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Rifle Scopes If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

sobrbiker883

Lt. Colonel
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 18, 2003
7,112
207
Gilbert AZ
I've noticed recently that folks have been struggling with the issue of being able to see the zero line on their turrets with different mounting setups.

Everyone does know that you can paint or mark a dot anywhere you can see the numbers and use it to zero to right?
Personally I take a small drill bit in my cordless, lightly centerpunch where I want a dot so the bit doesn't walk, and run the drill in reverse to put a neat little dot through the scope tube's anodizing.

This works well on windage turrets too (mark about 10:00 on the turret if looking at it straight on from the side), so you don't have to lean your eyeball around the scope to see the mark, or on elevation knobs when mounted in vertically split rings (like Warne or LaRue).

I did it to my USO PSR prototype because it's lock rings cover up the line on my elevation (wow-you'd think a safe queen that was only built to take "look at me pictures" for the internet would stay cleaner huh?):
cead990a.jpg

 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

Great idea! I've read here that scopes with 35mm tubes tend to suffer more from this problem of not being able to see the zero reference line/dot due to the additional height and the rear ring blocking everything. This is why I asked USO to put a laser etched reference line on top of the tube from the EREK back to the magnification adjustment to "guide" my eye to the EREK, on my 35mm T-Pal due in next week. We'll see how that goes. I'll be using the V-Tac rings like you have there since they have the lowest 35mm rings I know of (I think .938 from top of base to center line). The rest I've been able to find are all .950.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I did it to my USO PSR prototype because it's lock rings cover up the line on my elevation (wow-you'd think a safe queen that was only built to take "look at me pictures" for the internet would stay cleaner huh?):
cead990a.jpg

</div></div>

don't you know your supposed to spend hours cleaning your field rifle before taking pics of it. because its more important to have a pretty rifle than it is to actually use your rifle and practice with it in the field. its much easier to keep it clean if you spend most your time punching paper at 200yds or less from the bench.

for the record "i love the dirt on it" working rifle,good shit. sorry about the rant

On a more product note you could even put in some glow in the dark paint in the notch to make it easier to see for the night stages of matches.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

I think the "canadian" index line rocks, and have had ot put on another scope the crew built for me, and will be on any future builds I get.
I tried to have it done locally on the 35mm scope above, but it's hard to do after the scope's built (Local laser shop couldn't get the scope close enough to the laser head on their machine with the turret installed. That's when I came home and broke out the drill......
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

Nice, I saw you suggest this in another thread, and it is a really good idea. Cheaper than replacing my LT-104 mount too.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

I forgot all about it until I saw the other thread.

I'll probably be doing one on my windage too, I hate peeking around the side to look if 'm lined up correctly..probably right there where the .6RT is in the picture.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

Have the same problem SB. I like your idea. I'm looking to do something a little different though. Laser etch the top of the ring and then I won't have to come off the gun as much, JMHO.

Post some pics when I get it done.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

S.B., if you can get Jeff or Arnold to commit at USO, I will volunteer myself, to take your scope to USO during lunch one day (after you ship it to me), get the laser etch done, and then ship it back to you. No fuss and no more drilling your USO, even if the USO can take such abuse.
laugh.gif
All could be done in the same day or at least next day if USO cooperates.

I'm pretty sure they can etch finished scopes...
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

I know I could have shipped it to them and had it back pretty quickly, but I hate downtime, plus I like to not eat time they could be building other customer's scopes with. I appreciate the offer though.

If you lightly centerpunch and run the drill bit in revers it just makes a nice little dot that is pretty much only though the anodizing-doesn't take much.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

I am hopefully picking my scope up this week... Oh lets hope the wait is finally over, and hope they did everything I asked for on my build sheet...

I'll post pic of mine with reference line when I get it...
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

The lasered line is definitely the way to go if you are ordering new, and can also be done after the fact if the laser engraver will work around the scope's parts.
I just posted this to show folks that you can index any scope you want any way you want. Same thing can be done with a scribe, a sharpie, fingernail polish etc.
 
Re: If you cant see the line to zero your turrets.....

Sobrbiker, where did you get your V-tac extra low rings from? I saw them on SWFA, but it doesn't say the measurement on the site.

Just got my scope, and here is a picture of the line...

110clickEREKwithLaserReferenceLine.jpg