Step 1: Mount and Level Your Scope
Before you even hit the range, make sure your thermal scope is mounted correctly. It should sit securely on the rifle with the reticle leveled. Even a slight cant can throw off accuracy at distance.
Pro Tip: Use a leveling tool when mounting to avoid scope cant.
Step 2: Stabilize Your Rifle
Set up your rifle on a shooting bench with a bipod, sandbags, or ideally, a tripod designed for stability. A tripod minimizes shooter error, reduces fatigue, and ensures every shot reflects the true performance of your scope and rifle combination.
Step 3: Choose and Place a Thermal Target
Since thermal optics don’t see paper, you need a target that radiates heat or reflects thermal energy. Options include:
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Hand warmers taped to cardboard.
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Aluminum foil squares (reflect body heat strongly).
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Heated steel targets for repeat use.
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Commercial thermal targets specifically designed for sighting in.
Place the target at 25 to 50 yards for your first shots.
Step 4: Fire a Three-Shot Group
Take three careful shots aiming at the center of your thermal target. Avoid adjusting after every shot; instead, look for group consistency. A tight group (even if off-center) is easier to correct than scattered impacts.
Step 5: Adjust Your Reticle
Most thermal scopes allow you to digitally move the reticle to match your point of impact. This is slightly different than traditional turrets on glass optics.
For example:
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If your group is 2 inches low and 1 inch left, move the reticle down and left until it overlays the group.
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Many scopes use MOA (Minute of Angle) or MIL (Milliradian) adjustments, so check your scope’s manual for exact values.
Step 6: Confirm at 100 Yards
Once your scope is roughly zeroed at 25–50 yards, move your target to 100 yards (or the distance you expect most of your hunting shots). Fire another 3-shot group and repeat adjustments as necessary.
This step ensures your rifle and optic are dialed in for real-world hunting conditions.
Step 7: Save Your Rifle Profile
Many modern thermal scopes allow multiple rifle profiles. Once you’ve got a perfect zero, save the settings. This way, you won’t need to re-zero every time you switch rifles or ammo types.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced shooters sometimes run into problems when sighting in thermal optics. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
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Using paper targets – thermal scopes won’t pick them up. Always use heat-reflective or heat-emitting targets.
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Skipping stability – trying to zero off-hand or with poor support leads to wasted time and ammo.
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Rushing shots – allow your barrel to cool and fire steady, consistent groups.
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Ignoring environmental factors – heat waves, hot barrels, or warm backgrounds can distort your thermal image.
Pro Tips for Faster and More Accurate Zeroing
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Shoot in cooler conditions: Early morning or late evening provides better thermal contrast.
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Check your parallax and focus: Adjust your thermal scope’s focus until your target is crisp.
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Use consistent ammo: Switching grain weights or loads can shift your zero.
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Log your adjustments: Write down click values or MOA changes in case you need to re-zero.
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Rely on stability gear: Tripods aren’t just for spotting scopes—using a tripod like the Warrior Tripods Chief makes sighting in faster and more precise.
Why a Tripod Makes All the Difference
A tripod might not seem like a necessity when zeroing a rifle, but once you try it, you’ll never go back. Here’s why:
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Unmatched stability: Tripods eliminate human error caused by breathing or small movements.
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Consistency: Every shot is delivered from the exact same point of rest.
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Versatility: Tripods allow for height adjustments and leveling on uneven terrain.
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Field-ready practice: If you hunt with a tripod, zeroing with one ensures your shooting positions match real-world scenarios.
Many shooters overlook this step, but the tripod you sight in with should match the tripod you hunt with.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to sight in a thermal scope is one of the most important skills for hunters and shooters who rely on thermal optics. By setting up the right target, stabilizing your rifle with a tripod, and carefully adjusting your reticle, you’ll achieve precise alignment between point of aim and point of impact.
A properly sighted-in thermal scope means more confidence, cleaner kills, and better performance every time you step into the field.
If you want the absolute best results, pair your thermal optic with a stable shooting solution like a Warrior Tripod. After all, even the most advanced scope can only perform as well as the platform it rests on.