Rifle Scopes How close is too close as far as scope objective and rail/barrel

[TheGerman]

Finally got a set of Badger 1" high rings for my Steiner 5-25 and when putting the scope in the rings it clears the MARS rail by whatever height the thickness of 4 or 5 3x5 index cards is. I can see daylight between the rail and the scope objective and nothing is touching, but is this too close? Would this hold or would recoil come into this and have the rail smacking the objective of the scope since they are that close together?

I like the look of it, and have found the lowest possible rings with this combination but want to be sure I don't need to step it to the next height.

Thanks

 

[Km22]

I have a NF mounted so low on my .338 Lapua that the scope covers won't fit on without me cutting a slit on them. It works fine for me, but it has gotten annoying how the covers don't stay on anymore, so I'm switching to the next size up.

 

[TheGerman]

I have a NF mounted so low on my .338 Lapua that the scope covers won't fit on without me cutting a slit on them. It works fine for me, but it has gotten annoying how the covers don't stay on anymore, so I'm switching to the next size up.

Yeah the covers are out for this as well, but I normally don't use covers and on the objective so its not a loss for me. Curious if having them as low as I do now will run into problems as far as recoil/flex.

 

[Km22]

I have put quite a few rounds of 300 gr .338 lapua rounds and haven't noticed any issue with it. Still returns to zero perfectly. In my limited experience (few hundred rounds or so) it hasn't been any kind of issue. I haven't noticed marks of any kind on the barrel or scope. Maybe someone with more experience than me can answer, but I've had 0 problems.

 

[TheGerman]

I have put quite a few rounds of 300 gr .338 lapua rounds and haven't noticed any issue with it. Still returns to zero perfectly. In my limited experience (few hundred rounds or so) it hasn't been any kind of issue. I haven't noticed marks of any kind on the barrel or scope. Maybe someone with more experience than me can answer, but I've had 0 problems.

How low/close is yours? Mine is the thickness of 4-5 index cards off the rail.

 

[bluto77]

I do not have more experience, so take this fwiw.

I've always heard go as know as you can with touching. Not 100% sure why. You should not have recoil issues with $200 badger rings. That scope should not move at all. The potential issue is the barrel heating up and swelling up to touch the scope, iirc.

 

[19Scout77]

I do not have more experience, so take this fwiw.

I've always heard go as know as you can with touching. Not 100% sure why. You should not have recoil issues with $200 badger rings. That scope should not move at all. The potential issue is the barrel heating up and swelling up to touch the scope, iirc.

The issue is less expansion, and more barrel whip from recoil. 4-5 index cards is more than enough clearance. Start worrying when the clearance can only be measured by foil thin feeler gauges.

 

[Ramius]

Did you try shouldering the rifle? When scopes get mounted too low I can't get a good cheek weld. Maybe it's my face but there is a height range for good mounting and you want to be on the lower end of that range. If you go too low other problems (scope cover clearance, etc.) start to pop up.

 

[Jerry R]

Measuring 5 index cards (approx. .068". cards vary) I would say it is plenty of clearance and you are more than good. If any component on your set up expands, flexes or moves enough to create contact you have some serious firearms or optics related issues which should be addressed immediately.

One of my 5-25's sets about .015" off the base and has been like that for about six years now and I have never experienced anything of any concern. Contact during recoil was certainly never a concern. You could probably stand on it between the rings and still not force contact.

 

[Km22]

I can fit 2 playing cards through, but not 3 without some effort. 4 will definitely not fit. I hope that helps

 

[TheGerman]

Cool, stuck with the shorter Badger's. just wasnt sure if it was too close but sounds like others have the same if not less gap distance.

For whoever asked earlier about the scope height in relation to my stock weld and face/eye position, it wouldnt matter in my case as my stock is a HS Precision PST025 with the adjustable cheek piece.