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mod90 · Veteran Member

Any one ever use an office laser pointer strapped to a barrel to sight in a rifle? My friend got his first air rifle & scope yesterday and came to see me to help him sight it in.It's a GAMO Dynamax. At first, the sights were so badly off that @ 50 yards it was hitting 4'3" to the right, and 3'2" high.
Any how, I zeroed it down into a 4"diameter for him, but for accuracy I'd like to use a laser. Only problem is I don't have a functioning bore sighter. I was thinking to rest an office laser pointer on the little space between the barrel & bottle, making sure its touching both evenly, then tape it down firmly. I know I'd have to cater for about a 1/8" difference between the barrel & laser position. My real question is has any one ever tried this & is it effective?
Thanks.

Crosman140 · Senior Member

Forget the laser pointer.

Set up a paper target about 5-7 yards from the gun and shoot 3 shots. Make adjustments to the scope. Take another 3 shots, adjust scope and so on until you are spot on.

Then move the target out to your desired zero range and shoot 3 more shots, adjust the scope, 3 more shots, etc.

Slavia · Moderator

I have looked at those things, but the light beam doesn't always come out straight (i.e., parallel to the housing). That's fine for office use, because your hand and eye can compensate - this application requires a little more precise alignment. The best I would hope for in any case is to get the shots on paper, which you have already done.

On the other hand, this forum is full of people that do what they say can't be done. That first paragraph has 61 words, and when you figure it out I will joyfully eat every one - and then go copy your solution.

SMP · Silver Status Member

lol...

I've used a small laser level. 6" with the V on one edge for doing pipe work.

They usually have small magnets embedded in the V that hold it fast to the barrel.

mod90 · Veteran Member

The beam shoots straight & isn't deviated from inside the housing of the pointer as can sometimes be the case. I checked it against the beam of a range finder & a laser level. I did this by lining them both up parallel to each other on a level surface. Then took a board out to 10 yards, & marked the distance between the points. Then 30 yards, same process. Then 50 yards, same process. At all three distances I got the same distance between the two points. Then I just placed it on my AT44 so it rested in the barrel & reservoir & rotated it gently making sure in was touching both. Just to be 100% certain the beam lines up with the housing. I'm going to try it tonight.

SMP I know those nice little levels you're referring to, they are very accurate once they aren't abused, and I used one like it in my little test.

Slavia my friend, we all have eaten crow at one point or another, and if this little contraption of my imagination works, then bully for me and you and the world can copy away. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board with my slice of humble pie & crow soup Laughing

SMP · Silver Status Member

I like soup

Pink Bouncer

Slavia · Moderator

Spoon being held in anticipation...

radar · Silver Status Member

It can't be done...this laser thing. No way no how.

Now, may I have bread with my soup?

mod90 · Veteran Member

Ok, so now I am proud to report that I got it down to a 1.25" diameter @ 50yds with my contraption!!! I didn't try for closer, but that's good by my standards.
My dear radar, I have no bread for your bowl of cold crow soup, but how about some moldy stale crackers as a subsittute Laughing

I really do believe though that its just my luck that the laser's alignment in its housing wasn't off. If it was I would have been saying something different. Good thing I checked its alignment with other accurate beams that are known to be 99.99999999% accurate.

Airhawk · Member

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Mind you the Dollar store lasers don't last too long on a springer Laughing

Slavia · Moderator

mod90 · Veteran Member

Don't forget to check if the beam is level in the housing. If it isn't you'll have a hell of a time getting it to work for your application.

radar · Silver Status Member

Good job!
(I'll pass on the crackers.)

NZ Shooter · Suspended

Too much tooling around here, I feel. Why not just buy a PROPER,REAL, rifle laser?? With a barrel or scope mount.
Interesting thing being, on this very site, there is a large thread on the
practicality / usefulness of lasers on air rifles.
And guess what ?? EVERYONE agreed there is no real use for one.
INTERESTING.........

mod90 · Veteran Member

"Why not just buy a PROPER,REAL, rifle laser?" Because some of us like to do things ourselves, for more reasons than one. And lasers on airguns aren't completely useless or unnecessary. They are especially quite useful at helping a shooter average range and holdover/holdunder when using a mil dot reticle without a range finder.
And guess what?? Not everyone in the world agreed that there isn't any real use for them. Those that know what they want a laser to do will use it, those that don't want to use it simply won't use them. It's just like most things in life. Its just a personal preference either for or against is all.