The question on many handgun owners' minds: Does a Boresighter 2.0 work with handguns? The short answer is: it can, but with caveats. While the Boresighter 2.0 is designed for rifles and shotguns, its applicability to handguns depends on several factors. This guide delves into the details, providing a comprehensive understanding of its effectiveness and limitations when used with handguns.
Understanding the Boresighter 2.0
The Boresighter 2.0 is a popular tool for quickly and easily aligning a firearm's sights. It uses a laser to project a beam through the barrel, allowing the shooter to adjust their sights without expending ammunition. This is particularly useful for initial sighting or after making significant adjustments to the firearm. However, its accuracy and reliability vary depending on the firearm's design and the user's technique.
Boresighter 2.0 and Handguns: The Challenges
While theoretically possible, using a Boresighter 2.0 with handguns presents unique challenges:
1. Barrel Length and Laser Visibility:
Handgun barrels are significantly shorter than rifle barrels. This shorter distance can impact the laser's visibility, making precise alignment more difficult, especially in bright light. The smaller diameter of handgun bores compared to rifles can also make centering the boresighter more challenging and potentially less accurate.
2. Caliber Compatibility:
Boresighters are designed to fit specific calibers. While some are offered with adapters for multiple calibers, ensuring the correct fit is crucial for accurate results. Using an incorrectly sized boresighter can damage the firearm or provide misleading results.
3. Recoil and Handgun Movement:
Handguns have more significant recoil than rifles. The recoil can introduce inaccuracies, particularly during the initial alignment. The Boresighter 2.0 is meant for a stationary firearm for the laser to properly align with the barrel; the movement inherent in a handgun firing position introduces error that cannot be easily negated.
4. Sight Adjustment Mechanisms:
The precision of sight adjustments varies significantly between handguns. Some handguns have very fine adjustments, allowing for precise sight alignment, while others offer coarser adjustments. The Boresighter 2.0's potential accuracy might be limited by a handgun's sight adjustments.
When a Boresighter 2.0 Might Be Useful for Handguns
Despite the challenges, there are situations where a Boresighter 2.0 can be helpful with handguns:
- Rough Zeroing: For a quick, approximate zeroing of the sights, especially if you're setting them up for the first time. This provides a starting point that needs further refinement on the range.
- After Major Modifications: If you've made significant changes to the handgun (e.g., barrel replacement), a Boresighter can offer an initial alignment before proceeding to the range.
- Troubleshooting Issues: If you experience a significant point of impact shift, the Boresighter 2.0 can help determine if the problem originates with the sights or another component.
Alternatives to Boresighters for Handguns
For accurate handgun sighting, using live ammunition on the range is always the most reliable method. However, other tools can help refine your sighting:
- Laser Cartridges: These cartridges offer a more accurate laser alignment within the barrel itself, often compensating for some of the handgun-specific challenges.
- Professional Gunsmithing: A qualified gunsmith can perform a professional sight-in service to ensure precise alignment.
Conclusion:
While a Boresighter 2.0 can be used with handguns, its effectiveness is limited by several factors. It's best suited for rough zeroing or as a troubleshooting tool rather than for precision alignment. For accurate and reliable sight adjustments in handguns, live fire on the range remains the gold standard, with tools like laser cartridges potentially offering a helpful intermediary step. Always prioritize safety and consult professional resources when modifying or aligning firearms.
