Strange Elevation Dials???

[raptor99]

Guys I have run into something that has me pulling out what hair I have left!!!!

I just had a 260 built with a 25" 1-8.5 Barlein barrel and when I get past 400yds it starts taking me more MOAs to get on at 500 on out to 1000yds. In fact the rifle shoots nearly 2MOA lower at 600yds than my old 260 with at 23" barrel using the same damn loads!!

I cronographed the loads it likes and one of them is even shooting nearly 70fps faster than my old rifle but still requires more MOAs past 400yds. My old rifles load cronographs at 2975fps and the one load in the new rifle is 3060fps but wont shoot as flat as the old rifle.

Could it be my scope?? Its a 4.5x14 Leupold MK 4 with mark 4 1/4 moa knobs on it. This is the only thing I can think of. Any thoughts would be appreciated!!!

 

[desertHK]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Are you sure that your torques on the mounts are where they should be? Have you done a box test after you mounted your scope? I usually try to do it no matter what scope that is. If it is acting weird, then I will definitely do that. Just because the manufacturer says 0.25 MOA per click, doesn't mean that it is 0.25 MOA.

 

[doc76251]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Calibrate your turrets. A lot of adjustment errors are hidden inside 400 yards but really start to stack after 500 or so. It's actually rather common on Loopys to be significantly less than the advertised click value.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Rob01]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Have you used the scope before on another rifle? I had a Leupold that was off and did almost the same thing but not that dramatic. I actually had a variable I would multiply data with to get it on.

Run a tracking test at 100 yards up to 40 MOA and it will tell you the tale.

 

[hunter223]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: doc76251</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Calibrate your turrets. A lot of adjustment errors are hidden inside 400 yards but really start to stack after 500 or so. It's actually rather common on Loopys to be significantly less than the advertised click value.

Cheers,

Doc </div></div>

that my friend, is one of the reasons I will not buy leupold

 

[Lindy]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">that my friend, is one of the reasons I will not buy leupold.</div></div>

If you think that having turret clicks which are not exactly the stated value is unique to Leupold, you haven't seen as many different kinds of scopes as I have.

I check every scope I get, irrespective of brands, be they Leupold, Nightforce, S&B, or anything else - and a lot of other people's as well.

For those who don't know how, here's one method:

Optically Checking Rifle Scopes

 

[hunter223]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

I've never had an issue with my NXS's as I had with the Mk4's I had. Never used an S&B so IDK

 

[Lindy]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

If you have never checked the scopes, how would you <span style="font-style: italic">know</span> whether you had an issue or not?

What caused me to start checking them was when I went from a Leupold 3.5-10X40M3 to a 6.5-20X50M1, and noticed that I needed 2 additional MOA to get to 1000 yards.

And a 2 MOA error at 1000 yards is a 20+ inch miss on the target.

If you haven't checked a scope, you don't <span style="font-style: italic">know</span> what the adjustments are.

And they may not be linear, either.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Good advice. I check every scope I get up to 10 mils or 40 MOA depending on what graduation the scope is in. If there is a problem you'll see it when you start dialing up. Also a good time to check if your scope is mounted suqare also.

 

[hunter223]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you have never checked the scopes, how would you <span style="font-style: italic">know</span> whether you had an issue or not?

What caused me to start checking them was when I went from a Leupold 3.5-10X40M3 to a 6.5-20X50M1, and noticed that I needed 2 additional MOA to get to 1000 yards.

And a 2 MOA error at 1000 yards is a 20+ inch miss on the target.

If you haven't checked a scope, you don't <span style="font-style: italic">know</span> what the adjustments are.

And they may not be linear, either.

</div></div>
touche

 

[Engine 22]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Looks like I have more work to do next trip to the range!

 

[raptor99]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Thanks for the replys guys!! I figured it was probably in the scope. I did have it on my 6XC but I am not sure when I had the scope sent in to have the MK 4 turrets installed. I may or may not of had those turrets on when it was still a 6XC.

I think I may have the same problem Lindy is talking about because that is exactly what mine is doing. Taking a couple more MOA than it should to be on at the longer ranges. I will check it out when I get a chance. What do you do to correct it???? Send it back to Leupold??

 

[doc76251]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

You do a visual check to determine how far off it is and then you apply math to your ballistics tables. I use 1" squared graph paper.

For a 10 MOA observation you dial on what the knob says is 10 MOA, observing how far across the grid the reticle actualy travels. 10 MOA measures 10.47" (10.5" at 100 is pretty doggone close)

You observe your scope to adjust 9.25” instead of 10.47”.

Divide 10.47 by 9.25 = 1.13

Multiply 1.13 times the number of MOA you need for a given range.

Or you could send it back but I'd check it again when I got it back

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Lindy]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Well, what <span style="font-weight: bold">I'd</span> do to correct that is what I did - I set the turret profile for that scope in my Field Firing Solution software to indicate what the adjustments <span style="font-style: italic">actually</span> are.

But what Doc posted is fine, too.

 

[doc76251]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, what <span style="font-weight: bold">I'd</span> do to correct that is what I did - I set the turret profile for that scope in my Field Firing Solution software to indicate what the adjustments <span style="font-style: italic">actually</span> are.

But what Doc posted is fine, too.

</div></div>

To do that you have to divide the actual travel by the expected travel.

Common Lindy you know I'm not a whiz bang machine guy

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Rob01]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

I used to do what Doc spoke of with my Leupold as it was off. It was a different number up to about 15 MOA then from there to 25 MOA and then another up from there. Kind of a pain to do when something is supposed to track right but it works. I ended up selling it and found and started using scopes that actually tracked right LOL

 

[Lindy]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Common Lindy you know I'm not a whiz bang machine guy.</div></div>

Yeah, but I also know you can shoot, and figure out how to get it done without the machines.

 

[raptor99]

Re: Strange Elevation Dials???

Well I did it the easy way, I swapped scopes. I put my M3 3.5x10 on it and it was right on the money out to 800yds. The rifle also shot tighter so I may have have another problem with it or I was just having a good day at the range.(HA)

Thanks to all you guys who offered advice. Thats what makes this such a great sight, lots of knowlegable shooters willing to share!!! So thanks again!!