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Bore/Scope alignment

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remmylite View Drop Down
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    Posted: October/14/2007 at 23:29

I just finished mounting an IOR 10x42 to my 700LTR with a TPS 20 MOA base and TPS low rings. I maybe paranoid but if I draw an imaginary line through the length of the scope and extrapolate it, my eyes are telling me that it is not perfectly parallel with the bore of the barrel. I hope this is a problem with my eyes and not my equipment.  Is this even something I should be worrying about with out testing it at the range?  the difference seems minute, but i was under the impression everything should be 100% square from the start. I mounted the base to the reciever, and there is no room for adjustment there, then the lower rings to the base and they are secure and appear evenly fastened, without room for adjustment.  I then lay the scope in without stressing it and secured the upper rings. The only reasons I could think of is that the fluting in the barrel is playing tricks on my eyes, or either the reciever and/or base are not true. Has anyone ever had a problem like this before? Will it even present a problem down range? And is there any way I can test it? I will not be able to make it to the 100yd range for at least a week and this is driving me crazy, although if needed I can go to a local 30 yd range. I appreciate any help thanks alot.

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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 04:33

I assume you haven't bore sighted it? If not, the steps below will help.

 

Set up your rifle on a steady rest. Pull the bolt out. Now, look through the chamber and down the barrel at an object roughly 20 yards away or so. Make sure the object is kind of small. 10" or so.

Once you do that, without moving the rifle, look through the scope.   

 

Are you seeing the same object through the scope as you are through the barrel? Look back and forth between the scope and the barrel. Adjust your scope's W&E until you can see the object through the bore and in the scope. Feel me??

 

If you can see the object through the bore and in the scope, you'll be "on paper" at the range.

I usually sight in @ 25 yds first anyway.

 



Edited by cheaptrick
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Mike McDonald View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike McDonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 07:24

With non-windage adjustable rings having a scope to bore mis-alignment of 5 to 7 moa on a factory remington is the norm.  Those holes are driilled to a specification, and it's as loose as you hoped your first date would have been 

 

Some scopes do not tolerate mis-alignment in that magnitude.  I had a USO ST10 that required bore to scope alignment withing 1 moa for the unit to function.  Hence the need for adjustable rings on some optics.

 

Bore sight the scope, then run the elevation all the way up while looking through the scope.  Watch the crosshair move to see it there's a point where you can still adjust the knob but the cross does not move.  That will indicate the erector tube is binding against the inside of the outer tube due to windage mis-alignment.

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remmylite View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote remmylite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 09:18

I bore sighted it at about 25yd and 50yds, it appears to be dead on so I guess I'll just have to wait till I can get to the range to zero it to be sure nothing is that out of wack. Once again, thanks for the advice.

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RONK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 18:48

 A good way to tell how far off things really are, is to center the windage turret by moving it all the way to the right until it seems to stop moving. Don't force it!  Now count the number of clicks it takes to go all the way to the left until it stops there. Next, count half of that number back to the right again. This will put you very close to the scopes "mechanical center". Make a note of the mark on the dial, and keep track of how many minutes of angle you now have to move it to boresight, or better yet to zero it in with actual firing.

Obviously the closer to center the better, but a few minutes to one side or the other is generally acceptable for most situations, with most scopes. The USO that Mike mentioned requiring perfect alignment is a pretty extreme case. I think it may have given him trouble if he had to dial much wind correction and a lot of elevation at the same time...How well did it work for you in the field, Mike?

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Mike McDonald View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike McDonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 19:07

. The USO that Mike mentioned requiring perfect alignment is a pretty extreme case. I think it may have given him trouble if he had to dial much wind correction and a lot of elevation at the same time...How well did it work for you in the field, Mike?

 

The scope, an ST10, per both JW senior and Jr. requried a 20 moa base and windage adjustable rings.  We had hours of phone conversations about that.  It was represented to me that no scope  would function with 7 moa windage dialed in.  Appearantly they heard a turnip truck driving by during our conversation and thought I'd fallen from it.   Eventually Sr. conceded that I just needed to learn to shoot..................there goes that truck again...................

 

After invvesting all the extra the scope wold track after zero but not return.

I was told that If I bought a new scope they'd honor the warranty on the new unit.

 

I suppose that answers your question??

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/15/2007 at 19:13
WOW!
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remmylite View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote remmylite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2007 at 02:30

does it make a difference what side of the rifle the lower ring nuts are on? someone was telling me that it is poor practice if i put the nuts on the same side. i was pretty careful with the torque, so i dont believe that this would stress the tube.

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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2007 at 04:11

Typically, you will want the nuts opposite of your ejection port.

 

http://www.badgerordnance.com/folders/downloads/3/Ring%20Bas e%20install%202%20.pdf

 

Here's my Nikon with TPS rings on a LH Remington.

 



Edited by cheaptrick
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2007 at 08:17
Wow, Mike, that sucks.


I have had the opposite experiences with USO: always courteous, always prompt, always took care of the problem, always went the extra mile. 

How long ago was this?

Did you say something mean about someone's mom or something?

I know USO encourages people to use USO' rings for that reason: they can be windage adjusted during zero to prevent the need of using up internal scope windage, but I am suprised they gave you hell or grief on the issue - unless you said something about his mom.  People tend to be protective of their mothers, you know.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2007 at 11:27
I always try to keep my nuts on the same side.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/18/2007 at 11:39
That could be construed as TOO much information......
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