Rifle Scopes Box test, Pass / Fail?

[Icallem]

I had a Vortex Viper on my 308, really liking it, but have been able to shoot some distance lately and have found the crosshairs to be very thick when shooting 450+. I had a Sightron SIII on a rifle I retired of late, so I put it on in place of the Viper. When getting it zeroed, it seemed I had to chase it all over the place. I had never completed a box test on any scope, so thought I would do that.
This was shot at 110 yards, center first, then 5 moa up, 5 moa right, 10 moa down, 10 moa left, 10 moa up, then 5 moa right as well as 5 moa down.
Is this a passing display?

 

[Graham]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

Holding a zero and tracking are two different things.

Did you measure the grid on the target to make sure the squares are 1" squares?

Keep in mind that unless your scope is broken most tracking problems show up at over 10 MOA of adjustment.

 

[Icallem]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

The grid is in 1 inch squares. Also to add, the first three shots were the ones about 1 inch high.
As far as holding a zero, only time will tell that, right, or is there something to do to test that?

 

[lennyo3034]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

testing at 110 yards vs 100 will make a difference, especially the further you go. It'll be around a 10% error so clicking 10 MOA should move the reticle 11 inches at 110 yards.

 

[Don-n-Texas]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

I got 11.517 @110 yds. That test looks good to me.

 

[Icallem]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

I have plans to shoot in the morning (get ahead of the heat). I'll get to try it over 10 moa.
Doing the box test was a first for me, I would have liked to have it return a bit closer to zero. I'll check that again in the morning.

 

[Xdguy]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

Is it just me, or is there only 9moa between the outside targets? Maybe I just looked at it wrong?

 

[KTDLS7]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

It appears to be tracking +/- ~ 6" from "Z" fine, but you might want to expand that a little more.

See Lindy's description below:

http://www.arcanamavens.com/LBSFiles/Shooting/Downloads/ScopeChecking/

Lindy stresses two points: measured distance and maximizing turret adjustments. Regarding measured distance, you don't trust the local range or a LRF - you measure it with a tape. Regarding adjustments, 6" of elevation doesn't tell you a whole lot, except it tracked 6". Using 4' of dialed elevation, being MOA or Mil, tells a different story.

There have been several "what happened" threads when dialing for distance. All was well at a 100 yds, then tried longer ranges. The elevation and/or windage was WAY off. They couldn't understand this because they "dialed a couple of Mil at a 100 and it tracked fine". If not shooter error, typically this was a result of poor mechanical tracking or optic not mounted true.

You have to push the limits of adjustments to ensure proper tracking.

BTW, Lindy has some other great info on his site.

Kevin

 

[Icallem]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

I got to shoot out to 700 this morning, putting in 21 MOA to get there. That part was going good, but the wind decided to blow from every direction available. No that is not right, it just went left to right, then right to left. I have not gone back to 100, to check zero, but hope to this evening. Then maybe another morning of shooting will let me check to see if it will repeat.

 

[Icallem]

Re: Box test, Pass / Fail?

ktdls7

thanks for the link. I think I'll give that a try.