Leupold M8 6 power scope drives me nuts

MD

MD

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I was trying to sight in my 270 today and my M8 Leupold six power scope has the friction dial, not a click dial and I have no idea what the graduation marks represent and I ended up blowing off a box of ammo and going home without ever figuring out how the gun shoots.

My 300 WM shot fine so I didn't touch the (Leupold 4X) scope and my 280's Bushnell Elite has clicks that accurately move 1/4-inch per click.

But that damn six power; it was shooting high and to the right so I move two marks down an down left and it jumped something like four inches down and two inches left, so I moved back up one mark and half a mark right and it jumped almost back to where I started... It's just all over the place.

I really like the rifle, it's a Husqvarna lightweight and my favourite to carry but I have no confidence in it. I've had this trouble before and sent the scope to Leupold for repair once already.

I'm ready to try a whole new bases and scope setup.

I spent time this winter free floating the barrel and what groups I get are okay but where they go is really inconsistent.

I have a vintage Redfield 3x9 and some plain Jane old rings too. They might be better.

I didn't like the fuss it took to install the Warne detachable rings on the gun anyway.
 
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Yeah when I get scopes without knowing the graduation marks, I look through the scope while holding the gun firmly on the bags and move the adjustments until the cross hairs end up where you want them in relation to the group.
Sometimes old scopes can be sticky where adjusting them doesn't move the poi. A light tap with an empty case on the turrets is sometimes a quick fix for me.
 
Send it in for inspection / warranty. Thats where I'd start if things weren't adding up with the tracking.
Edit: Could also be something loose.... I had a rifle where i just could not get it zeroed and it was was not tracking anywhere near where it should have. I got frustrated and ripped everything apart and voila! Loose scope base!
 
I believe the graduations on the friction adjustment Leupolds is supposed to be 1 inch @ 100... could be wrong about that though. Take a wooden dowel or stick or something and give the turrets a couple of raps after adjustment, like somebody already mentioned.
 
Sounds like you are firing a single shot, then adjusting the scope? Assuming you are shooting at 100 yard target? That assumes that the single shot was representative of where the "group" might have been. I always fire at least two shots, often three, before adjusting scope. If you are looking at a 2.5" three shot group the issue is very different than a 3/4" three shot group. The "mean center" of the group is what should be adjusted for, not an individual hole - which might be the high right shot of the group one time and the low left of the group the next time. If you don't shoot enough groups to clearly establish the system capability (you, your rest, your technique, rifle, scope mounts, ammunition), then you can easily use up a box of shells chasing single bullet holes around the paper.
 
I was shooting three shot groups and was in fact referring to the "mean centre" in my original post.


Potashminer said:
Sounds like you are firing a single shot, then adjusting the scope? Assuming you are shooting at 100 yard target? That assumes that the single shot was representative of where the "group" might have been. I always fire at least two shots, often three, before adjusting scope. If you are looking at a 2.5" three shot group the issue is very different than a 3/4" three shot group. The "mean center" of the group is what should be adjusted for, not an individual hole - which might be the high right shot of the group one time and the low left of the group the next time. If you don't shoot enough groups to clearly establish the system capability (you, your rest, your technique, rifle, scope mounts, ammunition), then you can easily use up a box of shells chasing single bullet holes around the paper.
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I have two of the M8-6x36 and several other friction Leupolds. I have not had this problem with them, but have experienced it with friction Bushnell and Weavers. I had read an article by John Barsness some time ago about "sticky" or "jumpy" adjustments. Since the scope is actually a tube within a tube, with the center tube held top and side by a threaded turret and bottom left is a spring that may or may not always react consistently, his advice was to always try to make your adjustments by turning the turret in - so if you need to adjust "out", then back off the turret a half turn or more and then come back turning in to your desired point. Somewhere a long time ago I had read to always tap on the turrets after every adjustment (I use the butt of a screw driver handle) to help get the innards to settle into place. These practices have worked for me.
 
MD said:
But that damn six power; it was shooting high and to the right so I move two marks down an down left and it jumped something like four inches down and two inches left, so I moved back up one mark and half a mark right and it jumped almost back to where I started... It's just all over the place.
Click to expand...

Just recently- as in today- had a similar experience with a Leupold 2-7x compact, friction dials. I think the dials are sticking. I finally gave up in frustration, and I really felt like taking that scope off and flattening it out with a hammer. I'm going to dump the Leupold and maybe try a Nikon on it. Rifle was a CZ 527, .223 btw.
 
Did you tap the turrets with empty brass to make sure they are clicking..........sometimes they stick. IMO the Leupold marks on the friction dials aren't even close but strangely the cheaper B+L made Bushnells were about bang on............Harold
 
^^^ Yep, tried that. I would make an adjustment, see very little movement, make another adjustment, and it's off the paper. It also seems as if the vertical & horizontal adjustment have different values, moving different amounts with the same adjustment, but that could be the sticky dials again. I may try again, but I was running low on ammo and patience.
 
I would replace that scope with something else, use the 6x on a 22 maybe until you can figure it out. If you aren't confident in your equipment then you will always be second guessing a miss.
 
9.3mauser said:
^^^ Yep, tried that. I would make an adjustment, see very little movement, make another adjustment, and it's off the paper. It also seems as if the vertical & horizontal adjustment have different values, moving different amounts with the same adjustment, but that could be the sticky dials again. I may try again, but I was running low on ammo and patience.
Click to expand...

You may have shook something loose.
 
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