Does scope height affect precision?

[the_dude306]

On lots of threads I read someone always states that rings are too high. What does this do to affect accuracy? I recently changed glass around on a few of my rifles and only had a set of high rings. To my surprise my head position, cheek weld ect was much better, but the scope looks like it is sitting 3/4" high.

I assume cant of the rifle would have a bigger effect on precision with high glass?

What else? Or why should rings be as low as possible?

 

[snoopycda]

i dont think that sight height will affect precision, but the line of sight will remain on trajectory longer. meaning that zero will be from say 200 to 225 yds instead of say 200 to 210 yds for one that is closer to the barrel. just pulling these figures out of the air but i believe thats how it works.

 

[ryandpahl]

Heres a good article that pretty much sums it all up. A long read, but image 3 really tells the story:

http://www.riflescopelevel.com/cant_errors.html

The higher your sight line is above the bore, the more likely you are to get cant errors.

 

[ultimate_monkey]

other then cant error is increased there is no effect on accuracy otehr then if your sighted in at say 100yds then have to make a 25yd shot, your POI will be 3/4" lower then it would be with your old rings...

cheeck weld and head position / being comfortable when u squeeze that trigger will play asmost as much in accuracy as a good scope will. if your not comfortable right off the bat when that rifle comes up to your shoulder somting is wrong...

the loweest rings possible to use are recomended but thats only 1/2 the equation gotta be comfy!

or make the $30 doller investment and get one of those little scope mounted levels

 

[Jeromeo]

cheeck weld and head position / being comfortable when u squeeze that trigger will play asmost as much in accuracy as a good scope will. if your not comfortable right off the bat when that rifle comes up to your shoulder somting is wrong...

This is very important. Not only do you have to be comfortable, you must be consistently in lining it up every time. This ensures consistent shooting with less surprises. With higher rings I've found there was slight variations in how I positioned my cheek on the stock which equaled worse accuracy at the range. It's somewhat like archery, anchor points are crucial to ensure successful shooting. You don't ever change your anchor point so why should you on a rifle? Lower rings for me = more rigid cheek weld and comfort.

 

[Obtunded]

Actually.... scopes that are mounted high are better for repeatability.

Your scope and your muzzle point at two different spots in space. the muzzle points up, whereas the scope points at your target. If you cant your rifle to the left, the scope MAY be pointed in exactly the same spot, but your muzzle is now pointing up and to the left...

As long as the gun is fired from exactly the same position each time, it it doesn't matter if that position happens to be slightly canted, but the greater the distance between the anti-cant device and the axis of the bore, the more accurate the ACD will be.

If you rotate your rig to level the crosshairs, well the degrees in that arc will be less, the further away from the axis of the bore, the scope is mounted.... does this make sense?

 

[Jeromeo]

As long as the gun is fired from exactly the same position each time, it it doesn't matter if that position happens to be slightly canted

That's my problem, as I stated. With high rings there is a tiny variation in where I, personally, position my face. With the lowest possible mount I personally find myself more consistent on how I position myself/face with the stock.

 

[ryandpahl]

As long as the gun is fired from exactly the same position each time, it it doesn't matter if that position happens to be slightly canted

True...If the conditions also stay exactly the same. The second the wind picks up you will start to induce errors.

If your rifle was zeroed perfectly level, with the scope perfectly level, then your elevation and wind adjustments will be level. Now cant the rifle a few degrees. Your adjustment are working on the same plane which has been tilted. So a windage adjustment will now induce a partial elevation adjustment as well.

Figured this one out on the Homestead 900 meter line. I was using the tops of the targets to keep myself shooting 'exactly the same' each time. But the targets are not level left to right. Target 1 is lower than target 6. This induced a cant, and every windage change would affect my elevation POI as well.

Lesson learned : Use a level/ACD for every shot.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Canting will occur with any scope height. It is up to the shooter to maintain the rifle is in proper position. If level or aids are required, use them

The difference between low and high rings is usually 1/2". If you have poor form, lowering the scope will not help.

Raising the scope CAN have a very positive affect on shooters precision.

It is such an aid, that some sports like Silhouette (standing) limits how high you can raise your scope.

The key is how comfy are you - set it up so YOU can see through the scope comfortably in the positions you will use it the most. And if it is comfortable, odds are it will also be repeatable.

I tend to use a taller scope height for prone vs the bench. Works for my body shape AND

FOR MY GLASSES. Alot of shooters now use corrective lenses, if the scope is too low and your heads is scrunched into the stock, odds are you are looking through the top part of your lense (if the glasses don't get knocked off your face first).

That will immediately distort your vision AND this will affect what you see and how you aim. The more upright you can get your head and view through the sweet spot in the lense (usually the center), the better.

When it comes to setting up your rig, set it up for you and you alone (within the rules if you are competing). You wouldn't ask for opinions on what is the correct shoe size to wear. Why do that for stock fit?

Jerry