Sighting in a scope

[digitalblue]

I'm trying to sight in my new Bushnell elite tactical 4.5-30x50mm scope and I'm having some problems with the and elevation bottoming out. I am using Leupold PRW high rings on a weaver base. If it matters, the gun is a Remington 700 SPS tactical(1-12 twist) in 308.

Upon zeroing the scope on a boresighter, I am only able to move 3 squares to the right and 7 to the left of zero without bottoming out. As for elevation, I'm only able to move 5 squares down but I'm able to move immeasurably high without bottoming out. According to the instruction manual for the boresighter, each square corresponds to 4" at 100 yards. Is this normal?

 

[caper587]

Bore sighting a rifle is just a "ballpark" step, it usually gets you on paper at 100 yards or so, there by skipping the step that many used to use of first firing at the distance where the bullet first crosses the line of sight. You need to get out to the range and shoot.
If your using fixed rings and mounts and your not centered well with the bore there's not much you can do. Try switching rings, that will sometimes help with alignment. If your really off in elevation the same thing will sometimes help or you can try shimming between the mount and ring. Shim stock or just pop can material works.

 

[digitalblue]

I have tried reinstalling the base and rings just to make sure it they weren't improperly installed. I generally like to avoid shimming stuff if I can avoid it; IMO, shimming is a bit hackish fix. I was expecting 4-5 mils of windage in either direction; is this an unreasonable expectation? As I mentioned before, this is my first real scope so I'm not sure what to expect.

Just shot the rifle today after zeroing with the boresighter.
At 100yds, I'm hitting 3" right and 5.5" high; after zeroing the scope with the POI, I'm only left with 2.5 mils of rightward windage before bottoming out.
Anyone have any advice?

 

[skypilot]

I have tried reinstalling the base and rings just to make sure it they weren't improperly installed. I generally like to avoid shimming stuff if I can avoid it; IMO, shimming is a bit hackish fix. I was expecting 4-5 mils of windage in either direction; is this an unreasonable expectation? As I mentioned before, this is my first real scope so I'm not sure what to expect.

Just shot the rifle today after zeroing with the boresighter.
At 100yds, I'm hitting 3" right and 5.5" high; after zeroing the scope with the POI, I'm only left with 2.5 mils of rightward windage before bottoming out.
Anyone have any advice?

Sounds like the receiver is drilled off center front to back or the Weaver base mounting holes are off center front to back. Do you have a precision caliper or some way to determine/measure where the problem lies? If you are sure the scope isn't defective reverse the rings if you still can't determine the issue:

Buy the Burris Zee rings and they will compensate for windage or elevation depending on how you position the inserts. They won't mar, scratch or ring your scope.