Rifle Scopes Scope Tracking
- Thread starter andrews1958
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Re: Scope Tracking
Scope tracking refers to a scope's ability to return to original zero after a shooter has adjusted the scope's turrets.
For example, a shooter has a rifle with scope properly mounted and zeroed at a range of 100 yards. Make note and record the turret settings.
To shoot at a more distant target, say 400 yards in a steady crosswind, the shooter would engage the elevation and windage turrets as necessary to get on target.
If this means dialing up 25 clicks of elevation and 8 clicks of windage total, make note of total turret click values inputed. Make note and record all adjustments.
When finished shooting at 400, and returning to original 100 yard zero, shooter would reverse inputs to the turrets. (25 clicks down elevation & 8 clicks opposite windage).
Shooter is now at original zero again. A scope in good working order will be on target again at 100 yards, and will have "tracked" properly.
Scope tracking refers to a scope's ability to return to original zero after a shooter has adjusted the scope's turrets.
For example, a shooter has a rifle with scope properly mounted and zeroed at a range of 100 yards. Make note and record the turret settings.
To shoot at a more distant target, say 400 yards in a steady crosswind, the shooter would engage the elevation and windage turrets as necessary to get on target.
If this means dialing up 25 clicks of elevation and 8 clicks of windage total, make note of total turret click values inputed. Make note and record all adjustments.
When finished shooting at 400, and returning to original 100 yard zero, shooter would reverse inputs to the turrets. (25 clicks down elevation & 8 clicks opposite windage).
Shooter is now at original zero again. A scope in good working order will be on target again at 100 yards, and will have "tracked" properly.
Re: Scope Tracking
Returning to zero is only part of tracking. Tracking is the scope's ability to adjust elevation and windage the proper amount to what the scope is set at. So if your chart needs you to dial on 20 MOA then when you do that with your scope it will dial that 20 MOA and not 19, 18 or 23 MOA. If the scope doesn't track right then you won't have the proper elevation or windage on that you need and can't hit your target.
You can check the scope's tracking by making a tracking chart and setting it at 100 yards and shooting the chart. I do this with a rifle I know to be accurate so that I know it's the scope if the shots are off. Shoot and make sure your zero is good and then keeping the same aiming point at the zero mark, dial up and take 2 shots at 1 mil, 2 mils, 3 mils etc. You will see if the scope is off.
Here's a couple pics of a scope that I had a tracking problem with. As you can see from the way the shots start going off as the number of mils are dialed on. Look at the last one. If I needed 8 mils and dialed that my shots would be going well over target.
With a mil scope I check out to 10 mils with marks at every mil and with a MOA scope I check to 40 MOA with the first mark at 10 MOA and then at every 5 MOA after that. Also check your reticle subtension on the chart. Below is an old MOA chart I had a picture of I used to check tracking with. Also checked the mil reticle with the center portion and I put the charts up perfectly vertical with a bubble level so I could check to make sure the scope is mounted straight with the heavier lines on the left.
Returning to zero is only part of tracking. Tracking is the scope's ability to adjust elevation and windage the proper amount to what the scope is set at. So if your chart needs you to dial on 20 MOA then when you do that with your scope it will dial that 20 MOA and not 19, 18 or 23 MOA. If the scope doesn't track right then you won't have the proper elevation or windage on that you need and can't hit your target.
You can check the scope's tracking by making a tracking chart and setting it at 100 yards and shooting the chart. I do this with a rifle I know to be accurate so that I know it's the scope if the shots are off. Shoot and make sure your zero is good and then keeping the same aiming point at the zero mark, dial up and take 2 shots at 1 mil, 2 mils, 3 mils etc. You will see if the scope is off.
Here's a couple pics of a scope that I had a tracking problem with. As you can see from the way the shots start going off as the number of mils are dialed on. Look at the last one. If I needed 8 mils and dialed that my shots would be going well over target.
With a mil scope I check out to 10 mils with marks at every mil and with a MOA scope I check to 40 MOA with the first mark at 10 MOA and then at every 5 MOA after that. Also check your reticle subtension on the chart. Below is an old MOA chart I had a picture of I used to check tracking with. Also checked the mil reticle with the center portion and I put the charts up perfectly vertical with a bubble level so I could check to make sure the scope is mounted straight with the heavier lines on the left.
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