Gun store Shooting Locations It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:12 pm



Rules WGO Chat Room Gear Rent Me Shield NRA SAF CCKRBA
Calendar




Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
 Scope Mounting 
Author Message
FFL / Dealer
User avatar

Location: Lake Forest Park
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011
Posts: 211
Real Name: Tom
The purpose of this post is to inform shooters of the importance of mounting your scope properly. I get asked many questions in regards to magnification, reticles, and parallax adjustments, but not many questions regarding scope mounting. When spending $1,000-$1,500 on a top of the line scope an improperly mounted scope will not perform properly. If the scope is not aligned to the bore axis you will not get the proper corresponding adjustments from your turrets.
When I mount a scope the first thing I do is run a tap down the threads in the receiver to ensure there is no debris and to make sure I have threads all the way thru. Also, if the scope base is supplied with slotted screws I throw those away and use torx head screws. The next process is mounting an alignment fixture into the rings.
Image

Using good rings will get you close, but to get an exact fit, the rings must be lapped. Spending an extra 20-30 minutes to lap the rings will only increase the life and performance of your optic.
Image

Image

Image
Next the scope needs to be aligned to the rifle. I use a fixture that allows me to align the optical axis to the bore axis. Once the level is set I then align the reticle to a plumb bob to get the reticle square.
Image

Image

The last operation is using a bore sight to get the scope on paper.
If you spend the money on an optic and rings don't forget to complete the procedure by having the scope installed properly.


Last edited by tpryder on Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.



Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:29 pm
Profile
Site Admin
User avatar
Site Admin

Location: Renton, WA
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011
Posts: 51917
Real Name: Steve
Tom, that is a fantastic post!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

One note ... I think your "before" and "after" photos of the lapping operation are reversed...?

_________________
Steve

Benefactor Life Member, National Rifle Association
Life Member, Second Amendment Foundation
Patriot & Life Member, Gun Owners of America
Life Member, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Legal Action Supporter, Firearms Policy Coalition
Member, NAGR/NFGR

Please support the organizations that support all of us.

Leave it cleaner than you found it.


Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:07 pm
Profile
Founding Father
User avatar
Founding Father

Location: Woodinville
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 4631
Great write up, Tom.

_________________
"There's two things in life you can't take back... Bullets and words. So make sure you hit what you aim at and make sure you mean what you say."


Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:40 pm
Profile
Online
Site Admin
User avatar
Site Admin

Location: Olympia, WA
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 38290
Real Name: Dan
Wow. I would have never thought there was such a science to it. I have always just slapped her on and away I went.... Maybe that's one of my issues.


Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:48 pm
Profile WWW
FFL / Dealer
User avatar

Location: Lake Forest Park
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011
Posts: 211
Real Name: Tom
MadPick wrote:
Tom, that is a fantastic post!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

One note ... I think your "before" and "after" photos of the lapping operation are reversed...?


Good eye!


Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:14 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 5 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum



Rules WGO Chat Room Gear Rent Me NRA SAF CCKRBA
Calendar


Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software for PTF.
[ Time : 0.555s | 16 Queries | GZIP : Off ]