Where should a scope be mounted

Proper way is whatever allows you to comfortably shoulder and support the rifle causing the least strain/tension on your shoulder/neck muscles. Once you achieve this comfortable position, you then position the scope at the correct height and eye relief to match how YOU hold your rifle. Leaning in too far on your rifle engages way to many shoulder/neck muscles which in turn will cause significant fatigue and inconsistency. Consistent cheek weld and repeatability without hunting for a sight picture is key. Just slapping a scope on a rifle and lining up the eye piece with the receiver will not result in a comfortable and accurate shooting experience for most people.
 
I tend to agree that many scopes seem to be mounted too far back, but different people have different needs. best way I have found is to close your eyes, bring the rifle to a shooting position and open your eyes. If everything is lined up and you are comfortable, it's good. If no, move scope and repeat.
 
I will NOT tolerate your opinion OP , as it is just your opinion.

Now here are the hard facts and the REAL way to do it....................

Mount said scope as far back in rings and as rail will allow.

Shoot rifle, move scope forward each shot until you have to stop going for stitches or bandages.

Once that last shot doesn't touch your brow, you are good to go. ;)
 
Rifle specs - lop and stock design
Optic specs- eye relief and eye box
Rail and ring specs - height and mounting system
Position you are shooting from - prone, sitting, bench, standing.
Physical considerations - neck and arm lenth

Who are you to say what is correct?
 
In OP's "defense", I have three different scopes to mount on three different rifles for three or more different shooters - all the rifle owners have told me they could get it done at a "gunsmith in the city", but hoped I would do it, "to save them a trip". And must be installed with Brand XYZ ring mounts because they hear they are the "best". So, based on this thread, think I should have them take the rifles and scopes to that "gunsmith". There must be some "secret knowledge" that is held closely within the trade, that they can profitably do such a thing for "anyone". It is then sure to be mounted "correctly" for them, and I can get back to the dozen or so problem children of my own, to muddle through.
 
Like shotgun fit, there is no one "correct" answer, but there can be a lot of wrong answers. Saying one style of scope mounting or shooting is the only correct one is like saying one set of prescription eyeglasses should work for everybody.
 
It really depends on the individual shooter's body. Some are tall with long arms. some are short with shorter arms. Mine are mounted probably a touch further back compared to many (because of short arms) but that is the most comfortable for me in all positions I'm likely to shoot.

Ideal scope eye relief also changes slightly if you're shooting prone or standing because your head position changes slightly, usually slightly back if you're standing and slightly forward if you are in prone. It really needs to be a compromise as everyone is different.

The best method I've used is to put the scope into loose rings so you can move it back and forth and then standing with eyes closed, shoulder the rifle in as natural a position as possible (head upright), open eyes and see where your eye relief is at. Adjust and repeat this sequence until you can open your eyes and the eye relief is perfect. This will be a good position in sitting and prone as well as there is some forgiveness in the eye relief box of most scopes.

To say that in all cases, for all people the scope must be mounted so the rear ocular is in line with the rear of the action is not correct and fairly arbitrary at best, but each to his own.
 
You mount the scope so you get the best eye relief sight with a perfect circle no black around the edges to give you a perfect clear circle ................. Forward or back depends on your length of pull and where you place the stock to be most comfortable which does change as well if your shooting standing or prone the position you hold the rifle determines your scope placement nothing else there is no one spot even for the same person because it can vary let alone for multiple people on the same rifle. If your referring to military training people to shoot the AR15 with their nose touching the charging handle that would put the scope more forward then normal for sure. Love to watch you shoot a 30-06 with your nose at the back of the receiver and the scope 1/4" from your eye LOL
 
I'm still trying to figure out if the "back of the action" perhaps means the tang or the back of the action..... but I doubt it?
 
I have a rifle that I use in the stand a lot of the time. During this time I am usually resembling the Michelin man with multiple layers of clothes, I mounted that scope way back because of the effect of the extra clothing. A walking rifle's scope might be mounted differently.
 
Hi all, I must confess that this is the best post I have ever made. I started to reply on my phone but it suddenly all disappeared. Yes most are correct in that all bodies are different, very true. Most stocks are very similar after all we only touch them in three places. My history involves being a world champion TR shooter (long ago, but its like riding a bike) and owning a composite stock business making many thousand stocks for all the games. The reason for the shape of stock is because they work. In TR the alu stocks are becoming popular because they are super adjustable. I have heard from a Brit TR coach that they may work for a while but the wheels will fall off this world class shooter will have to relearn the prone position. Bizzare stocks belong to bizzare shooters, they might be supper comfortable but what matters is on the range. Yes the moose or deer don't care but they don't have rings on them. The critters are easy but my background is winning matches. I know a TR shooter that won an F-class match at Connaught with irons off his elbows!
So all this has been about stocks! Wonder why. Now we get to making scopes work. If you shoot free recoil you might be okay, I have done this with 308, spooky untill you get used to this thing coming back to you. I think a lot of guys have compressed spines to get the eye relief correct. If you are shooting standing you are probably okay. Bench shooters may be okay as well. The key is getting the eye relief correct. Yes I know different scopes have different eye relief so to get it usable on the range. If it wacks you need to move the scope forward if you still get waked you need a long rail. If you get into position and need to fiddle around to see the full view in the scope then it is set up wrong. Do some serious looking at this because it matter so much. You might shoot the first shoots seeing the full view but then the wheels fall off. You need to relaxe and have a very serious look at this. As a last note, top of the line irons (Warner and Riles) cost as much as a Night Force and shoot as well, once you learn how.
 
^^

Seems to be a rather convoluted post saying basically the same thing that all of the posters to your OP have been saying up to this time which was there are different mounting positions largely depending on the physiology of the individual shooter, the eye box of the scope and the construction of the stock.

Your original post of the many scopes you observe that are mounted incorrectly and instead should be mounted with the ocular part of the scope in line with the rear of the action dosen't hold water but I think you appear to recognize that now, so congratulations.

As you indicated - the primary objective is to obtain the correct eye relief no matter to what end use the scope/rifle combo is used - no argument there!!
 
This isn’t viable for all rifle, scope & mount configurations, but I’ve heard it works quite well..Either ways, work with what works best for you
 
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