Stevens 200 - Weaver 46 Bases?

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Greetings fine folks,

I just picked up a Stevens 200 short action and realized that the Weaver 46 mounts on the front and rear will not give me enough elevation adjustment for the scope. Bore sighter says its still has to come down 6 inches and the adjustment is at full stop. Are these the correct bases, or is there a misprint on the Weaver chart? I really dont want to shim this to corect it. Any input is appreciated.

Cheers!
 
It sounds like you may have mismatched rings. Try switching them front to back to see if this makes any difference. Problems with bases are usually confined to windage, not elevation, as the base holes may become misaligned after heat treating. (This is actually a common problem with Savage guns, but I haven't experienced anything serious in the several that I own.)

Also, check to see that the scope is snug in the rings; sometimes if the front ring is too far forward it can impinge where the bell begins on the scope and bring the scope out of alignment. (You sometimes have to look closely to see this, as it may be just barely touching.)
 
Thanks for the quick replies. The scope is a new Bushnell Legend, in new medium Weaver rings. The boresighters are a Simmons with an arbour and a magnetic Bushnell. The rings are fairley centered on the tube, and not touching the objective or eyepiece bells. The scope was centered beforehand. I tried a different scope and ring combo from another rifle, same same. I'll shoot it tomorrow and see if the bore sighters are lying to me.

I have done this several times in the past, and have encountered a similar problem once on a Winchester M70, no matter what base/ring setup I used, I had to shim a base to get enough elevation. It was frustrating, because I upgraded the scope and mounts to make it a better platform, the el cheapo setup originally on it worked fine. I'd like to solve that problem as well as I really dont like shims.

Thanks again, please keep the input coming.

Cheers!
 
If it doesn't zero properly try a set of Burris Signature Zee rings with the optional Offset Insert Kit. The Signature rings along with the Insert Kit have offset inserts that you can mix and match to correct any misalignment. They will allow you to zero your scope and return the reticle back to it's optical center. Be sure you order the "Zee" rings as they fit Weaver style bases.
 
Well, once I get thru this honey-do list I'll be off to shoot and see how it works. Just for gits and shiggles I put a weaver low ring on the rear and a medium up front. I did NOT tighten the rings, but the bore sighters now show I can get the proper adjustment. If need be, I wonder if I can get away with this as a solution, as I cant see it being any different than a shim, just looks better. The scope looks more level as well, I'll have to reference the receiver and check with a bubble. Thanks again, I appreciate all the input and advice, please keep it coming.

Cheers!
 
I have had a bore sighter show me that I had no adjustment left in elevation before, only to find in the field that I had to adjust the other way to get the scope sighted.
You don't really know until you try it.
 
Cod Father
I suggest you do not tighten the screws or shoot the rifle with the scope mounted with one low and one medium ring. You could seriously damage your scope as the tube is probably only bearing on a very portion of each base - not a good situation. I strongly advise the Burris rings to fix your problem.
 
The rifle may be off as the bore sighter seems to tell you, but the bore sighter could just as easily be the problem. I've got one that's way off and another that is much closer. Neither is perfect.

Look through the advice you have and follow suggestions one at a time. Without spending money (I'll never pay for weaver rings again) you can try a few things. This usually gets approval pretty quickly with the honey. :)

Check that both bases are stamped with the correct number, and remove the bolt from the action when tightening them down. *one thing not mentioned is that occasionally the screws shipped with a scope mount are too long and actually go right through the receiver and hit the bolt, which makes you think everything is tightened down when it's not.

Center the reticle in the scope before mounting it.

Mount it as instructions say, then boresight it.

Next put it in a solid rest and align the crosshairs on a distant target. Being extremely careful not to move anything, lower your head and look through the bore, centering as well as you can. The "target" you've aligned with should appear reasonably centered in the bore. If the target is not visible in this step, the problem is likely the bore sighter.

If you make it this far without problems, remove the rings from the base, still attached to the scope, and swap the front and rear bases on the receiver. Remember, no bolt in the action through all of this.

Reattach the scope to the rail, and alignt the crosshair with the same target while on the same sturdy rest. If things have changed dramatically from the previous setup as far as how things line up, then the problem may actually be the bases. Otherwise it's likely another issue.

If you do find that it's a base problem which likely needs shimming, don't try the mismatched rings you've considered. Take the earlier suggestion to use burris rings with their insert system. This will allow you to accomplish the same results as shimming the bases without damaging the scope. :)
 
Well, It's a Shooter!

Thanks for all the input folks! I did not tighten the mis-matched ring combo, that was just an experiment to check it out on the bore sighters.

I took it to the range and used some of that nifty Winchester 45 grain stuff to sight in and break in the barrel. At the end of the day, I must say I am impressed, it easily shoots an inch group at 100 yds, and keeps that consistantcy at 200 (I didnt try 300, ran outta ammo). I bought this package for my Dad, he retired just a bit ago and needs something smaller than a 300 Win Mag so he can bust coyotes and such.

This is the first time I ever had 2 bore sighters lie to me that badly, they usually get me fairly well on the paper, but now that is is zero'd, the bore sighters indicate that it is well off the scale on elevation, oh well, live and learn.

Thanks again for all your advice and input. All the best.

Cheers!
 
use the wall across the room for a bore sighter, then your target at the range...look through bore, align scope, bang your on paper.

those magnetic things are junk imo.
 
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