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is this acceptable

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    Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:25

I recently bought a scope and had the guy behind the counter mount it for me, after I brought it home I wanted to make sure that it was level. After I used a level and a yardstick to draw a verticle and horizontal cross on the wall I took the level and set it on the adjustment cap and leveled the rifle in a gun vise. The crosshairs intersected perfectly with the ones on the wall, is this enough to call my scope level.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:28
The level should be relative to the rifle. You should first level the rifle and then adjust the scope to it.
The way you have checked only verifies that the caps and reticle are indeed level with each other.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:29

It really depends on how technical your shooting is going to be. For normal hunting under 200 yards I would say that’s fine. But the best way to level one is to get a string with a weight on it and tie it to the ceiling and let it hand and use that as a reference point.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:44

a good way also, assuming you have a picatinny or full length mt, and a flat spot the bottom of the saddle, is to use a set of feeler gauges. works best on initial installation as the gauges will hold the perpendicular while you tighten down the mounts

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 9-point Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:46
sorry I didnt explain better(still very new to using scopes and terminology)  what I meant to ask was is the crosshair level on my rifle
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:51
Unless the level of the rifle was done first and then the scope put on level relative to the rifle then no it probably isn't.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 10:53
9Point,
if your able to hold your rifle up comfterbaly and the horazontal line is horazontal then your good to go.  I would go and shoot it off a rest and see how it dose.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 11:00
I agree if the intended application is not precision then likely you'll never notice.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 13:08
Bottom line is, if it looks level to you, it is fine for hunting.  If you are going to shoot long distances, target or hunting, the gun mounts need to be level, meaning the gun receiver and hopefully they are square, when you mount your scope,  What Cyborg means is using the level to make sure this is the case, on top of the scope cap.  You could lay the rifle on its side and turn your scope perpendicular with your rifle and put the level on the Elevation cap and adjust it to you lines and obviously it would not be mounted level in the proper plane.  I use a small 4 inch level and rubber band and find a flat surface on the rifle and attach it there and level the rifle.  I just mounted a scope on a Rem. 700 BDL and unfortunately, there were no easily accessible flat surfaces with the rings and mounts I was using and so I had to improvise.  Some rifles do and some do not.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 13:25
Thanks Dolphin, I thought my answer was clear, you summed it up nicely sir.
I would mount my base first and then use that as a point for leveling the rifle, then set the scope and level it. This does have a problem in it's logic however, because there are instances where the base taps are not drilled properly with regards to being a true dead center. I prefer to use a level on a flat part of the receiver, when ever possible for the above stated reason, but that just isn't always going to be possible. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 14:44
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2008 at 16:35
9-point, your method will get you in the ballpark and is sufficient for hunting use.  Keep in mind one thing, though.  Depending on how precise you want to be, your adjustment turrets or turret caps may not provide good surfaces to verify that your rifle is truly level.  Sometimes the crosshairs aren't parallel and perpendicular with the turrets.  I bought a very well-known, decent quality scope about 15 years ago whose crosshairs were NOT square with the turrets.  As much as possible, I try to always use a mount base surface or any flats on the top side of the action as surfaces for checking level.  As long as your reticle is pretty close to being in the ballpark of level, you won't have any problems.

Edited by RifleDude - March/18/2008 at 16:36
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2008 at 11:05

Pretty good advice here.  First, you make sure the rifle is level.  (It helps if you can find a flat surface on the top or bottom of the rifle.)  Then you see if the crosshairs align properly with your plumb line (or other vertical straignt line target).

You could also have some fun checking this!  Sight in at 100 yards, and then fire some rounds at 200 and 300 yards.  If the bullets drop straight down as the range is extended, then you are probably okay.  If the bullet drop moves consistently and continuously to the right or left as the range is extended, then you may have tilted crosshairs.   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2008 at 11:16
if you have a good shooting rest that locks your gun to the same spot shot after spot you can shoot one dead middle of target and then turn the turets 10 times up shoot and then 20 down and shoot then 10 back up and see if the line leans one way or the other.
 
You can tell at 100 yards if it is level or not but going out to 200 or 300 will be even more noticeable


Edited by Bigdaddy0381 - March/19/2008 at 11:18
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2008 at 11:55
Originally posted by cyborg cyborg wrote:

Thanks Dolphin, I thought my answer was clear, you summed it up nicely sir.
I would mount my base first and then use that as a point for leveling the rifle, then set the scope and level it. This does have a problem in it's logic however, because there are instances where the base taps are not drilled properly with regards to being a true dead center. I prefer to use a level on a flat part of the receiver, when ever possible for the above stated reason, but that just isn't always going to be possible. 
 Yeah, you were clear, I just think he did not understand.  I usually try to use a flat surface on the rifle, as opposed to the bases also.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dolphin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2008 at 11:57
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

9-point, your method will get you in the ballpark and is sufficient for hunting use.  Keep in mind one thing, though.  Depending on how precise you want to be, your adjustment turrets or turret caps may not provide good surfaces to verify that your rifle is truly level.  Sometimes the crosshairs aren't parallel and perpendicular with the turrets.  I bought a very well-known, decent quality scope about 15 years ago whose crosshairs were NOT square with the turrets.  As much as possible, I try to always use a mount base surface or any flats on the top side of the action as surfaces for checking level.  As long as your reticle is pretty close to being in the ballpark of level, you won't have any problems.
Ditto.  I bought a Burris FFII and the reticles were not even close to square with the turrets.  They were not off enough to send it back, but to this day, mounted on the rifle, the fact that the scope appears a little canted still annoys me.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2008 at 12:04
You are correct Dolphin, That just drives me NUTS as well. I have an Aussie friend that says "It's as irritating as a zit on the scrotum" He sums it up pretty well I think.
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