Bergara HMR 6.5CM and Athlon Ares BTR Setup (aka: Am I a stooge???)

[thestumper]

My first official question posed to the board, and it goes like this:

- Bergara HMR 6.5CM
- New Athlon Ares 4.5x27x50
- 20 MOA base (based on advise here and other sources - installed by a smith)
- Vortex Pro low rings
- Laser Bore Sight

Mounted up the new Ares this morning - things did not go as planned at the range. Bore-sighted at about 25 yards to get it on the paper and had everything tight at 50 yards within a few rounds. So far so good...

Took it out to 100 yards - seemed to be going well. Windage was spot on, needed to dial down the POI, which was working right up until about 2.5 MOA high, at which point I ran out of adjustment. Windage perfect. So here comes the "stooge" part....

As I contemplated my situation, I noticed that the scope might be canted. I had brought my Tipton, and upon chucking it in there... yeah... I was canted right at lest 5-6 degrees and maybe even a little more. Of course I left the tools at home (stooge...) so came home and remounted. I was able to re-bore-sight it at around 25 yards, but the weather deteriorated and I'll have to wait until tomorrow to re-sight. I plumbed it - it's perfect now in terms of alignment.

Questions:

1) Would the cant cause this? I know it can't be good regardless, but still... highly curious
2) If it does not solve the issue, what are my options?

I know there's at least one other guy out there with my exact setup and his is tight at 100 yards. 100 yards will ultimately be my minimum, so I don't need much of anything below it, but the more I've got above it, the better. My "POS" UTG 4x16 had no such issues - it had other issues of course, but not this issue. It adjusted and held 100 yards. It did have high rings - not sure if that makes a difference?

Anyone want to help a stooge out???

Thx!!!!

 

[CavReconScout]

Check the zero stop.

 

[BikePilot]

Yep sounds like the zero stop is set well above the minimum dial down. That optic should have 80moa of total travel, so when zeroed at 100 you should still have about 20 down and 60 up.

Fwiw I find it easiest to pull the bolt and look through the barrel to get started on a zero. That usually gets me within a few inches at 100yrds. Might save some steps of using a laser at 25 and such.

 

[CZp-01]

Fwiw I find it easiest to pull the bolt and look through the barrel to get started on a zero. That usually gets me within a few inches at 100yrds. Might save some steps of using a laser at 25 and such.

I have found this to be the easiest way to do it as well.

 

[thestumper]

Yep sounds like the zero stop is set well above the minimum dial down. That optic should have 80moa of total travel, so when zeroed at 100 you should still have about 20 down and 60 up.

Fwiw I find it easiest to pull the bolt and look through the barrel to get started on a zero. That usually gets me within a few inches at 100yrds. Might save some steps of using a laser at 25 and such.

Yeah - not a big fan of the last bore sight - I've sighted other things your way in the past. Figured that since it was a "laser" it had to be better. Sometimes I overthink things.... perhaps I should have just used The Force

Would that factory stop be that off? I'll have to figure out how to set it/reset it. I'll try it tomorrow. Thx to everyone for the tips!!!

 

[BikePilot]

I don’t know how they set them from the factory, I think you have to set them yourself based on your specific setup.

 

[checkmate101]

I'm guessing you have a newer model with the coin slot turret caps instead of the set screws but the zero stop system should be the same. Also, make sure you don't lower the brass ring too far that it bottoms out on the steel ring instead of the pegs contacting to create the stop.

 

[thestumper]

The zero stop was set at the factory. It was a 2 minute fix after I figured out what was going on. There was a gunsmith at the range while I was shooting; we pulled the bolt to get close and it was pretty obvious what was happening. I was surprised it wasn't set wife open, but hey - you learn things...

DOH!!!!!!!

Much thx to those who "called" this. It's zeroed at 100 and the stop is now set to that.