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Scope ring height

King_beardsly

MMPRL & Low Dollar Precision
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  • Jun 12, 2018
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    Beast Coast
    I in the market for a set of rings for a Rzr gen2 I’ve got coming for a project, but I’m stumped on ring height to run. I normally run as low as I can but the last scope I setup feels like I need to tweak my head to much to get low enough for a solid sight picture. I’m learning towards either hawking precision 1” or 1.15” but I’m not sure if that little of a difference in height will be noticeable difference and allow for an easier time behind the glass.
     
    Get the 1.15”. This is a pic of a 7x35 NF ATACR on a MTU contour barrel.

    it is a crappy pic, a stack of 4 sheets of standard printer paper barely fit between scope and barrel.
     

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    Get the 1.15”. This is a pic of a 7x35 NF ATACR on a MTU contour barrel.

    it is a crappy pic, a stack of 4 sheets of standard printer paper barely fit between scope and barrel.
    Damn, that pretty well slammed to the barrel. Maybe I will go 1.15” since I might swap to a MTU from a M24 down the road.
     
    I in the market for a set of rings for a Rzr gen2 I’ve got coming for a project, but I’m stumped on ring height to run. I normally run as low as I can but the last scope I setup feels like I need to tweak my head to much to get low enough for a solid sight picture. I’m learning towards either hawking precision 1” or 1.15” but I’m not sure if that little of a difference in height will be noticeable difference and allow for an easier time behind the glass.

    Hello King,
    Why do you run your rings as low as you can? I have heard people say to do that for years but never understood exactly why. I have always ran them at the height that suited me ergonomically. It's my feeling that it is best for a person to mold the machine to the person and not the person to the machine.

    I have included a trajectory chart that you can adjust. One of the adjustments is scope height. Please see
    how little affect the scope height really has on poi or any other factor. You can even make a half inch height change just for fun.

    There may be someone out there that has what sounds like a very strong argument about scope height
    being lower, but I personaly am not going to sacrifice the comfort and joy of shooting for an extra .001"
    As I recall, it seems like I have heard that it has some effect on trajectory. Any projectile is going to keep
    it's trajectory regardless of your scope height. The bullet path does change relative to your line of sight!

    I used to compete and sometimes that lasted three day's in a row. I could not let my gun beat me up on
    the first leg only to be useless on the next two. Please let me know what you know.


    Just a few of the toy's that I picked up in 2019. I have a Kimber on lay away for this year.

    The only one that has the wrong scope is the Sako Quad. She is sporting a temporary 6.5 x 20 EFR Leupold
    I just got her rail from AREA 419 yesterday. I buy those rails because they clamp onto the dove tails.
    I cant risk putting divots into the top of my receiver with the set screw type that DIP and Bscar have.
    Bob at DIP said to put number eight soft lead shot under the set screws to keep that from happening.
    I mention the lead shot to help others save their toy's. It's a good idea.

    Just my observations....
    Shawn
     

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    What rifle?

    I use 1" height with M24/40 contour and the Razor II on a Rem 700 with 20 MOA base. Here's a couple pics. 1.1" wouldn't hurt anything and give a little more room.


    IMG_2786.JPGIMG_1337.JPG
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Josht574
    Hello King,
    Why do you run your rings as low as you can? I have heard people say to do that for years but never understood exactly why. I have always ran them at the height that suited me ergonomically. It's my feeling that it is best for a person to mold the machine to the person and not the person to the machine.

    I have included a trajectory chart that you can adjust. One of the adjustments is scope height. Please see
    how little affect the scope height really has on poi or any other factor. You can even make a half inch height change just for fun.

    There may be someone out there that has what sounds like a very strong argument about scope height
    being lower, but I personaly am not going to sacrifice the comfort and joy of shooting for an extra .001"
    As I recall, it seems like I have heard that it has some effect on trajectory. Any projectile is going to keep
    it's trajectory regardless of your scope height. The bullet path does change relative to your line of sight!

    I used to compete and sometimes that lasted three day's in a row. I could not let my gun beat me up on
    the first leg only to be useless on the next two. Please let me know what you know.


    Just a few of the toy's that I picked up in 2019. I have a Kimber on lay away for this year.

    Just my observations....
    Shawn

    I’m used to hunting setups where I can’t adjust the comb height and want the bore as close to the scope axis as possible.

    What rifle?

    I use 1" height with M24/40 contour and the Razor II on a Rem 700 with 20 MOA base. Here's a couple pics. 1.1" wouldn't hurt anything and give a little more room.


    View attachment 7245403View attachment 7245404

    Bighorn TL3 with the 20moa base.
     
    You should be fine with 1" but if you plan to MTU in the future 1.1" won't hurt. Vortex offers their Precision Matched rings made by Seekins in the 1.1" height.
     
    I’m used to hunting setups where I can’t adjust the comb height and want the bore as close to the scope axis as possible.



    I am still curious as to why people run close to the bore axis? I'm sure that there used to be some reason.
    I have also noticed a trend in people making their zero at 25,50 or 75 yards on their .22lr.

    The reason that my zero is at 65 yards is that I have two ranges. A long one and one that I shoot out of my garage.
    From my garage I can only get 65 yards without having to climb over a fence to change targets.
    I base all of my trajecectory on my own empirical data so I did not feel that anyones zero was better than
    any other.

    As I said, I just like to know why people do what they do. Some of it has value, some does not and some
    are habits and wives tails.

    "acudaowner" has some nice looking rings. I think the new Kimber would look best in that style of rings.

    Shawn
     
    I ended up grabbing the Hawkins in the 1.15”, could of saved a few bucks with the vortex but figured I’d tray something new and the difference was about a box of Berger 105 hybrids.
     
    With the 20 MOA rail the 1.15” will give you a little more wiggle room for scope covers. 1” would probably ky work but you might have to clearance the scope cover to clear the barrel.
     
    I am about 5/8" above barrel with my scope. I bought what was suggested by by mount maker. I have no problems mounting my rifle. What I do have problems with is cant. I noticed while looking at 700 yard target my cant makes a huge difference. I am thinking scope height makes a difference, Started paying attention to the level bubble on the mount. It was difficult to transition after leveling. Also the bubble changed size often. Focus and old age. Got an improved level with a ceramic ball which was a bit better. Shooting buddy sold me on the electronic level which I can see while perfectly ready to shoot. All the levels have too much travel when "level". Just something more to consider.