I have been using scope, reciever levals to properly install my scope, but the sight picture always looks like my crosshairs are crooked. Tilted, canted and it looks lokie this when just sitting leval on the bench...it just doesnt look right even though the bubbles are both leval. I am confused if I should shoot it like this or not??!
Rifle Scopes levaling scope trouble
- Thread starter relentless1
- Start date
You should probably convince yourself it is as plumb/level as you can get it.
Try to take a look at the vertical crosshair from behind the gun so that you can try to see if the vertical crosshair draws a line going through the bore. This is what you're striving to do.
At the range, post a target some distance away, (I usually use 100 yd). Also hang a plumb line - a string with a weight on it. Then at the firing line, at a shooting bench, remove the bolt from the action and set up the gun/upper on sandbags. Tilt the gun as needed in order to get the vertical crosshair parallel with the plumb line. Now, when looking at the back of the rifle does it look like it's sitting upright?
If you want to bore sight the gun you can line up the target you posted in the center of your bore and then adjust the scope so the crosshair is on target. This usually gets me to within 6" at 100 yds.
Try to take a look at the vertical crosshair from behind the gun so that you can try to see if the vertical crosshair draws a line going through the bore. This is what you're striving to do.
At the range, post a target some distance away, (I usually use 100 yd). Also hang a plumb line - a string with a weight on it. Then at the firing line, at a shooting bench, remove the bolt from the action and set up the gun/upper on sandbags. Tilt the gun as needed in order to get the vertical crosshair parallel with the plumb line. Now, when looking at the back of the rifle does it look like it's sitting upright?
If you want to bore sight the gun you can line up the target you posted in the center of your bore and then adjust the scope so the crosshair is on target. This usually gets me to within 6" at 100 yds.
Using bubble levels sometime will not result in true alignment but will get you close. I was shown a simple and foolproof way to level your scope if you have a one piece rail and a scope with a square base under the turret housing. Loosen the rings and run a precision ruler between the rail and the turret bottom when the rulers edges are parallel to both the base and turret with no gaps the scope is properly aligned. Tighten the rings and check again. It takes a little practice but but works like a charm. If there is a sufficient gap between the base and scope, an adjustable parallel works great. Horus also make targets that will check your alignment as well as the tracking of your scope.
I use a mechanics feeler-gage between the flat bottom of the scope and the one piece base. Of course, this will not help if your reticle is slightly canted. On a scope with a curved base, I use a level and a plumb line, but once again, this will not help if the reticle is slightly canted during installation.
Lee.
Lee.
Thankyou for your responce, I have a NightForce scope, but have had this same issue with the previous scopes on ythis gun... I always end up eyeballing and tweaking the crosshairs a bit to look leval to the reciever . In relationship to the guns levalness. Yes I have had someone else look too, and they see it as well....the tourets are what ends up not perfectly leval every time to the retical...mmmm? Not sure what I should do here.
The scope is really nice, it cost 2100.00. I do not think it is the issue here, as I said, this has happened before . The rifle is a Bruno 300 win mag.
The scope is really nice, it cost 2100.00. I do not think it is the issue here, as I said, this has happened before . The rifle is a Bruno 300 win mag.
Never heard of that one before. That's a damn good idea.
Wow! I am going to try the flashlight idea! Thankyou!
good ideas, tagged this thread
I had/have this problem its really no big deal.
Ive got a bubble level on the scope that tells me when the chassis is level
and I also plumbed the scope at 100yds
I also used the auto gauges to make sure the scope is level to the rifle.
When I first took the rifle in on trade and put my scope on it was clearly
off. Could not figure it out thought it was the receiver so I ordered a
Badger M2008. Had my smith machine the chassis and I popped the scope
back on using auto gauges,plumb line at 100yds,bubble levels still the same problem.
Come to figure out its the damn chassis thats slightly canted.
If I would have known this I would have had my smith fix it and I still can but it
really doesnt bother me anymore. Plus Im thinking an AICS 2.0 will be a fix for sure.
Anyways I just cant the rifle till the reticle looks level to me.
Its not perfect but it works just fine.
I shoot from 565-1k and she hammers it.
Its the rifle in my sig
Hope this helps
AL
Ive got a bubble level on the scope that tells me when the chassis is level
and I also plumbed the scope at 100yds
I also used the auto gauges to make sure the scope is level to the rifle.
When I first took the rifle in on trade and put my scope on it was clearly
off. Could not figure it out thought it was the receiver so I ordered a
Badger M2008. Had my smith machine the chassis and I popped the scope
back on using auto gauges,plumb line at 100yds,bubble levels still the same problem.
Come to figure out its the damn chassis thats slightly canted.
If I would have known this I would have had my smith fix it and I still can but it
really doesnt bother me anymore. Plus Im thinking an AICS 2.0 will be a fix for sure.
Anyways I just cant the rifle till the reticle looks level to me.
Its not perfect but it works just fine.
I shoot from 565-1k and she hammers it.
Its the rifle in my sig
Hope this helps
AL
Go to Home Depot and buy (they are cheap ) a laser level. It will project a line (horizontal or vertical) on your wall. You level it by using the built in bubble level. Next make sure that your receiver is not canted by using a bubble level. Now look through the scope and if your reticle is canted, loosen the rings and rotate the scope so that the reticle alings with the laser line on your wall. Pretty accurate.
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