How High Do You Mount Your Scope?

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Danny Boy

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I have been for year mounting my scopes as close to the barrel as I can. In other words I use the lowest rings I can accommodate the scope. Some of the scopes (objective lens) are within 1/8” to the barrel.

In viewing the most recent catalog from Remington I noticed that their scopes are mounted pretty high – ½” or higher. Is that the preferred way and why? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Danny
 
To be able to see the full view with NO moving of the head to try and find the sweetspot, is best. Everyone has different neck length and prefered weld spots, so to mount a scope where the right place for YOU is more important than whether the scope sits higher or lower.
Mounting a scope higher does alter the line of sight to point of impact relationship as the line of sight intersects the flight path of the bullet at a different distance the higher the scope is over center of bore.
For sales brochure purposes higher scope mounts are oftern used to show the rifle better
 
I don't think how close to the barrel you are should be the only consideration.....

If you have a huge fronts lens then you want it close to the barrel because you will have all the bolt handle clearance you need... but if you mount a small lensed scope close to the barrel, the bolt handle will not have enough clearance in some cases. Some variable scopes have huge rear lens assemblys and require higher rings.

I think how high the scope should be mounted should be based on bolt handle clearance and front bell clearance and the owners preferences.
 
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I totally agree with Alberta Tactical, you remember the old days when folks said get that scope as close to the bore as poss. Well this may have been a result of poor optics in the past or whatever.
I recommend using rings that put the scope right there (dead center)when you shoulder the firearm, no cresent moons :D , Depending on stock design, I now use medium or high rings, mostly medium for my build , and the guns I use.
Now there are problems with scope mounting that crop up, opening the bolt on mausers require high rings in most cases, I am pretty lucky that they were what I needed on those rifles anyway for proper view.
But remember , even a semi may require medium to center correctly, but you could have used low. Don't drive your face into the stock to get the correct picture, you want a quick to the shoulder look for center, no corrections, close your eyes , then open when your at the shoulder.Hope this helps.
Frank
 
A major consideration is what position you will be firing the rifle the most.

If on foot and most shoots are taken standing or resting on a log, go with the highest rings that give you a proper view.

For prone or off a bench, lower rings might suit you better.

Fit the scope and stock to you, not the other way around. With new straight stock designs, low rings actually make shooting much harder because there is almost no buttpad in your shoulder and you are forced to drive the comb into your cheek. This actually makes recoil much worse.

A high set of rings will 'lower' the rifle and give your cheek a bit more room. Plus you are not so scruntched up peering cockeyed through the scope. If you wear glasses, you want to look through the lenses as upright as possible. Otherwise, you will get distortion at the least, or simply not be able to see at the worse.

Lots of money and time is spent on bling. Little effort and time is spent in fitting the rifle to the shooter. A low budget but well fit rifle will let the owner shoot much better then a mega dollar whiz bang that is uncomfortable to shoot.

Jerry
 
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