Rifle Scopes How much of a cant should I get?

[mdslammer]

I posted earlier this week about getting a custom rail for my
Savage BA110 .338 Lapua Magnum. You guys came through as usual
with some great advice and links.

My BA110 came with a factory rail with a 20 MOA cant. If I have
one made I'm not sure how much of a cant it should be. At first
I was considering a 40 MOA cant. But they offer one up to a 60 MOA cant.

Right now, I'm pushing out to 2000 yds. but would like to get farther out eventually to 2400 or so...
(It's a goal to try and achieve).

Would the 40 MOA cant be enough or should I consider a 60 MOA cant?

I have a NF NXS 5.5-22x50mm scope on my rifle.

Thanks guys.

Mark

 

[redbullitt]

Re: How much of a cant should I get?

Ballpark with 300 smk 2700 fps at 2000 (conservative guess) you are looking at around 93 moa up from a 100 yard zero. 147 min at 2500.

Your scope is listed as having 100 minutes of adjustment. I would probably try to zero wherever you want (something you can stick with mind you), then figure out/count how much "down" you have left on the scope. Buy your base from there and you can get the max range/elevation out of your scope, and even more if you dont care for a closer zero. Of course, if you only plan to shoot ELR, then by all means just get a heavily canted base and let the zero be way out there. Either way would work. I like to still be able to keep a closer zero since there is not much ELR opportunity in WV lol.

I have a 40 minute base on the 22, and the scope is noticeably canted forward. A 60 would be even more and would have to be taken into consideration with rings/mounts and your cheekweld. Not a huge deal, but something you will probably have to work with.

 

[mdslammer]

Re: How much of a cant should I get?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 331V8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ballpark with 300 smk 2700 fps at 2000 (conservative guess) you are looking at around 93 moa up from a 100 yard zero. 147 min at 2500.

Your scope is listed as having 100 minutes of adjustment. I would probably try to zero wherever you want (something you can stick with mind you), then figure out/count how much "down" you have left on the scope. Buy your base from there and you can get the max range/elevation out of your scope, and even more if you dont care for a closer zero. Of course, if you only plan to shoot ELR, then by all means just get a heavily canted base and let the zero be way out there. Either way would work. I like to still be able to keep a closer zero since there is not much ELR opportunity in WV lol.

I have a 40 minute base on the 22, and the scope is noticeably canted forward. A 60 would be even more and would have to be taken into consideration with rings/mounts and your cheekweld. Not a huge deal, but something you will probably have to work with.
</div></div>

Thanks for the help 331V8. Currently, I have my scope zero'd at 100 yds.
I shoot the .338 from 1000 yds. on out. I guess I could change my zero but
I was told the 100 yd.zero would be the most accurate.

I'm a bit concerned about having an excessive angle to deal with if I do go with a 60 MOA cant.
I'd like to keep the Badger Rings (low) that I already have.
And I assume a 60 cant would make it harder to get on my scope and the subshade clearance with the barrel could be an issue as well.

 

[redbullitt]

Re: How much of a cant should I get?

Accuracy wont have anything to do with where your zero is. Practicality may lol, but that's about it. I mean, if it's an ELR rig only, you might want to zero at 500 or even farther. I pretty much always go with a 100 zero just so everything is the same, and most shots I take are closer than 500 yards, especially on practical rifles.

I have not gotten to play with a 60 cant. FWIW I did not have to swap rings out on the 22 going from a 20 base to the steeper one... but the objective bell was pretty close to touching. Scope is low enough though that I probably would run into an issue if I went for more cant though.

I would think the 40 min would get you out to some pretty serious distance. Dont forget, You have holdover with the reticle, and if you are really scrimping you have a SFP scope, so worst come to worse you can dial back to half power and use the 2x reticle holds lol.

Probably would not be a bad idea to actually click all the way through your scope and see how much adjustment you actually have there below and above your 100yd (or desired zero). Then buy the base that will allow you to zero at the distance you are happy with.

That's exactly what I did with the 22 when I bought the steep base for lobbing subsonics out there. Very little wasted adjustment on my scope, and zeros where I like it to.

IF your scope and zero can handle it, I'd go for the steeper cant, especially on a long long long range rifle.

 

[rezmedic54]

Re: How much of a cant should I get?

there is a place that makes an adjustable rail I think it goes to 2 or 3 hundred MOAs maybe more.

 

[M-54]

Re: How much of a cant should I get?

I think the Ivy ASM (adjustable scope mount)goes to 150 moa. The Harbor Engineering adjustable mount goes to around 800 moa. And I think B&M Machine makes one but I don't know the specs. On of these should get you where you want to go, or highlight the need for another scope/gun/cartridge.