Last updated July 26, 2026 · By Nick Hall. Part of our complete air rifle guide.
Sighting in an air rifle is a little different from zeroing a firearm, because pellets are slow and loop through a pronounced arc. Get the process right and you will hit exactly where you aim; get it wrong and you will chase your groups all afternoon. Here is a simple, repeatable way to sight in any air rifle.
Quick Answer: Mount your scope securely, bore-sight or start close at about 10 yards to get on paper, then move to your main zero distance (commonly 20-30 yards for airguns) and adjust the turrets to center your group. Shoot from a rest, use one consistent pellet, and let the group, not a single shot, tell you where to adjust. Because pellets arc, expect two “zeros” and learn your holdover for other ranges.
Step 1: Mount and Level the Scope
Fit your scope in quality rings and tighten evenly, leaving enough eye relief for a full sight picture. If you shoot a spring or gas-piston rifle, use rings rated for airgun recoil (the two-way recoil of a spring gun is hard on scopes) and a scope stop so the scope does not creep. Level the reticle to the rifle so your groups do not walk left or right as distance changes.
Step 2: Get on Paper Up Close
Start close, about 10 yards, so your first shots land on the target instead of missing entirely. Shoot from a solid rest, fire a group of three to five, and note where it lands relative to your aim point. Adjust the turrets to bring the group toward center. Working up close first saves pellets and frustration.
Step 3: Zero at Your Main Distance
Move the target to your primary zero distance, most airgun shooters zero somewhere between 20 and 30 yards, and fine-tune. Adjust to the center of the group, not to a single flyer, and re-shoot after each change to confirm. Use one consistent pellet the whole time, since different pellets hit different points of impact. When your group is centered and repeatable, you are zeroed.
Step 4: Learn Your Pellet’s Arc
Because pellets travel slowly, they rise to the line of sight, peak, and drop back, so a single zero distance actually crosses your line of sight at two points (“near zero” and “far zero”). Shoot targets at several ranges and record your holdover or hold-under at each, this “pellet on a string” trajectory knowledge is what lets you make accurate hits at any distance in the field. A chronograph and a ballistics app make this precise, but a notebook and a few targets work fine.
Sighting-In FAQ
At what distance should you sight in an air rifle?
Most airgun shooters zero between 20 and 30 yards, which suits the trajectory of a slow-moving pellet. Start close at about 10 yards to get on paper, then move to your chosen zero distance to fine-tune.
Why does an air rifle have two zeros?
Because pellets travel slowly and arc, they rise to the line of sight, peak, then drop back, crossing your line of sight at two points, a near zero and a far zero. Knowing both, plus your holdover between and beyond them, lets you hit at any range.
Do you need special scope rings for an air rifle?
For spring and gas-piston rifles, yes. Their two-way recoil is hard on optics, so use rings and scopes rated for airgun use and a scope stop to prevent the scope creeping. PCPs are recoilless and easier on scopes.
Why does my air rifle group differently with different pellets?
Every barrel has pellets it shoots best, and point of impact shifts between brands, weights and head shapes. Pick one pellet, sight in with it, and stick to it. Re-zero if you change pellets.
How do you get on paper when sighting in?
Start close, around 10 yards, so your first shots land on the target. Shoot a small group from a solid rest, see where it lands, and adjust the turrets toward center before moving the target out to your zero distance.
What is pellet on a string?
It is shorthand for an airgun pellet's looping trajectory. Because pellets are slow, they follow a pronounced arc, so shooters record holdover at various ranges to place shots accurately in the field.
Need a scope built for airgun recoil and parallax? See our best air rifle scopes guide, and pick the right pellet with our pellets vs BBs vs slugs guide.
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