• New Contest Starting Now! This Target Haunts Me

    Tell us about the one that got away, the flier that ruined your group, the zero that drifted, the shot you still see when you close your eyes. Winner will receive a free scope!

    Join contest

Rifle Scopes Getting crosshairs aligned in rings

The IMPORTANT thing, is to have the reticle (crosshairs) aligned with gravity when you shoot.

So hang a string with a weight, shoulder the rifle and see that the reticle is aligned.
 
the plumb bob should be as far away as you can put it and still see it.

I use paracord at about 40 yards. I have found that when I do it closer, it's not perfect when I check it on a farther plumb.

Make sure the background allows you to see the paracord or whatever you use clearly.

I also try to check along as much of the length of the crosshairs as I can. Errors will be amplified over distance (which is why we level in the first place.) If you check only the center of the crosshairs, it can look plumb but not be if you check the very top and very bottom of the vertical crosshair later with a longer plumb. Thus, I personally hang abotu 15-20' of paracord from the telephone pole behind my house. I staple cardboard behind it because I can't see it well with the pole as the background.

You can also set up a carpenter's level horizontally and check (or double check) that way.

Be sure that when you tighten the rings that the scope doesnt rotate. I find that it helps to push down on the rings from the top while I begin to tighten the cap screws.

You can get the Mounting Solutions Plus ring mount level on ebay right now for $26 + $3 shipping, it's a great deal. It's best to install this when you're levelling the scope so that you don't have to hang the plumb again later.