Problem setting up my scope
 

I’ve come across a problem when sighting in my scope. The elevation on the cross hairs are set as low as possible and still the rifle shoots 10” low ( + or -) at 25 yards. I was thinking of placing shim stock between the base and the rifle but I’m not sure if this is the best way of solving this problem. The setup I have is Leupold standard base and rings. I will take it all apart and start over to see if might have done something wrong but never had this problem before. Any suggestion on how to solve this problem?

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

shim it. in an emergency, i've found cut up coke cans work well for shim material. it doesn't take much...

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I worked on remington 700 recently that had an alignment problem between the barrel and the action that caused this same issue. The solution I used was to call Leupold. They mailed me the exact shims that I needed for the bases that I had. This might work for you.

Tom

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

From the response , sounds like the shims are the way to go. It just so happens that the rifle is a new Remington model 700 VLS. Hopefully this isn’t something that happens to often. I will start from scratch to see if I’ve done something wrong and reset the cross hairs on the scope. I might just have to contact Leupold as statjunk suggested. Thanks.....

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I don't have a gun with those rings, but is it possible that you have a "front" and a "rear" ring/base? Perhaps you installed them backwards?

There's always a chance that the receiver is to blame, but I'd suspect the mounts/rings first. Set your scope back to zero, tear it all down and start over.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

It’s impossible to install them backwards. The front ring match's the base for the dovetail and the back ring is flat to sit on the base so that they can be adjusted side to side by the machine screw on the base and the base can only be installed one way to match the receiver. Thanks any ways.....

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I have adressed problems like this before by machining the bottom half of the front ring a little lower with an indexible fly cutter set at a .500 radius (for 1" rings). This will make the gun shoot higher, and you can take care of the windage issues with the screws on the rear ring.

To determine how much to machine, try to get the scopes crosshairs back to about the middle of their adjustment and then determine how low it shoots at 100 yards. Let's say this is 20". Then measure the distance between the rings. Let's say this is 5.4" Set up a ratio: 20" in 3600" (100 yards) = x over 5.4". In this instance, x is .030. After cutting 30 thousands out of the bottom of the front ring, you must also cut .030 off of the "pad" where the two ring halves meet. Then lap the rings get full contact on the bottom halves.

You can also set the base up to shave a little angle from front to rear, but is usually easier, from a machinist standpoint, to just lower the ring. Shims will work, but they are generally regarded a "K-Mart"solution.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

10 inches low at only 25 yards? Something really is messed up here. Have you tried a different scope? If you insert a cleaning rod into the barrel and out the back of the receiver does it appear to be parallel to the receiver's axis? (may be hard to tell since rodscan flex)Are you sure the rings are the same height? Just some things to consider.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Oops - I read over the original post kinda quick - thought it said 10" at 100 yards. This is a pretty severe alignment problem. Is the gun an old military rifle that has been sporterized?

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Shimming up the rear mount will do the trick just fine. I had to do this with my muzzleloader over 3 years ago and have never had a problem with that scope & mount since. I used feeler guage that I cut to size and drilled to match themounting holes.

Another thing to try is the Burris Signature rings. They have inserts to snug up the scope and they offer an off-set kit of inserts that allows you to readjust the scope without messing with the mounts --------- but that system may not offer enough adjustment for your problem. I also believe Burris sells shims in different sizes for the mounts as well.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I'd send the scope back to leupold and tell them the problem. They will usually send you a free scope back as long as you filled out and mailed in the warranty.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Wow, 10" at 25 yards. There is something seriously wrong here. A problem like this, I wouldn't bandade by shimming, or grinding or whatever. I would find the root of the problem.

I have had trouble out of cheap simmons and even burris signaturelike this. Thats the reason I buy leupold scopes. Lots of adjustment. What kinda scope is it? I know you said it was leupold bases and rings, but not the scope.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

He also didn't say what size rings he's using.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Thanks to all the interest in trying to solve my problem. As stated I will start over and measure the rings to see if they happen to be different in height, but I dough it. I’m usually very careful and take my time when installing a scope, but maybe I did something wrong.


The scope is a 6-20 x 40mm Weaver Grand Slam with a 1” tube that was mounted on my No 1 Ruger. This scope gave me no trouble. I can mount another scope with higher mounts to see if anything changes. If I have time tonight I’ll start over and see what happens. Thanks again .....

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I am not 100% on this but I believe that higher mounts will make the problem worse. The rem 700 that I was talking about waslow 16" at 25 yds. Three shims fixed the problem. In your case because this is a new rifle, I would consider attempting to find the source before deciding to shim.

Just my .02

Tom

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

statjunk, I was going to use the medium mounts just to see if there would have been any differences. I have intentions to stay with the low mounts for this set up once it’s said and done.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Well, its not the top of the line scope but should have enough adjustment.

I tell you a problem I ran into just last month. I got a set of Leupold STD 1" rings. And they were out of round. I looked at the bottom of the dovetail ring and it was bent where you couldn't get the top on. So I sure wouldn't look over the rings.

10" at 25 yards is like 40MOA adjustment.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

It’s definitely not top of the line but should be fine for my set up. I will inspect the rings and mount allot closer to see for any defects. Thanks..

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

Let us know what the outcome is. I'd like to know. Good luck with it.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

have you tried removing your bolt. thenput your gun in a gun vise or on sand bags where it will not move. look threw your barrel andaline the borepicture on an object out about100 yards.then go to your scope and see if you can aline your cross hairs to meet on the same object. if you can aline the two and it still hits 10 inch low at 25 yards it is usually the scope. if you can not aline the two then you must shim.but i have also seen where the mounting screws in the stock were not tighten evenly and this can make the gun shoot weird. good luck just my two cents:)

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

That’s basically what I did except at 25 yards. Looked at the target thru the barrel and compared it to the image of the scope, but I had shot 5 rounds to confirm what I had seen.

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

trailer 25 yards is to close. you should try aleast a 100 yards or more. at 25 yards the error will not show up very good. at a 100 or more the error will be easy to spot. if the error is as bad as i think you will most likely never be able to even spot the object in your scope. one other think that i just remembered doing one time. was to remove the scope mounts and tighten them down from the other side of the action. i believe it was a .22 one time that i used all the adjustment up on the scope and could not bring the shot into the middle. just by tighten down on the other side cured the sighting problem. :)

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

I always start at 25 yards and get it dead on and then move out to 100 and go from there.
It is a lot easier to see what it's doing at 25 yards than 100 yards. JMHO ; just my 2 cents,there are 98 more

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

For those interested ,I finally had a chance to go to the range this morning and test my rifle. Ended up placing two pieces of 0.008” shim stock between the back of the base and receiver to solved the problem. Now I have lots of adjustment with my scope and was able to sight it in at 100 yards. Now to start reloading and start testing loads.

There was nothing wrong with my original set up and I also found nothing wrong with the rings and base. I guess it has something to do with the receiver and barrel. Something must be out of line. Hopefully I have solved the problem with out having to bring it in to the gunsmith. I’m not sure if gunsmith could do anything but it would be under warranty. I’ll leave it as is. Thanks again to all those who replied and tried to help me in solving my problem....:D

RE: Problem setting up my scope
 

wow i would have never thought it would had been in the machining of the gun. i'll have to remember that. good luck :)