I’ve found that with laser sites you get what you paid For. I’ve gone cheap all the way to expensive and these 2 have worked best for me:
Wheeler Professional Laser Bore Sighter with Magnetic Connection, Multiple Caliber Usage and Storage Case for Scope Mounting, Gunsmithing and Maintenance https://a.co/d/eN9X7gx
Only used one occasionally, when a gun I can’t remove the bolt from gives issues getting on paper from mechanical center. Looking down the bore works as good or better than any laser I’ve ever tried….works even on lever guns.
25 yards to start. I use the Wheeler Bore Sight above and usually get it on paper easily but a lot of time I just look down the barrel like Modux mentioned. That should get your covered. You can always move closer but if you continue to have issues check your scope first you should be able to get on paper at 25. Usually if not you've got a scope/mount issue and even then that's been pretty rare for me to not be able to hit the paper.
I also bore site by looking through the bore and adjusting at 100 yards and rarely am I more than 8 inches off bullseye. Normally it's 6 inches and under.
Truck is to do your bore sighting at looong range….water tower a mile away, etc….then you’re almost always on paper at 100, and adjust on first round, then group and adjust as you prefer.
I always check the center of the vertical cross hair first. Put a vertical and horizontal line on the poster board. Shoot at the middle from a rest , then adjust the crosshairs to the hole.
I use a cheap one that adheres to the muzzle with a magnet.Center it the best I can,then bring the crosshairs to it on an object at 20 yards.Never had one be off more than 6” at 50 yards on the first shot. I use to sight through the barrel but this is a lot easier…