and replacement cell numbers are not specified
• Requires careful barrel alignment to avoid canting the laser arbor

6

CVLIFE Rechargeable Bore Sight Laser Kit with 64 Adapters fit

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  CVLIFE

Key specs3

Power Source

Rechargeable internal battery

Adapter Selection Size

64 adapters (.17 to 12GA)

Rechargeable Convenience

An internal rechargeable cell means you never have to search for hard-to-find coin batteries right before heading to the gun range.

Pros & cons43

Pros

• Rechargeable power system eliminates the ongoing cost and hassle of buying small coin cells
• Expansive 64-adapter assortment provides tight sizing choices from .17 caliber to 12 gauge
• High-contrast green laser ensures rapid dot pickup on distant target boards
• Push-button switch provides instantaneous on-off control during scope dialing

Cons

• Requires an available USB or power source to recharge when the internal cell runs flat
• Battery charge time and runtime per full charge are not stated in product specs
• Muzzle-mounted design requires clear, unobstructed bore before tool insertion

7

EZshoot Bore Sight Kit for .17 to 12GA Rifles Pistols

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  EZshoot

Key specs2

Switch Design

Oversized push button

Pre-Zero Utility

Mounting this tool in the muzzle lines up your red dot or scope reticle at home, ensuring your first live shots hit target paper.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Oversized button switch simplifies turning the laser on and off between turret tweaks
• Accommodates firearm calibers ranging from .17 caliber rimfire to 12-gauge shotguns
• Compact unit functions across both handgun and rifle configurations

Cons

• Total count of supplied adapters is not specified in the product title or details
• Buyers must verify laser beam color selection prior to completing checkout
• Does not account for projectile aerodynamics or bullet drop downrange

8

CVLIFE Professional Laser Bore Sight Kit with 32 Adapters fit

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  CVLIFE

Key specs2

Laser Illumination

Clear red laser beam

Indoor Bench Sighting

A red laser works cleanly indoors at 20 to 25 yards, letting you align windage and elevation turrets before burning expensive ammo.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Red laser provides crisp reticle indexing during indoor or low-light bench sighting
• Push-button switch prevents unwanted battery drain during long optic adjustment sessions
• Kit of 32 adapters covers popular rifle, handgun, and shotgun bores from .17 to 12 gauge

Cons

• Red laser beam exhibits lower contrast in intense midday sun than green emitters
• Exact battery type and expected continuous runtime are not provided in specifications
• Live-fire zeroing is still mandatory to lock in precise point of impact

9

Professional Laser Bore Sighting Kit： Green Bore Sight with 50

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.8
• Brand
  MCREHOTZ

Key specs3

Laser Diode Rating

Class IIIA, 520nm, <5mW output

Battery Performance

32 hours runtime (2x CR2 batteries)

Numbered Adapter Advantage

Distinct serial numbers on all 50 adapters remove guesswork when picking the exact sleeve to fit calibers from .17HMR up to 12 gauge.

Pros & cons43

Pros

• Extended 32-hour runtime powered by two high-capacity CR2 batteries reduces frequent cell changes
• High-power 520nm Class IIIA green laser provides strong visibility up to 300 yards
• Set of 50 individually numbered adapters simplifies selecting the correct fit for .17HMR to 12GA
• Convenient button switch enables quick one-touch power operation during optic adjustment

Cons

• Overall kit case measures 8.8 inches long and weighs about 0.86 pounds, requiring range bag space
• CR2 batteries are less common in household drawers than standard AA or AAA cells
• Muzzle laser alignment provides a rough starting point but cannot calculate bullet ballistic drop

10

EZshoot Bore Sight Kit Bright Red Dot Laser BoreSighter with

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.6
• Brand
  EZshoot

Key specs2

Control Interface

Large tactile push button

Bore Sighting Purpose

Aligning your dot sight with a red laser at 25 yards ensures your initial live rounds land cleanly on target paper without wasting ammunition.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Prominent button switch allows smooth, one-handed activation on the shooting bench
• Red laser beam provides an unobstructed visual aimpoint for centering reticles
• Spans small rimfire bores at .17 caliber up to large 12-gauge shotgun barrels

Cons

• Specific adapter quantity is omitted from product specifications and must be verified
• Battery type and operating hours are not listed and need confirmation
• Red laser beam has reduced visibility over long distances in bright outdoor sunlight

Last update on 2026-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

Will outdoor retailers like Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's bore sight a rifle for free?

Yes, major outdoor retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, and Sportsman's Warehouse typically bore sight rifles for free if you bought the rifle or optic at their store. If you bring in gear purchased elsewhere, some locations charge ten to fifteen dollars, while others perform it free of charge as a courtesy. Call your local store ahead of time to confirm their policy.

Can you bore sight an AR-15 at home without buying a laser?

You can visually bore sight an AR-15 at home for free using the chamber method. Push out the rear takedown pin, pivot the upper receiver open, and remove the bolt carrier group and charging handle. Rest the upper receiver securely on sandbags, look through the rear of the barrel to center a target at twenty-five yards, and turn your optic turrets until the reticle matches the bore view.

What distance is best for bore sighting a rifle at home?

Twenty-five yards is the ideal distance for bore sighting almost any rifle. At twenty-five yards, laser beams remain crisp and easy to see without spreading or washing out. This distance closely matches the initial trajectory crossing point for many centerfire cartridges, ensuring your first live shots will strike paper at fifty or one hundred yards.

How close to the bullseye will my rifle shoot after bore sighting?

A properly bore-sighted rifle usually lands its first live shots within three to six inches of the center bullseye at fifty yards. Bore sighting only aligns the mechanical sight line with the barrel; it cannot account for bullet drop, wind drift, or barrel harmonics. Plan to fire three to six live rounds at the range to dial in your final zero.