Mad dash at the last minute to get ready for deer season, having optics nightmare!

linuxbman

linuxbman

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I have a sporterized(not by me, bought it in EE that way) Lee-Enfield I plan on taking deer hunting this year (my first year!!), next weekend. I discovered about a month ago that the scope I had on it was broken, so I went to the local gun store and bought a Redfield Revenge, and they mounted it for me and roughed it in with a bore sight. They did note that when they were roughing it in, they had to adjust the windage a whole lot to the right, and that my rings may be a bit off to the right, and I may need to bring it to a gunsmith if I can't get it sighted in. The following weekend I brought it to the local range to sight it in for 100 yards. Vertically it was dead on, but horizontally it was off to the right. Making adjustments, the windage knob got stuck, and refused to budge. I brought it back to the store and they said they had never seen it before but would happily exchange it for me...except they were out of stock.

2 weeks later, they still don't have any replacement in, so I am going to swap it for a Nikon Coyote Special, which is the closest in price they have, tomorrow (Saturday), and go to the range to sight it in. I am mildly concerned that I will have issues with the mount being too far right and not be able to sight it in properly.

With very little time to get ready and deal with this optics problems, is there anyway I can adjust the mount or rings without taking it to a gunsmith if it ends up being a problem? The guy at the gunstore mentioned possibly using a shim?

If I can't get this rifle setup properly, my alternate options are a Savage MkII, which is .22 (and useless against deer) or an SKS with iron sights, which is not great.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!
 
If I was in your situation OP I'd go with the SKS w/ irons. Buy some cheap MFS Soft Point ammo and see how she shoots. You probably shouldnt be shooting past 100 meters with it but the 7.62x39 will do the trick no problem.
 
deerfarmer said:
A windage adjustable base at the back might be your answer
Click to expand...

any suggested brands? On the cheaper side preferably, my wife is less than impressed already with how much my first year of hunting has cost. I have explained that it's just because I had to buy camo gear etc. for the first time, but the new scope did not help...
 
You may benefit from using some of the BURRIS SIGNATURE rings that have offset inserts. With the insert you can slightly offset the alignment of the scope without difficulty. Best of luck.
 
Upon return from the range today, I can confirm that with the windage adjusted as far as it will go, the rifle shoots 2 inches to the right at 100 yards. I think I'll be hunting with the SKS. Wish me luck.

Pictures will be posted if I am successful.
 
linuxbman said:
Upon return from the range today, I can confirm that with the windage adjusted as far as it will go, the rifle shoots 2 inches to the right at 100 yards. I think I'll be hunting with the SKS. Wish me luck.

Pictures will be posted if I am successful.
Click to expand...
If your shots are good vertically just off 2 inches to the right why not just hold your point of aim two inches to the left of where you'd want to hit? Rather simple.
 
1ShotKing said:
If your shots are good vertically just off 2 inches to the right why not just hold your point of aim two inches to the left of where you'd want to hit? Rather simple.
Click to expand...

As long as the deer is around 100 yards away, yes. I do not have a rangefinder to bring with me to confirm distance, and this being my first time hunting, I am not super at estimating distance.

I don't would not like to estimate incorrectly and just injure a deer because I shot it in the ass instead of the lungs because it was farther away than I thought.
 
linuxbman said:
any suggested brands? On the cheaper side preferably, my wife is less than impressed already with how much my first year of hunting has cost. I have explained that it's just because I had to buy camo gear etc. for the first time, but the new scope did not help...
Click to expand...

I like Leupold bases. As was mentioned a set of burris signature zees would allow some wiggle room. I'm not sure but you might be able to get by without the zees and just a normal set of rings ... all depends on how much you want to spend. the sig zees are expensive but they are very nice.

Here is a link with some pictures etc.. the std bases - 1 or 2 piece would be what I would try.

http://www.leupold.com/resources/about-leupold-mounting-systems/
 
OP, exactly what does your Enfield have for a scope base? And is it a No.1, 4 or 5? If your rings are installed correctly then the base is out. Certain aftermarket models can easily be modified to correct this. With an ATI mount its a matter of turning two screws. A picture is worth a thousand words...
 
linuxbman said:
Upon return from the range today, I can confirm that with the windage adjusted as far as it will go, the rifle shoots 2 inches to the right at 100 yards. I think I'll be hunting with the SKS. Wish me luck.

Pictures will be posted if I am successful.
Click to expand...


Does the Lee Enfield not have its iron sights? If it does it is better like that for deer hunting than an SKS is.
 
supernova said:
OP, exactly what does your Enfield have for a scope base? And is it a No.1, 4 or 5? If your rings are installed correctly then the base is out. Certain aftermarket models can easily be modified to correct this. With an ATI mount its a matter of turning two screws. A picture is worth a thousand words...
Click to expand...

I'll post a picture tonite when I get home.

@TheTooner: No iron sights, the barrel was replaced before I bought it.
 
Well, I lucked out and one of the guys I am hunting with brought a Winchester Model 88 with a B&L scope on it. No deer yet, but it's lunch break on the first day, so I have time...
 
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