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Rifle Scopes Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

heydavemd

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 11, 2009
340
0
69
SW Colorado
I have an Elite 4200 6x24 mild-dot, and I can't get it on target. It is on my Ruger M77 22-250. I have lapped the rings (Ruger), remounted it, and moved it forward and backwards, and the best I can do is to use the upper mil-dot to hit the bull at 100 yards. The cross hairs are smack on at 400 yards, but I would really like to be able to use the cross hairs a little closer in. And yes, I've spun the turrets to the fullest extent. I did try another Bushnell scope, and it too aimed high, but I was able to center the cross hairs at the absolute top of its travel at 200yds. A Leupold VX-III worked OK, but I like that scope better on my 220 swift. Is it the scope, the rings, the rifle, or me. Thanks
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

Sir,
It sounds like your rear ring is set higher than the front ring. I would start with checking to make sure that the rings are not "Front" and "rear" dependent. Ruger had a "notch" in the base and a tab on the ring...are they lined up?

Try leveling the receiver and then set the level in the rings...Are they both level?

Good Luck
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an Elite 4200 6x24 mild-dot, and I can't get it on target. It is on my Ruger M77 22-250. I have lapped the rings (Ruger), remounted it, and moved it forward and backwards, and the best I can do is to use the upper mil-dot to hit the bull at 100 yards. The cross hairs are smack on at 400 yards, but I would really like to be able to use the cross hairs a little closer in. And yes, I've spun the turrets to the fullest extent. I did try another Bushnell scope, and it too aimed high, but I was able to center the cross hairs at the absolute top of its travel at 200yds. A Leupold VX-III worked OK, but I like that scope better on my 220 swift. Is it the scope, the rings, the rifle, or me. Thanks </div></div>

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

[quote/]

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve [/quote]

Does Burris make Sig. Zee's for Ruger? If they do, then that with a set of off sets may be the best solution..
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an Elite 4200 6x24 mild-dot, and I can't get it on target. It is on my Ruger M77 22-250. I have lapped the rings (Ruger), remounted it, and moved it forward and backwards, and the best I can do is to use the upper mil-dot to hit the bull at 100 yards. The cross hairs are smack on at 400 yards, but I would really like to be able to use the cross hairs a little closer in. And yes, I've spun the turrets to the fullest extent. I did try another Bushnell scope, and it too aimed high, but I was able to center the cross hairs at the absolute top of its travel at 200yds. A Leupold VX-III worked OK, but I like that scope better on my 220 swift. Is it the scope, the rings, the rifle, or me. Thanks </div></div>

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve </div></div>

Any scope should be able to get to 100 yards without more elevation. Something else is the issue.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MTETM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote/]

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve </div></div>

Does Burris make Sig. Zee's for Ruger? If they do, then that with a set of off sets may be the best solution.. [/quote]

I don't know if they do.I should learn to wake up more before I attempt to post first thing in the morning.I was thinking Rem not Ruger and changed my post to suit.

Steve
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an Elite 4200 6x24 mild-dot, and I can't get it on target. It is on my Ruger M77 22-250. I have lapped the rings (Ruger), remounted it, and moved it forward and backwards, and the best I can do is to use the upper mil-dot to hit the bull at 100 yards. The cross hairs are smack on at 400 yards, but I would really like to be able to use the cross hairs a little closer in. And yes, I've spun the turrets to the fullest extent. I did try another Bushnell scope, and it too aimed high, but I was able to center the cross hairs at the absolute top of its travel at 200yds. A Leupold VX-III worked OK, but I like that scope better on my 220 swift. Is it the scope, the rings, the rifle, or me. Thanks </div></div>

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve </div></div>

Any scope should be able to get to 100 yards without more elevation. Something else is the issue. </div></div>

You're right ! I've ran into this problem before though on different rifles throughout the years.

Steve
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an Elite 4200 6x24 mild-dot, and I can't get it on target. It is on my Ruger M77 22-250. I have lapped the rings (Ruger), remounted it, and moved it forward and backwards, and the best I can do is to use the upper mil-dot to hit the bull at 100 yards. The cross hairs are smack on at 400 yards, but I would really like to be able to use the cross hairs a little closer in. And yes, I've spun the turrets to the fullest extent. I did try another Bushnell scope, and it too aimed high, but I was able to center the cross hairs at the absolute top of its travel at 200yds. A Leupold VX-III worked OK, but I like that scope better on my 220 swift. Is it the scope, the rings, the rifle, or me. Thanks </div></div>

Not enough total eleavation.Somebody makes a picatinny base adapter that goes into the ruger slots.I don't remember who.Then you need a pair of Burris Signature rings to go onto base so you can adjust the proper amount of cant needed.

Steve </div></div>

Any scope should be able to get to 100 yards without more elevation. Something else is the issue. </div></div>

You're right ! I've ran into this problem before though on different rifles throughout the years.

Steve </div></div>

It does sound as if your front ring is higher than the rear ring. I had this scope, and I guarantee that you can reach 100 yards!
wink.gif
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

Uh, if the dude is using the top dot in the reticle to get on at 100, that means he is holding 4 mils low. I'm gonna go out on a bit of a limb here - something tells me he does not need more elevation out of his base.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

Sounds to me like the front ring is lower than the back ring. Since you have tried another scope with the same issue, I can only surmise it is a ring issue.

Are you the only owner of this rifle, or did you buy it used?

Have you tried different rings?

Is the barrel free floated, or is there something putting a lot of pressure on the barrel near the tip of the stock?
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

OK, I hope we're all in agreement that he has WAY TOO MUCH elevation already
wink.gif
. If you already tried another scope and still had the same problem then I'd say the scope is NOT the issue. Rings are in qestion and should be considered. You havn'nt said anything about your base, are you using one? If so, it could be defective or mounted bad. Reciever top could be uneven or not square with the bore. Just a few things to look into. Good luck.

okie
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

My Leupold VX III worked fine, but both Bushnell's had a problem. Its the Ruger mount that came on the rifle, with the original Ruger rings. I cant find any aftermarket stuff. Seems Ruger is sort of the bastard child of the shooting world.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

Does your rifle have a pad pushing up on the barrel at the tip of the stock? It is not free floated, right?
I had a Ruger rifle, and it had a little pad,(from the factory) and it would change my POI every time I took the rifle out of the stock for deep cleaning. I got tired of the frustration and sold it.
SScott
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Leupold VX III worked fine, but both Bushnell's had a problem. Its the Ruger mount that came on the rifle, with the original Ruger rings. I cant find any aftermarket stuff. Seems Ruger is sort of the bastard child of the shooting world. </div></div>
If you would have included this information in your original post, you would not have gotten the "try another scope" recommendations.

There are reasons you don't see Rugers in competitions and as tactical rifles.
They are good looking rifles, but the chances of getting one that will shoot worth a shit are 50/50, and there is no aftermarket support.
It is a shame, because they do make handsome rifles, and offer a very good selection of calibers, including 7x57 and 6.5x55.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

I did actually (sorry). Unfortunately, this gun is a tack driver. I just wish the scope worked better. I hate to sell the scope to someone, knowing it may be a lemon. I may just get another Leupold, rather than try to make this one work, and give up on bushnell. Thanks to all that offered help.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

There are plenty of Rugers that shoot very well, I still really dont think its the rifle. You said in your OP that the Leupy worked "OK". Did that mean everything was right or that there were still problems, just that they could be worked with. If its the latter, I continue to lean towards a mounting problem (rings or base). I certainly dont think its some inherent problem with Bushnells, chances of you getting two that are faulty in the same way are pretty rare. BTW, did you try switching the rings front to back? If you did and there was no change then its pretty much got to be a problem with where the rings are mounted to the rifle. If you do and get all of the sudden NOT NEAR ENOUGH elevation than bingo, you have a ring problem. Again, good luck.

okie
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

I absolutely agree that it's probably not the scopes. I've got a 6-24x40mm Elite 4200 mildot, probably the same model (426242M or 426244M), and it has only has 26 inches of elevation which is about 13" down. If I use the 20MOA Mark 4 base I bought I cannot zero at 100 yards because the scope just doesn't have enough travel. I'd bet real money that the Leupold has more elevation so it can get down to the 100 yard zero and other Bushnell models also have more travel but not quite enough. The Elite 3200 on my other rifle has 50 inches of elevation and some of the Elite 6500s have nearly 80. For this very reason, I'm going to upgrade my scope so that I can use the 20MOA base and shoot both at 100 and out past 500.

As stated earlier, I'd bet that either the reciever is slanted or the front ring is shorter than the rear. You either need different mounts or a scope with more elevation.
 
Re: Can't get my Elite 4200 on target

Thanks again for all the help. Next warm day, I head to the range to swap the bases, and see if that makes a difference. I may also try some Burris signature rings and see if they don't give me some flexibility. Thanks again for all the help.