A laser bore sighter is an amazing accessory to have on your gun for improving your shooting accuracy. However, you should understand that although a laser bore sighter is supposed to help improve your accuracy, it doesn’t mean that it will zero your gun in and hit the bullseye right away.
Instead, a laser bore sighter will provide you with a reference point for you to start sighting your gun so you can make more accurate shots. It might be very tempting to just get a laser bore sighter right after you get your scope, but we would not recommend that because you need to know how to choose the best laser bore sighter.
Well, you’re at the right place if you want to buy a laser bore sighter because this guide will provide you with the necessary information on how to choose the best laser bore sighter. With that knowledge, you will be able to pick the best one for your firearm. Without further ado, let’s go through how you can choose the best laser bore sighter for your gun. When you are looking for a laser bore sighter, the following considerations are to be kept in mind so you can choose the best laser bore sighter for your gun, according to Michael Nelson from Peakfirearms.
Budget
The first and most essential consideration for buying whatever accessory is your budget. Prices of laser bore sighters can vary depending on the brand, type, and quality, so it is important that you look for a laser bore sighter that is within your budget.
Generally, you will find that laser bore sighters that are offered at higher prices tend to have a better quality so that is something you can take note of when setting up a budget. There are also laser bore sighters offered at an affordable price and can also get the job done. However, don’t expect the cheap laser bore sighters to perform as well as the pricey ones.
Besides better quality, the more expensive a laser bore sighter is, the more premium features it will offer. So if your budget is on the lower end, then you might be missing out on some of these features. Some of the features can help you improve the accuracy of your shots but even without the features, the laser bore sighters could still do what they were meant to do.
Types of Laser Bore Sighters
There is more than one type of laser bore sighter on the market so it will be useful if you understand what are the different types of bore sighters available. By knowing this, you will be able to pick the best laser bore sighter for your firearm’s intended purposes. Generally, there
are two major types of commercial laser bore sighting systems which are optical collimators and indicating lasers.
Optical collimators are advanced laser bore sighters and it would take quite some time to comprehensively explain the science behind optical collimators. To summarise what optical collimators are, they are basically lenses that are perfectly aligned to be perpendicular to the bore and it’s positioned at the front of the gun’s sighting system to trick it into thinking that the target is at 100 yards, or more, away.
- [16 Adapters Fit for .17-12GA Calibers]: Upgraded 16 bore adapters in set, the laser bore sight can be applied to all .17- 12GA calibers.The adapters are engraved with clearly visible serial numbers to help you quickly match the corresponding model.
- [Specially Designed Arbor to Improve Stability]: Equipped with arbor for .54-12GA calibers allows the boresighter to fit barrels perfectly, providing higher stability and accuracy.
- [High Accuracy]: The laser bore sight kit multiple caliber emits a straight red laser beam, providing a precise reference for zeroing in on your optics. Brightness Enhancement: Max Output Power: less than 5mW，Class IIIA Laser.
- [Push Button Switch and 2 Sets of Batteries]:With a sensitive push button switch, you can control the laser on and off very well. Comes with 2 sets improved LR44 batteries（6 batteries) and each set lasts up to 2.5 hours, allows you to quickly replace batteries when working outdoors.
- [Easy to Use]: EZshoot laser bore sighter has been calibrated before leaving the factory, no further adjustments required. Just simply choosing appropriate size adapter to install on the boresighter and place the laser bore sight in the barrel.
This type of bore sighter is the most accurate when it comes to visualizing the bullet drop and the best part about an optical collimator is that it doesn’t require a battery. As such, you don’t need to worry about the sighter failing on you when you need it most. Unsurprisingly, optical collimators are also more expensive than the next type of bore sighter that we’re going to talk about, which are lasers.
Lasers are the most common type of bore sighters and most of them are just as accurate as optical collimators, but cheaper. This type of sighting system is less expensive because the effort required to manufacture is rather simple. As a result, a laser’s capability to maintain the current settings is also lower and it might be a regular expense in the future to keep the settings right.
There isn’t one type of laser bore sighter that is best for every shooter, only laser bore sighters that are suitable for your intended purpose. With that said, the best type of laser bore sighter is the one that enhances your performance for whatever shooting activity you’re carrying out.
Durability
Whether you’re buying a rifle, pistol, revolver, or accessories for your firearms, the most important aspect that you need to consider is the durability of the product. It is pointless to go through all the hassle and spend your hard-earned money on something only to find out that the product stops working after a few months.
The best laser bore sighter for whatever application needs to be durable and durability depends on the construction material used for the product. The most common type of material used to construct a bore sighter is metal and for the best durability, it would be ideal if it was constructed with aluminum. Try to avoid laser bore sighters constructed with cheap materials because they are highly unlikely to last for a lifetime.
It would be ideal if the laser bore sighter is treated to withstand harsh weather conditions, especially if you are using it for your hunting trips. You should also be aware that the higher the build-quality of a laser bore sighter, the more expensive it will be. But it is a good investment to get a laser bore sighter that can last for a lifetime.
Versatility
Since you will be spending some money to acquire a laser bore sighter, it would be best if you get one that can be used for many applications. Versatility is certainly something that you should consider because you can’t put on any laser bore sighter onto any firearm. By finding a versatile laser bore sighter, you will be able to mount it on various firearms for various applications.
Normally, the laser bore sighters you see on the market are made to fit .22 to .50 caliber firearms while there are also laser bore sighters on the market for .177 to .50 barrels. The best laser bore sighter should have a universal fit so it doesn’t matter which caliber your firearm is chambered for, it will still be a good fit.
Battery Lifespan
- Clear and bright green laser, which can provide longer distance sighting than red laser bore sight, good for outdoor work in day.
- Class IIIA laser, less than 5mW, safe and harmless. Caution: Keep the green laser beam away from eyes.
- Faster zeroing and high accuracy to aim at the target, sighting range of the 223 laser bore sight is 30 to 300 yards.
- The 5.56 laser bore sight includes 4 sets of batteries (12 AG3 batteries), which can last 2 hours and 40 minutes in total (each set of battery can last up to 40 minutes). Note: When the battery power is about to run out, the laser will keep flashing and then dim, please replace with the new battery at this time.
- The 223 bore sight fits for 5.56 .223 chamber, caliber specific. Easy to sit perfectly in the bore. Sturdy brass construction.
This consideration is only applicable for laser bore sighters and not optical collimators because collimator sighting systems do not require batteries to function. A good-quality laser bore sighter needs to be backed up by a good battery. It would be quite frustrating to pay so much for a laser bore sighter and have it die on you after a few hours into your shooting or hunting session.
Getting a laser bore sighter with long battery life is important because there is no time for you to wait for the battery to be fully charged, so it would be best if the sighter can last for a long time. Generally, most laser bore sighters come with 2AA lithium-ion batteries and they are good enough to last up to 20 hours. You may opt for lower standard batteries, but don’t expect them to last long.
Ease of Use
The next consideration to keep in mind when choosing the best laser bore sighter is how easy it is to use the sighter. No one would pay for an accessory just to find out that it takes them forever trying to mount it on their firearm. So, make sure that the laser bore sighter can be easily mounted on your firearm before you make a purchase for it.
You can find out the ease of use of a laser bore sighter by looking at reviews online or videos. Reading reviews and watching videos give you a better idea of how you can mount the laser bore sighter.
Weight and Size
Finally, the best laser bore sighter should have a weight and size that is suitable for your firearm’s intended purposes. The weight of your firearm is quite substantial already, so it would be best if the laser bore sighter has a lightweight and compact size so it doesn’t drastically change how the firearm shoots.
After all, a laser bore sighter is supposed to enhance the performance of your firearm so you should take into consideration the factors that can potentially affect the performance too.
Conclusion
A laser bore sighter is an excellent accessory to have for your firearm as it helps you zero in your firearm quickly and efficiently. With so many laser bore sighters on the market and each one claiming to be the best, it can be difficult to actually choose the best laser bore sighter.
But with the help of this guide, we believe that choosing the best laser bore sighter for your gun will be a walk in the park. There are obviously other considerations and factors to take into account, but with just the ones that were mentioned in our guide, it will be sufficient to pick out the best laser bore sighter on the market.