Rifle Scopes Collimator question

[ReaperDriver]

After reading Jeff in TX and Jon A's excellent write up on scope alignment and tracking testing - I'm interested in getting a Collimator to test out my scopes and see how they shake out as well as evaluate a couple of new scopes I'm going to buy soon.

Anyway - what brand/model do you guys recommend, primarily for a Mil/mil setup? I stopped by Bass pro today and saw a collimator/boresighter they had and it was trash. Grid squares were 4 inches! Not usable for checking the accuracy of the mil dots on the reticle. So I'm still looking....

What's a reasonable cost for one that will get the job done without needing the best engineering geek device available?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Collimator question

yes, please do tell.

 

[hypertex]

Re: Collimator question

I know USOptics makes one. Used to be able to get it through Midway

Not just for sighting in, but you can record the zero on the grid in your data book. I've read that this method lends itself to sharing a scope between rifles.

 

[BigDKC]

Re: Collimator question

Also interested! Any dealers interested in sponsoring a Group Buy of a kit deemed worthy??

From the research I have done, I do like the looks of the Leupold Zero Point that Jon A was using.

I like that it's magnetic which doesn't require something to be shoved into the muzzle/crown! Also like the fact that it is a lot taller in design. The magnet runs the whole length of the unit so you have a much greater range of placement on the muzzle. This translates to being able to be used on bigger scopes or AR's etc that the optics may stick up further off the barrel. That's what I learned about it anyway. Compact unit, comes with a protective slip case. Seems solid to me.

He was able to do a good job with it, seems to get good reviews across the web. The only bad reviews I found seamed to simply be people who couldn't figure out how to use it.

All that being said, I am very interested to hear opinions on others!

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Re: Collimator question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigDKC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also interested! Any dealers interested in sponsoring a Group Buy of a kit deemed worthy??

From the research I have done, I do like the looks of the Leupold Zero Point that Jon A was using.

I like that it's magnetic which doesn't require something to be shoved into the muzzle/crown! Also like the fact that it is a lot taller in design. The magnet runs the whole length of the unit so you have a much greater range of placement on the muzzle. This translates to being able to be used on bigger scopes or AR's etc that the optics may stick up further off the barrel. That's what I learned about it anyway. Compact unit, comes with a protective slip case. Seems solid to me.

He was able to do a good job with it, seems to get good reviews across the web. The only bad reviews I found seamed to simply be people who couldn't figure out how to use it.

All that being said, I am very interested to hear opinions on others!</div></div>
Well I guess I'm in the crowd that couldn't figure out how to use it. If you want mine you can have it just pay shipping. After reading the instructions and already having a zero on the rifle it still didn't make much sense to me. I still like looking through the tube to boresight. If you want it PM me I got it for free with my scope anyways.

 

[BigDKC]

Re: Collimator question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HillbillyfromAL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Well I guess I'm in the crowd that couldn't figure out how to use it. If you want mine you can have it just pay shipping. After reading the instructions and already having a zero on the rifle it still didn't make much sense to me. I still like looking through the tube to boresight. If you want it PM me I got it for free with my scope anyways. </div></div>

LOL, how can I refuse an offer like that?? PM inbound!!

 

[cyrekzz]

Re: Collimator question

I have a Leupold one and i have the regular "stick in the front end of your barrel" laser sighter too. I think the leupold collimator works well - it has a really strong magnet on it... only downside, my flash suppressor on my POF was the pointed end type, not smooth, hence is why i also have the laser sighter.

 

[JeffRedd]

Re: Collimator question

Take it for what it's worth, but you need to ask some questions about the manufacturers' boresighters before you purchase one to check your scope.

Mainly, how is the grid formatted? Each square = X at X yds

I can tell you that the collimators we purchased to check our optics cost us several thousand dollars a unit.

 

[Rthur]

Re: Collimator question

If you are still wanting to know the brand of collimator used in the article my money is on the leupold. I have one and from the pictures it looks to be the same. The leupold is also lit for indoor calibration. Hope this helps. Rthur

 

[Jeff in TX]

Re: Collimator question

ReaperDriver,

I have an old early 1980's Bushnell collimator that I use. I basically use it to verify my zero on my rifle once I have it sighted it in case I have to remove the scope. It works well for that but none of my scopes once sighted in are ever near the center of the collimator grid.

Also, with mine and its older model I could never use it to check how accurate the tracking of a scope is but can use it to check for canting such as Jon A demonstrated. It also won’t work on my AR’s (too short) which has me considering the Leupold Zero Point model which looks tall enough to fit my AR’s.

I do have a question for those who have the Leupold ZP model. I’ve never used or seen the Leupold ZP model being used and looking at this from the outside in, I can’t figure out how anyone can attach the Zero Point to the end of their barrel with the magnet and truly get the grid centered to the center of the barrel? At least with my Bushnell collimator it gets inserted into the barrel to center it up. And since the ZP attaches with a magnet, I’m not sure how I could accurately duplicate my set up if I removed it and reattached it. Does that make since what I asking?

I’m all ears for anyone who uses one on how they’re able to do it as I would like to get one for my AR’s.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Collimator question

Mmmmm... after reading this - i think I might go with the poor man's collimator of a plumb bob and yard stick.

 

[JBW3]

Re: Collimator question

I think you want to look for something like this. This model is pretty old, exact year of manufacture is not known, I purchased this from a Rockwell facility that was closed down. This will allow you to count clicks, center, set parallax and verify how accurate the movement of the scope is.

John III

 

[glock24]

Re: Collimator question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JBW#3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think you want to look for something like this. This model is pretty old, exact year of manufacture is not known, I purchased this from a Rockwell facility that was closed down. This will allow you to count clicks, center, set parallax and verify how accurate the movement of the scope is.

John III </div></div>

Obviously the same level of accuracy as the Leupold model.

I think you wasted your money John.