Scope mounting

[John3]

Does everyone take their gun somewhere to have a scope put on and then boresighted? I am tired of taking it somewhere every time I change something up and have too many calibers a to buy the different lasers for all of them.
Does anyone have any luck just mounting it with no levels or lasers and going out and starting at 25 yds to get on paper? Will you waste too much ammo this way? Thanks for any input or tips on how you do it.

 

[MUP]

Sure don't, never have. I place my rifle on a stationary platform, remove the bolt, and move the crosshairs to the closest I can match the center of the bore at about 25 yds, then shoot at 50. Sometimes I'm on paper, sometimes I'm off, but can usually tell where I need to go from there. Also, beforehand, I mount the scope myself as well with a level on the action and one on the scope, getting them both level together, then lock it down.

 

[Rubberduck270]

All a man needs to mount a scope is a level (to level the action), a plumb bob (to level the reticle) and something to point it at to get it close (looking down the barrel to bore site).

I've tried upmteen different methods over the years but that's the one I've settled on. You can try to level off the scope turret but rarely is the reticle level with the turret. The only time I level off a turret is on a gun I'm going to crank the turrets on a lot.

And on leveling the action, occasionally I've run into a gun that's unbedded in a factory stock that sits crooked in the stock (recoil lug orientation has a lot to do with this) and for everything to line up half way acceptable I've had to level off the bottom of the stock (across the bottom metal). Barrel vise and a brass hammer will take care of a crooked recoil lug though :grin:

 

[Deer Assassin]

ditto above

i use a level and my eyeball down the bore

99.9 on at 50 yds if not move to 25 make adjustment

 

[John3]

Thanks for the input guys. I figured as much but just wanted some reinforcement before giving it a go. Thanks again

 

[stik]

you can get a laser boresighter with an adjustable arbor that fits all calibers. it's hard to sight down the barrel of a semiauto, pump or lever gun ;)

 

[JimFromTN]

I use the Segway Reticle Leveler to level my scopes. Its around $20 and I have seen them at academy. I don't bother bore sighting. I just set up initially at about 25yds and get it an inch low to the bull in a couple of shots and then back up to 100.

 

[infoman jr.]

I use a FAT wrench and blue loctite when mounting my scopes.

If you use a picatinny rail for a base, you can take a parallel piece of metal, and place it on the rail between the scope and base. Tilt the piece up until is touches the bottom of the turret housing. While the rings are loose, use this to level the scope to the gun.

 

[MUP]

I use a FAT wrench and blue loctite when mounting my scopes.

If you use a picatinny rail for a base, you can take a parallel piece of metal, and place it on the rail between the scope and base. Tilt the piece up until is touches the bottom of the turret housing. While the rings are loose, use this to level the scope to the gun.

Cool. Love these different ways everybody has of getting it done. :)

 

[1 good shot]

one thing i haven't seen mentioned so far is for heavy recoiling rifles i always put on the same amount of clothing that i will be wearing while hunting with the gun to set the eye relief.
if you mount the scope while wearing a t-shirt and then hunt with the gun while wearing several layers of clothing you are going to have to lean your head futher over to get the full view
and you will be more inclined to get "scope-eye" on your off hand shots because your forehead will be a lot closer to the scope

 

[old guy]

I have scoped many a rifle. You can get the scope as level as you can and someone else can pick it up and sight through the scope and the words are always there " scopes leaning some to the_____ " I have found once I get everything ready (action, mounting system,etc.) I make the owner adjust the scope to his or her liking then I lock it down with the shooters final approval. Very seldom do I sight through a scope and it is level for my eyes but I'm not the one thats shooting it. If the owner/shooter is happy with the sight picture then I'm tickled. It helps to have your own private shooting range with dirt mound , permanent shooting bench , spotting scope and 0-150 yds. to targets. I'm blessed.

 

[Jcalder]

I generally put my scope on and tighten the rings enough to hold the scope. I shoulder the rifle and get my level with door trim. For sighting I'll either use a bore sighter or looking down the barrel

 

[Jcalder]

I have scoped many a rifle. You can get the scope as level as you can and someone else can pick it up and sight through the scope and the words are always there " scopes leaning some to the_____ " I have found once I get everything ready (action, mounting system,etc.) I make the owner adjust the scope to his or her liking then I lock it down with the shooters final approval. Very seldom do I sight through a scope and it is level for my eyes but I'm not the one thats shooting it. If the owner/shooter is happy with the sight picture then I'm tickled. It helps to have your own private shooting range with dirt mound , permanent shooting bench , spotting scope and 0-150 yds. to targets. I'm blessed.

I've noticed the same when looking thru someone else's scope. There's leans. But mines leaning to them too lol

 

[infoman jr.]

I have scoped many a rifle. You can get the scope as level as you can and someone else can pick it up and sight through the scope and the words are always there " scopes leaning some to the_____ " I have found once I get everything ready (action, mounting system,etc.) I make the owner adjust the scope to his or her liking then I lock it down with the shooters final approval. Very seldom do I sight through a scope and it is level for my eyes but I'm not the one thats shooting it. If the owner/shooter is happy with the sight picture then I'm tickled. It helps to have your own private shooting range with dirt mound , permanent shooting bench , spotting scope and 0-150 yds. to targets. I'm blessed.

I've noticed the same when looking thru someone else's scope. There's leans. But mines leaning to them too lol

That's why it's important to use a tool for the job instead of a subjective eyeball.

 

[tug]

When I agree to mount a scope for someone, it is always with the understanding that I will start with empty screw holes. That is, I don't trust that anything was done correctly.

I use a two bubble level kit. It is the only way to ensure that the reticle is level with the receiver. The eye is not enough.

I set the rifle. Then I pull the bolt, if possible. I look through the bore and get a rough zero. Fire one round. TH\hen I move the cross hairs to the the hole.

I am close to zero in one shot.

I also use huge paper targets so that I never miss a bullet.

My time is valuable. Ammo is getting expensive.

But I can't in good conscience let people go on expensive hunts with crap.

 

[infoman jr.]

When I agree to mount a scope for someone, it is always with the understanding that I will start with empty screw holes. That is, I don't trust that anything was done correctly.

I use a two bubble level kit. It is the only way to ensure that the reticle is level with the receiver. The eye is not enough.

I set the rifle. Then I pull the bolt, if possible. I look through the bore and get a rough zero. Fire one round. TH\hen I move the cross hairs to the the hole.

I am close to zero in one shot.

I also use huge paper targets so that I never miss a bullet.

My time is valuable. Ammo is getting expensive.

But I can't in good conscience let people go on expensive hunts with crap.

Do you have the rifle's owner set the eye relief? Do you degrease and use locktite or use a torque wrench?

 

[old guy]

After using the correct tools to level scope the shooter sights it and says " its leaning " so after explaining to them they are canting the rifle when they shoulder it, they want it looking level the way THEY shoulder and fire it. So we let them center it they way they want so everybody is happy. Level or not.