It took 15 shots, but got her sighted in today. I didn't have time to go to the range, so sighted in right in the back yard at 67 yards. It's 1 1/4" high at 67 yards. I was guessing at the rate of bullet drop and settled for 1 1/4" right now using Federal bulk 55-grain FMJ.
Brad - I read the owner's manual from cover to cover. I think every imaginable warning was listed about 15 times each - again and again and again. Ugh! There was nothing mentioned about break-in. I suppose I should learn about that, but after owning about 20 rifles in my life and never having broken any of them in with an actual plan, I'm guessing I'm not too rough on them. First thing I did was to give the bore (and everything else) a quick cleaning before shooting the first round. Then, shooting 3 round groups started zeroing in with a good break (the time it takes to smoke a cigarette) between sets to let the barrel cool a little. It was 2 1/2 inches left and 1 1/2" high (at 67 yards) from the factory. Going a few clicks at a time, watched the pattern move to the right and then down a hair. After getting it set about where I wanted it, shot a final group of four in a vertical line about 7/8 inch high (spread). The first shot was a dead-on bulls-eye (1/8" high) and the last three were right where I wanted them - centered left to right and 1 1/4" high. I'll play with it some more as I get time, but for now it's at least as accurate as I am. I need to spend more time shooting. Now I have a good excuse.
I have mixed feelings on the scope. It took a while to get used to getting the exact right eye relief to get a full sight picture. I wear glasses and have experienced this a little bit before with other scopes, but this one confounded me for a little while before getting used to it. I will say it's the cheapest scope I own. I'll shoot with it for a while. If I can't get used to it, I'll definitely upgrade. It's a start and I'm confident I can place a bullet of the type I was shooting today within a 1" circle at 100 yards 7 out of 10 times (Prone or from a rest) - more with practice.
Last, but not least, this is the first gun I've ever owned with a plastic stock. I wanted to own at least one with a camo pattern, so this is what I got. I don't think it is offered in anything besides black or camo plastic. It feels a little cheap to me, but, as I said, this is the first plastic stock I have ever owned.
Having not shot a .223 for a lot of years, it was a real pleasure and I'm looking forward to shooting a few thousand rounds through it.
