Sighting In My Henry .22 LR Lever Action Scope - East Ridge Outdoors

Sighting In My Henry .22 LR Lever Action Scope

I recently decided to put a scope back on my Henry .22 LR lever action.

It doesn't quite look right to me yet. I've spent so much time shooting this rifle with iron sights that a scope mounted on top feels a little strange.

Maybe it just takes some getting used to.

For this project, I mounted an old Bushnell 3-9x32 scope. It isn't fancy, but it will be more than enough to see what this rifle is capable of.

Before I could start any testing, I needed to get the rifle sighted in.

Getting Ready

For ammunition, I grabbed a 154-round case of Federal Champion .22 LR.

It's bulk ammunition, but it would serve the purpose for today's sight-in session.

Along with the rifle, I packed:

  • Front rest
  • Rear rest
  • Paper targets
  • Staple gun

With everything loaded into the truck, I headed out to the property and set up a target 25 yards from my shooting bench.

Setting up to sight in a scope on a 22 LR Lever Action Rifle

Finding Paper

Rather than starting at the full 25 yards, I moved up to approximately 10 yards for my first shots.

Shooting free hand, I fired two rounds.

Not because it was necessary, but because there's something about a lever action that makes you want to keep going.

The first two shots landed well below the bullseye and off to the right.

I made a large adjustment upward and a smaller adjustment to the left before firing two more rounds.

The second pair was closer but still low and right.

First shots for a Henry 22 LR scope sight in

Another adjustment up and left followed.

At that point, I felt confident I was close enough to move back to the bench and start working at my final distance.

Dialing It In at 25 Yards

Back at the bench, I settled the rifle into the front and rear rests and fired a single shot.

This time the bullet landed high and right.

Sighting in a scope for my Henry 22 LR Lever Action Rifle

Now I had something to work with.

I adjusted the scope down and left and fired another shot.

The impact landed approximately one inch above the bullseye and was perfectly centered left to right.

Sighting in a scope for my 22 LR Lever Action Rifle

One more adjustment down.

Too much.

The next shot landed roughly half an inch below the bullseye.

I moved the scope back up slightly and fired again.

This time the bullet struck directly in the center of the bullseye.

Sighting in the scope on my 22 LR Lever Action Rifle

Exactly where I wanted it.

Ready for Ammo Testing

Normally, I would finish by shooting a five-shot group to confirm everything was perfect.

Today, that wasn't necessary.

I had also packed a few different brands of .22 LR bulk ammo, and the rifle was now ready to give them a test.

The Henry may look a little different wearing a scope, but it's ready to find out what type of ammo it prefers.

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