Had a quick question... Bought a new scope, took it to the fields, seemed to be working good for awhile that day. Took it out at another time and it seemed to be shooting a little inaccurate... I'm not sure if it could be REALLY crappy ammo (remington Wal-Mart bulk) or the scope. I got it to hit dead center bulls-eye but next shot hit like 4-5 inches low and the next about 3 follow up shots were just all over the place... Does that necessarily mean my scope needs to be sent back to the dealer? The scope I had on before seemed to be accurate as hell and that piece of crap came with the rifle lol...
Rifle Scopes how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
- Thread starter Frenchie661
- Start date
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
661:
More info, please.
What kind of scope and mounts/bases? More detail on ammo? Range you were shooting at? Pictures of your setup would be helpful.
You can try running your scope through some tracking drills. But let us know some more about your rig and I am sure there will be some folks who can help.
Cheers,
Sirhr
661:
More info, please.
What kind of scope and mounts/bases? More detail on ammo? Range you were shooting at? Pictures of your setup would be helpful.
You can try running your scope through some tracking drills. But let us know some more about your rig and I am sure there will be some folks who can help.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
Start by taking it off and double checking your rings and bases are tight. If all is good, shoot it on a different gun with a load you know to be accurate. If it still throws shots it is the scope. Also check your action screws.
Start by taking it off and double checking your rings and bases are tight. If all is good, shoot it on a different gun with a load you know to be accurate. If it still throws shots it is the scope. Also check your action screws.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
Make sure everything is tight as suggested in the above posts... And if you wanna know right quick if it is losing zero then do as I do... fire 2 or 3 groups and if consistent, hold your rifle vertically with two hands in a firm and secure manner. Then, smash the butt against the table a good 5 times, bring the thunder. Now shoot another 2 to 3 groups and see where it is.
Before you do this, understand that I am not an experienced rifle mechanic (nor any form of rifle mechanic), nor do I have the patience to run a lot of precise tests. I simply adopted this technique from the scary NAM vet who used to frequent my range.
I recently used this technique on my Les Bear, it's fine, scope didn't lose zero.
Make sure everything is tight as suggested in the above posts... And if you wanna know right quick if it is losing zero then do as I do... fire 2 or 3 groups and if consistent, hold your rifle vertically with two hands in a firm and secure manner. Then, smash the butt against the table a good 5 times, bring the thunder. Now shoot another 2 to 3 groups and see where it is.
Before you do this, understand that I am not an experienced rifle mechanic (nor any form of rifle mechanic), nor do I have the patience to run a lot of precise tests. I simply adopted this technique from the scary NAM vet who used to frequent my range.
I recently used this technique on my Les Bear, it's fine, scope didn't lose zero.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
Not to say it is not your scope or mounts, but another possiblity is if it is a hunting type rifle. then it could be as simple as your barrel is heating up and changing your POI because it gets hot. Most of my hunting rifles after 3 or 4 rounds my poi starts to change and go all over the place. It is because of the lighter weight barrels on typical hunting rifles.
Sometimes 3 rounds groups is all you can do. Then let it cool for 20 or 30 min and try again.
Not to say it is not your scope or mounts, but another possiblity is if it is a hunting type rifle. then it could be as simple as your barrel is heating up and changing your POI because it gets hot. Most of my hunting rifles after 3 or 4 rounds my poi starts to change and go all over the place. It is because of the lighter weight barrels on typical hunting rifles.
Sometimes 3 rounds groups is all you can do. Then let it cool for 20 or 30 min and try again.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
There's a difference between a scope not holding zero and scope that's mounted improperly. Did you get an initial zero on the scope? Were the turrets used at any point between the zero and when it began acting up? What ammunition were you feeding it when it was shooting well? Have you tried going back to that ammo?
If you were able to get a good, repeatable zero, then all of a sudden your accuracy went to shit then it may be a problem with the internals of the scope rather than the physical mounting.
If it's had these inconsistencies from the start, then the scope should be taken off, bases re torqued, rings and scope reinstalled, torqued to spec, everything double checked, etc. If the problem persists, then it's an optic issue.
What caliber are you shooting? It's possible that the scope wasn't mounted well initially and the recoil of the rifle wiggled something loose.
I'd go through this checklist and give it one more go with the scope re-mounted and quality ammunition. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. Nikon has good customer service.
There's a difference between a scope not holding zero and scope that's mounted improperly. Did you get an initial zero on the scope? Were the turrets used at any point between the zero and when it began acting up? What ammunition were you feeding it when it was shooting well? Have you tried going back to that ammo?
If you were able to get a good, repeatable zero, then all of a sudden your accuracy went to shit then it may be a problem with the internals of the scope rather than the physical mounting.
If it's had these inconsistencies from the start, then the scope should be taken off, bases re torqued, rings and scope reinstalled, torqued to spec, everything double checked, etc. If the problem persists, then it's an optic issue.
What caliber are you shooting? It's possible that the scope wasn't mounted well initially and the recoil of the rifle wiggled something loose.
I'd go through this checklist and give it one more go with the scope re-mounted and quality ammunition. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work. Nikon has good customer service.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
I recently thought that my Leupold had stopped holding zero. My groups were shifting left and right. I checked the scope mount and everything appeared to be solid. I was using a Larue SPR mount. When I got home I took off the front ring mount and that's when I noticed that the rear ring was very loose. The screws were tight, but the scope was able to woble back and forth. I think what happened was that I tightened the top first, and that allowed for a slight gap at the bottom of the rings that I could just not take out.
I recently thought that my Leupold had stopped holding zero. My groups were shifting left and right. I checked the scope mount and everything appeared to be solid. I was using a Larue SPR mount. When I got home I took off the front ring mount and that's when I noticed that the rear ring was very loose. The screws were tight, but the scope was able to woble back and forth. I think what happened was that I tightened the top first, and that allowed for a slight gap at the bottom of the rings that I could just not take out.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
Haven't had time to take it back out but to answer a few questions it's a Remington 700 adl in .223 shooting 55gr. Remington bulk wal-mart ammo. As far as scope mounting it seems really solid. I don't have any proper leveling tools so I just used a normal level on the scope and mounted it as best I can according to eyeing a correct level with the rifle it's self in the sand bags. I'll post more up after I take it back out and try it again. Thx for everybody's help I appreciate it.
Haven't had time to take it back out but to answer a few questions it's a Remington 700 adl in .223 shooting 55gr. Remington bulk wal-mart ammo. As far as scope mounting it seems really solid. I don't have any proper leveling tools so I just used a normal level on the scope and mounted it as best I can according to eyeing a correct level with the rifle it's self in the sand bags. I'll post more up after I take it back out and try it again. Thx for everybody's help I appreciate it.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
if your running leupold standard base and rings, that could be the issue, i always see guys having trouble with that standard system. bulk ammo isn't exactly the ammo you want to test accuracy with, you want to get some good match grade ammo. also what is the twist rate on your barrel, you may have better luck with a heavier bullet.
if your running leupold standard base and rings, that could be the issue, i always see guys having trouble with that standard system. bulk ammo isn't exactly the ammo you want to test accuracy with, you want to get some good match grade ammo. also what is the twist rate on your barrel, you may have better luck with a heavier bullet.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
It's a 1/12 twist so I'm sure the grain is right but yea you're right I should get some match grade. Probably gonna pick some up this weekend along with new mount/rings. I'll report back with the results/pics.
It's a 1/12 twist so I'm sure the grain is right but yea you're right I should get some match grade. Probably gonna pick some up this weekend along with new mount/rings. I'll report back with the results/pics.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
If your base and rings are tight, I would 1st get some match ammo or reload some 52gr sierras, that is what my varmit 223 likes. also look at the stock... you might want to invest in an HS precision stock, one with the full aluminum bedding block.
that is what my Rem VS 223 is in and 5 shot groups are about 5/8 inch at 100 yds.with some a little better depending on me.
If your base and rings are tight, I would 1st get some match ammo or reload some 52gr sierras, that is what my varmit 223 likes. also look at the stock... you might want to invest in an HS precision stock, one with the full aluminum bedding block.
that is what my Rem VS 223 is in and 5 shot groups are about 5/8 inch at 100 yds.with some a little better depending on me.
Re: how can u tell if ur scope isnt holding zero??
Nice can you hook me up with links to all that?
Nice can you hook me up with links to all that?
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