NEWB scope mounting??

[Rubikahn]

Is there a way to make sure you mount a scope so that the cross hairs are correctly alligned vertically and horizontally??? Or do you just eyeball it? I mounted a scope and went to the range only to find that the crosshairs weren't properly alligned...duh and grrr

 

[cosmic]

Just eyeball it - with a bit of practice its not hard to do. Bear in mind that some rings, such as Weavers, will actually rotate the scope slightly when tightened.

 

[bill c68]

I usually eyeball it and then point it at something level like a shelf or a door etc. Of course it doesn't hurt to have someone looking at you to make sure your gun is staright.

 

[senior]

This may sound a little goofy but hey works for me!
Hold the rifle out at arms length aimed at a very light colored background.
By looking at the rifle from behind you can usually tell if it's straight up & down or not, then you can glance thru the scope from behind the rifle & the see if the crosshairs appear horizontal.

 

[sean18mb]

Yup, I just eyeball it. I actually mounted my new scope yesterday. It's a Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40mm. Very nice scope! I have Weaver rings, and like cosmic said, they actually rotate the scope slightly when you tighten the screws.

-Sean

 

[jdrew1]

+2 on the weaver rings, took me a couple tries to estimate how much they would rotate it and compensate the other way. What I did for the last one is rest the rifle on a ledge, the forearm has a little flat spot so it sits level, then look thru it at a table, shelf, doorway, window etc (blinds CLOSED! ) and compare the reticle now. Much easier than trying to hold it level and eyeballing it.
Drew

 

[Rotaxpower]

I just eyeball it. I dunno my thoughts on this is that when you shoulder your rifle, its not going to be PERFECTLY straight, so shoulder the rifle, and eyeball it. That way it it will be straight on your shoulder. I dunno, I could be wrong.

 

[guntech]

I have seen so many "eyeballed" home mounted scopes so crooked ...

Just "eyeballing" it might work. But there are a few other things that make a difference.

You use your eyeball but you should also insure the rifle is actually level when you do this.

One way is to hold the rifle or barreled action in a vice or bags or any method that will hold it without you touching it. Level it the action using a level.

Not touching the rifle look "through" the scope at nothing in particular ... you are not concerned with an image just the crosshairs, your eye can be behind the buttstock ... as you "eyeball" it try and imagine the bottom of the cross hair extending down through the center of the action... If the action is level and the crosshair does intersect the center of the action, your scope is pretty square. Step back and look at how crooked you stock may or may not be.

If you try and line a scope up "square" with a shouldered rifle, the fit of the stock and the "cant" of your head can cause it to be out considerably.

Another way is to sight on a distant object as a pole or edge of a building, while the action is level. If you don't start with a measured level action it is pretty difficult.