Rifle Scopes Scope Base Size VS Ring Size

[Nelius88]

Hello friends,
I have a Ruger American Hunter I am setting up for precision long range. It comes with a 00 moa scope base. I have a Vortex Viper PST on Vortex 1.26 inch precision rings. In order to make 1000 yard shots would it be necessary to replace the 00 moa scope base with a 20 moa scope base even with the higher precision rings? Thanks for the help.

 

[moaorbust]

The calculation depends on your caliber/weight, speed, and final zero adjustment. .308 has more drop than 6.5 for example. The PST 2 has 70 MOA of travel but once you zero the scope you may only get half that minus a few (assuming 100 yards). Gun Werks has a free ballistic calculator you can play with.

 

[supercorndogs]

First you are going to need to tell us how much drop you have at 1000y, then you will need to tell us, how much travel is left after zeroing. Then we can tell you, but by that time you will have figured out on your own. 10 mils of up travel is enough to get most long range bullets to 1k.

 

[Rob01]

First, why such high rings? And the ring height will have a very, very small effect on your elevation, if any in your situation.

Second, as the others have said more details needed.

Third, a 20 MOA base is rarely a bad idea so it wouldn't hurt to get one.

 

[Nelius88]

First, why such high rings? And the ring height will have a very, very small effect on your elevation, if any in your situation.

Second, as the others have said more details needed.

Third, a 20 MOA base is rarely a bad idea so it wouldn't hurt to get one.

Honesty when I bought the rings those were the only ones available at my lgs at the time. Wasn’t for any other reason, I have good scope clearance either way.

 

[moaorbust]

The PX has used rings of all sizes if you are interested. You can use pennies as spacers and rubber bands to hold the scope and get a reading on how close you can go (don’t forget space for scope caps). Not a huge issue but make sure you are comfortable behind the rifle. Uncomfortable means tension and tension means unwanted muscle movement.

In any case you need to head to the range and get it zero’d first. The range may have a chrono available or the range officer may know someone who has one and would help. Take a few shots and average them. That’s how you get the speed you need for calculations (write all this down in your log book, you do have one right?). Asking the range officer is also how I found my instructor who fixed my poor technique. There are skillful people right under your nose if you look.

 

[Rob01]

Yup go zero and chrono and then you will know what you need from what you have available for elevation. Depending on the caliber and velocity you maybe just fine like it is.

Go watch the video on how to zero the PST as they aren't zeroed like other scopes. The only thing i would change is that when you run it to the bottom at step one then come back up 5 clicks before taking the cap off. What that does is give you a little play below your zero. You don't have to do this but a lot of people like having it set up that way.

 

[Southern Custom]

From your post you may be a bit confused about ring height versus a 20moa rail. The height of the rings has nothing to do with elevation. The 20moa rail is canted downward. The rings are dead level no matter the height. The can't of the rail offers an additional 20 moa hence the name.

 

[Nelius88]

From your post you may be a bit confused about ring height versus a 20moa rail. The height of the rings has nothing to do with elevation. The 20moa rail is canted downward. The rings are dead level no matter the height. The can't of the rail offers an additional 20 moa hence the name.

After re reading my question, I get why it sounds like that. All the same angle, just about the sight picture when it comes to the rings. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[stello1001]

What scope do you have? Knowing this will allow us to determine how much elevation adjustment that scope offers. Then, also tell us how much adjustment you have after getting your hundred yard zero.

If you have more than 10 mils still left, you may not need a canted base but I do believe you should still get it regardless.