Chain Store scope mounting question

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JOHNNY K.

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Hello to all

I am about to buy a scope and mounts for my tikka t3 in 30-06 from a local chain store called Sail (in quebec)
The salesperson recommended nikon prostaff 2.5x10x40 on leupold rings and base. He said installation was included in the price ($330 scope and $50 rings and base)
My question is should i trust them with the instal? They are equivalent to a small cabela chain. Do the chain stores generally do good jobs? i.e. typically lap the rings? Or is it best to go to gunsmith? I'd like to do it myself but might not be worth the investment in tools for a one off job.
 
JOHNNY K. said:
Hello to all

I am about to buy a scope and mounts for my tikka t3 in 30-06 from a local chain store called Sail (in quebec)
The salesperson recommended nikon prostaff 2.5x10x40 on leupold rings and base. He said installation was included in the price ($330 scope and $50 rings and base)
My question is should i trust them with the instal? They are equivalent to a small cabela chain. Do the chain stores generally do good jobs? i.e. typically lap the rings? Or is it best to go to gunsmith? I'd like to do it myself but might not be worth the investment in tools for a one off job.
Click to expand...

What tools ? Screwdriver ? Allen Key ? One in dia wood dowel ?
 
JOHNNY K. said:
Tools like lapping tool, ring alignment rods, perhaps a bore sight
Click to expand...

Lapping the rings is nice to have but not NEEDED. As stampede mentioned in his post, a 1 inch wooden dowel about 8" long will work fine to make sure your rings are aligned. I asked a buddy that works in a machine shop to get me a 1" steel bar and lapping compound. He went the extra mile and threaded on a little handle too so I have a bar to align my rings and lap them as well
 
As for bore sighting, overrated in my opinion. It's a bolt action so try this, I can usually get on paper within 5 shots max with this at 100m. 50 would be easier
Step 1: put rifle on bags or rest
step 2: remove bolt
step 3: simply look through the bore and align gun so target is aligned straight down bore.
step 4: without moving gun on rest adjust elevation and windage of scope so it is centred on target
step 5: look down bore again to ensure it didn't move during scope fiddling
step 6: fire the gun
 
I hate to have someone else set up my scopes. For one thing, what if I don't like where they mounted it in the rings, and it doesn't have the exact eye relief distance that is comfortable for me?
Either have to loosen everything up and do over, or be crawling up and down the stock to find the sweet spot.
 
I bought a NEW rifle last June and swapped out the factory junk scope. I just mounted it and tried visually bore sighting it down the barrel. I then went up the mountain and took a shot at a paper target. Missed and I did not know if the bullet went high, low, left or right so I pulled out a sheet of corrugated plastic and taped a paper target to it. I took another shot and found I was 3 inches to the right of the paper target and about 1 inch low. I turned a couple dial and took another shot and then turned the dials again and took another shot and had it zeroed. WOW, I had no idea it was that easy. I did it after watching a you tube vid on zeroing a rifle in 3 shots. Well it took me 4 but only because I missed paper target on the first shot. I had allan keys with which to tighten the mounts so it never cost me anything. I also sent that you tube video to my phone so I could view it if needed for further instructions. Turns out I did not need it. That was my first and only attempt at zeroing any rifle. Just gotta figure out my nylon 66
 
Sail in Oshawa Ontario did a terrible job of levelling the reticle on my brothers rifle. I couldn't believe how bad it was. Better off doing it yourself I say.
 
It's good to learn how to zero a rifle and scope combination. Shoot for bullseye and look where the bullet is printing on the target. Then set up for center bullseye and dial the scope by keeping the rifle still and following where the bullet printed. The next shot should be very close to the bullseye on the target... Make a minor adjustment to fine tune - if needed.
 
StevieK said:
As for bore sighting, overrated in my opinion. It's a bolt action so try this, I can usually get on paper within 5 shots max with this at 100m. 50 would be easier
Step 1: put rifle on bags or rest
step 2: remove bolt
step 3: simply look through the bore and align gun so target is aligned straight down bore.
step 4: without moving gun on rest adjust elevation and windage of scope so it is centred on target
step 5: look down bore again to ensure it didn't move during scope fiddling
step 6: fire the gun
Click to expand...

Ive done this method a few times, it works. Mounting a scope isn't that hard at all to do yourself.
 
JOHNNY K. said:
All good advice- thanks. What about getting the crosshairs level withthe rifle? Any good tricks?
Click to expand...

No. Make the cross hairs level with the horizon (i.e. including your normal hold cant) not level with the rifle.

Ballisticaly only this makes sense. Unless you are that rare individual that holds his/her rifle perfectly normal (right angles to) the horizon.

Hang a weight from a string. Hold your rifle normally and comfortably and then rotate the scope so that it is in line with the string. Do this with each rifle because, if you are like the rest of us, you will hold each rifle slightly differently.
 
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