If you are shooting a bolt action, the first thing I would do is place the rifle on bags and pull the bolt out, sight through the bore, then, without touching the rifle, look through the scope and see if you are on the same continent.
If you are, then the next question is, do you have a way to fix the rifle on the bench? If you do, you can sight (start at fifty yds or maybe even 25) a point and after firing, crank the scope crosshairs to the point of impact. After firing you can reposition the rifle so the scope is back on the aimpoint and carefully adjust the scope crosshairs to the aim point, but the adjustment must be one without moving the rifle. Then progress incrementally down range with the target and fine tune with a spotting scope.
If you don't have a way to fix the rifle, you'll need to know the distance your scope adjustment knobs move the crosshairs at a given distance (say, 1/4 in @ 100 yds, per click or graticule mark), compensate for your firing distance and adjust accordingly. Remember, a 1/4 inch per click at 100 yds is about half that at 50 and twice that at 200. It's not 1/4 inch at all distances. All scopes don't use 1/4 inch at 100 yds either. Find out what yours is. It's usually marked on the adjustment disc. I was surprised once to find a Leupold used 1/2 inch at 100 yds.
Use the trajectory tables usually found in a reloading manual for predicted rise and drop of your weight of bullet, as it moves down range, at your velocity. Move the target down range until you observe a zero at your desired range. repeating adjustments at each new target range, as necessary.
Make double sure the scope-to-mount and mount-to-rifle is snug and you use Locktite or Guntite on the mounting screws. This will save a LOT of grief.
[This message has been edited by sensop (edited March 30, 2000).]