mounting a scope

[Nsghunter]

I recently purchased a new scope for my 30-06.
I was going to mount it and sight it in when I had a chance. The rifle has scope already with existing mount and rings so I was going got throw it in that one.

Now, I did a little research and seen that weever had these professional scope mounting kits for around $100 and a scope leveling kit for $40. Do i really need these types of tools to shoot a rifle 40-50 times a year at whitetail 200-300 yards?

 

[LanceS4803]

Depends.
If you have high quality base and rings, it shouldn't be a problem. Low quality base and rings may result in a scope that does not sit properly in the rings. When you torque it down, you can damage the scope tube.
I've never used the mounting kits, instead spending a little more for quality parts.
Take a look at John's video on bedding a base, and then look at his others on mounting. You can't go wrong with this advise.

[youtube]aoW5bHQqgis[/youtube]

 

[BobTail]

Have you ever mounted a scope before? If so, you probably don't need to spend the extra funds. Get the scope in the rings and tighten them so that the scope will just barely still move in the rings. Put the rifle in a rifle rest and point the scope at a door frame or window frame. Align the crosshairs vertical with the frame. Tighten the rings enough that the scope won't move under recoil and field use. This should get you level enough to make proper adjustments. If after shooting the rifle you find that the scope isn't 100% level and the adjustments aren't moving the crosshairs properly you might have to purchase a level for the scope and start over. Personally I have mounted scopes on several dozen rifles and have always gotten them level enough to adjust properly out to 500 yards. It isn't rocket science and if you use common sense you'll likely be fine. Just remember that scope tubes are more fragile than you may think and torquing the rings down gorilla-style can crush the tube and also stop the crosshairs from moving when you turn the adjustment turrets.

 

[MUP]

I would highly recommend checking the alignment between the rings on center before clamping down on a nice new scope.

 

[fairchaser]

Its important to get the crosshairs perfectly level since adjustments on the windage screw could move the POA either up or down as well as left or right if they aren't level especially at longer ranges. You can use a couple of small levels like string levels to get the gun level then the scope level at the same time. It should also look level when it's pointed and looked through. If you are the shooter, you will also want to adjust the eye relief at this point before tightening the ring screws. These screws should be tightened equally, a little at a time and across and diagonally like you would tightened lug nuts on a wheel. This helps to keep the scope from twisting as you tighten. Throughout the process, look through the scope to ensure it hasn't moved. Good luck and good shooting.

 

[TNRifleman]

Investing in tools to mount one scope wouldn't be the best option. I would take the $140, invest in Warne Rings and Bases (or DNZ, Talley or other quality product) and spend the other $50 - $60 getting it boresighted by a gunsmith.

I have probably mounted and boresighted 30 scopes over the past 5 years and I use a Cabelas laser boresighter and a couple of small levels. You can even make sure the action is level and then line up the vertical crosshair with a door jam you know is plumb. I do this trick all the time on scopes that I know will not be shot past 100 yards or so. I was not great at first but now I generally am within 6 inches of the bull with my first shot at 50 yards and make the adjustments from there.

 

[DaveB]

This is an old bore sight tool from Bushnell. Amazingly, it still works exceptionally well.

 

[BobTail]

....................and spend the other $50 - $60 getting it boresighted by a gunsmith.

That's a total waste of money. I have never mounted a scope that wasn't on the paper at 25 yards. Adjust crosshairs to point of impact. One more shot at 50 yards. Adjust again. Another at 100 yards. Then you can start to assure it is dialed in correctly. Max ammo expended: less than 10 rounds and 15 or so minutes. That's way less than paying a gunsmith .......

 

[Deer Assassin]

i bore sight with my eye


it works

 

[GOODWIN]

i bore sight with my eye


it works

Same here. Take the bolt out if you can and secure on sandbags. Easy and free.

As mentioned earlier, I have had to lap most cheaper rings because they don't line up perfectly. Some higher end rings with good base I have not.

 

[rstodd]

I took a 1 inch diameter piece of barstock and some valve lapping compound and mounted the bases and lapped them. Maybe luck but the my 1st shot was within 1 inch at 50 yards.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Nsghunter]

i bore sight with my eye


it works

Same here. Take the bolt out if you can and secure on sandbags. Easy and free.

As mentioned earlier, I have had to lap most cheaper rings because they don't line up perfectly. Some higher end rings with good base I have not.

What is lapping?

 

[280longshot]

i bore sight with my eye


it works

Same here, I'm usually in the bulls eye with 5 shots @100 yrds and have been in the bulls eye two times with two shots @ 100 yrds.
Spend your money on a good scope mounts like tn rifleman said!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[MUP]

What is lapping?

Honing the two rings into alignment, so that the barrel of the scope fits perfectly into the cradle, without being "pinched" from one side or the other.

Here's a link to help illustrate.

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/art ... g-lapping/

 

[user 14220]

I recently purchased a new scope for my 30-06.
I was going to mount it and sight it in when I had a chance. The rifle has scope already with existing mount and rings so I was going got throw it in that one.

Now, I did a little research and seen that weever had these professional scope mounting kits for around $100 and a scope leveling kit for $40. Do i really need these types of tools to shoot a rifle 40-50 times a year at whitetail 200-300 yards?

No

 

[infoman jr.]

$60 to bore sight a scope!? I'm in the wrong business.

 

[TNRifleman]

$60 to bore sight a scope!? I'm in the wrong business.

Gunsmiths don't charge that because it is hard, they charge it because they have backlogs of work an can get $50-$60 from people who do not know how to do it, don't have the tools/knowledge to do it or just don't want to do it.

I had one done by a smith about 10 years ago before I started to learn more about rifles/scopes etc and after that I decided to buy some basic tools and have done all of my own since then. If someone knows they are going to have it done once, a smith is not a terrible option for them.

 

[infoman jr.]

$60 to bore sight a scope!? I'm in the wrong business.

Gunsmiths don't charge that because it is hard, they charge it because they have backlogs of work an can get $50-$60 from people who do not know how to do it, don't have the tools/knowledge to do it or just don't want to do it.

I had one done by a smith about 10 years ago before I started to learn more about rifles/scopes etc and after that I decided to buy some basic tools and have done all of my own since then. If someone knows they are going to have it done once, a smith is not a terrible option for them.

That's bizarre.

 

[DaveB]

Not bizarre at all. While I agree it is pretty straightforward to mount the scope and boresight, some folks have problems with the mechanics. For example, how many times do YOU say lefty-loosey to remind yourself which way to turn something? Never is what I would wager.

Anyway, the original question was does the member need the fancy gear to mount a scope and the conclusion was nope, you don't.