Leupold VX-5HD Not Holding Zero...

Flesh Eater

Flesh Eater

New member
Man, I don't think my scopes are holding zero. I've grouped my Tikka Forest T3 .243 many times with my ammo, and I know it's shooting 1/4" groups. I also know my CZ 527 .17 Hornet shoots the same groups. However, I have to keep checking zero on both rifles, and it seems I always have to adjust the scopes. Tikka is running a 3-15x56mm and the CZ a 2-10x42mm, both VX-5HD.

What the heck?

Anyone else experience this? My guns ride on a foam pad in a hard case from stand to stand. I spent a decent amount of money on these to be having issues like holding zero. Thinking about selling them and switching to Zeiss.
 
Hi Flesh Eater,

I'd never try to sway you from Zeiss.

Not holding zero is a huge problem. Knowing cause is necessary before corrective action. My advice is to send your scopes to Leupold. They'll service and check zero, all covered under its lifetime warranty. If your scopes are defective, you'll find out. If the problem is not your scopes, you can work your way through variables until you find cause.

I have decades' old Leupold scopes that are perfect. About every five years I'll return them to Leupold for a thorough going over. It's free. And it gives me peace of mind before hunts.

I have a 45 year-old Redfield Ranger 2x7x by I have no clue of objective size (possibly 36). That scope has always held zero. I could mount it on a rifle & have faith of its integrity. A long time ago I was given a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5x8. Apparently the gifter thought my entry level Redfield was too old school. I did mount the Leupold and stowed my beloved Ranger. I cannot say that the Leupold is a better scope. But I have taken a burnished shine to its excellent eye relief.

BTW, the ancient Ranger of mine was made in the USA by American craftsmen. American craftsmen are the best in the world or that the least on par with Germans.

Another BTW: US Military and just about every law enforcement agency of which I'm aware use Leupold scopes, not German. Leupold is quality.
 
Originally Posted By: EMP3Hi Flesh Eater,

I'd never try to sway you from Zeiss.

Not holding zero is a huge problem. Knowing cause is necessary before corrective action. My advice is to send your scopes to Leupold. They'll service and check zero, all covered under its lifetime warranty. If your scopes are defective, you'll find out. If the problem is not your scopes, you can work your way through variables until you find cause.

I have decades' old Leupold scopes that are perfect. About every five years I'll return them to Leupold for a thorough going over. It's free. And it gives me peace of mind before hunts.

I have a 45 year-old Redfield Ranger 2x7x by I have no clue of objective size (possibly 36). That scope has always held zero. I could mount it on a rifle & have faith of its integrity. A long time ago I was given a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5x8. Apparently the gifter thought my entry level Redfield was too old school. I did mount the Leupold and stowed my beloved Ranger. I cannot say that the Leupold is a better scope. But I have taken a burnished shine to its excellent eye relief.

BTW, the ancient Ranger of mine was made in the USA by American craftsmen. American craftsmen are the best in the world or that the least on par with Germans.

Another BTW: US Military and just about every law enforcement agency of which I'm aware use Leupold scopes, not German. Leupold is quality.



So, once I set this scope, I can get 1/4" groups all day long. It's after I take them on hunts that they're off again. I researched this and many people have sent them back with no fixes. If it was anything else, like loose screws, my rifle, etcetera, then I doubt I would be able to maintain grouping. I'm going to wait until warmer weather and consistently check them. Someone did say something about breaking in the turrets. I might try that, too.

EDIT: I should add that I'm not talking inches here, but maybe 1/2". On groundhogs at 200 yards that makes a big difference, though!
 
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Originally Posted By: GhostmanImagine that....a Leupold scope that doesn't hold zero or track accurately.

Common, then?

$1,100 for a scope that can’t hold zero is outrageous.
 
If you are using a rail or other Weaver type mount, the rings need to be torqued in place pushed forward in the slot. Changing the rest for the gun can change the poi in some guns(different bags front or back,bipod,lead sled). To check your turret adjustments shoot a box check,16 clicks R,16U,32L,32D,16R,16U sounds like your rifle is a shooter should have no problem ending back at zero if scope is mounted and functioning properly.
 
Originally Posted By: spotstalkshootIf you are using a rail or other Weaver type mount, the rings need to be torqued in place pushed forward in the slot. Changing the rest for the gun can change the poi in some guns(different bags front or back,bipod,lead sled). To check your turret adjustments shoot a box check,16 clicks R,16U,32L,32D,16R,16U sounds like your rifle is a shooter should have no problem ending back at zero if scope is mounted and functioning properly.

That's a good idea. No idea why I never thought of that.

I know it's not the rings or mounts. Once this is zeroed, I can shoot 5-6 shot groups consistently at a 1/4" or slightly larger.
 
I just ordered Vibra-tite and a torque screwdriver. I'm going to take both rifles apart, do up all the screws (including action screws) with the Vibra-tite, then toque them all to spec. If that doesn't help, then I know it's a scope issue.

I'll probably also check this afterwards by cleaning the barrel after each shot with a mop and a dry patch. Making sure every variable is the same is tricky.
 
1/4" groups all day long, must be nice.
cool.gif
 
Well, I feel like an idiot now.

When I put my rifle away, the last shot hit the bullseye. I took the rifle out again today. I did what the Finns did during WWII both times, and let my rifle sit outside and aclimate to the weather before shooting. I shot two three shot groups, and they were all over the paper. After that, it was time to start eliminating variables, so out came the cleaning rod, mops, and patches. The bore was cleaned until patches came out white.

Back to shooting; the next shot hit dead center in the bullseye.

Cleaned again, same process.

Second shot ended up 3/16" from the first shot.

Cleaned again, same process.

Third shot ended up 1/4" from the second shot AFTER completing a box test for the tracking.

Furthest distance in the group was just shy of 1/2". This is with Hornady 58 grain V-Max factory loaded ammo, and a 9 mph SE wind blowing crosswise to my 100 yard target. Apparently my Tikka just likes being CLEAN. I assume I have 5-8 shots before I need another good cleaning, because I've laid super tight (one hole) 5 shot groups. That's easy to do with hunting deer or coyotes here, but not so much with groundhogs. Any suggestions for maintaining perfect accuracy in the field? Bore snake?
 
My VX6 and VX5HD work great for me, no issues and amazing glass.

Not trying to sound like a complete jerk, but if you’re truly getting “1/4” groups all day long”, then you need to go back and buy every single remaining gun in the makes and models you own! Guys are spending thousands to get level.
 
Originally Posted By: jasonprox700My VX6 and VX5HD work great for me, no issues and amazing glass.

Not trying to sound like a complete jerk, but if you’re truly getting “1/4” groups all day long”, then you need to go back and buy every single remaining gun in the makes and models you own! Guys are spending thousands to get level.

If I knew how to post pics on here I would post the group I shot tonight. I’m thinking my rifle had like 30 rounds through it. 30 rounds created far too much build up. Scrubbed it with RB-17 on a mop, Slip-2000 on patches, finished with Slip on a mop followed with a dry patch and accuracy returned.

I need to take a day and shoot this rifle and see just how many rounds I can send down the tube before accuracy goes to [beeep].
 
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Originally Posted By: jasonprox700My VX6 and VX5HD work great for me, no issues and amazing glass.

Not trying to sound like a complete jerk, but if you’re truly getting “1/4” groups all day long”, then you need to go back and buy every single remaining gun in the makes and models you own! Guys are spending thousands to get level.

So after reading up on some stuff, if those guys are paying thousands of dollars for .25-.50 sub MOA and don’t have to scrub bores for 350 rounds, then it’s worth the money!

But I’ll say this, for production rifles, my CZ amd Tikka shoot AMAZINGLY well. Better than any rifles I’ve ever owned.

EDIT: A buddy of mine said he shot a 10 shot group with a CZ 452 and it never got bigger than a dime. However, I honestly don’t think anyone could compete with one of these rifles.
 
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So, I noticed a lot of copper fouling, or so it looks (I'm not real gun savvy), in my muzzle. Should I clean this if it's grouping well? Looks like it's in the grooves.
 
I was told by Greg Tanel "i clean my rifles whether i shoot once or a hundred times when i get home" I started this practice many moons ago.
 
Originally Posted By: robs I was told by Greg Tanel "i clean my rifles whether i shoot once or a hundred times when i get home" I started this practice many moons ago.

I have some products on order for Monday. As soon as I get them I'm working on cleaning the fouling. This rifle grouped amazingly when it was new, so I know a clean, clean barrel will net better grouping.
 
Wow.
Originally Posted By: Flesh EaterSo, once I set this scope, I can get 1/4" groups all day long.
Originally Posted By: Flesh EaterOnce this is zeroed, I can shoot 5-6 shot groups consistently at a 1/4" or slightly larger.
Is this the part where somebody openly calls BS on the OP shooting 1/4" groups all day long with factory ammo and factory guns?

And then the OP defends his claim. But eventually admits he was wrong- he thought 1/4" groups was just a phrase meaning it shoots good, he didn't realize it was an actual measurement meaning 0.25 inches?

And then everybody quietly chuckles and shakes their heads while secretly enjoying these 1/4" groups all day long threads and similar BS 17hmr threads.
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGWow.
Originally Posted By: Flesh EaterSo, once I set this scope, I can get 1/4" groups all day long.
Originally Posted By: Flesh EaterOnce this is zeroed, I can shoot 5-6 shot groups consistently at a 1/4" or slightly larger.
Is this the part where somebody openly calls BS on the OP shooting 1/4" groups all day long with factory ammo and factory guns?

And then the OP defends his claim. But eventually admits he was wrong- he thought 1/4" groups was just a phrase meaning it shoots good, he didn't realize it was an actual measurement meaning 0.25 inches?

And then everybody quietly chuckles and shakes their heads while secretly enjoying these 1/4" groups all day long threads and similar BS 17hmr threads.

I know it’s a measurement. Send me your email and I’ll send you pics of groups with these rifles. I don’t know how to post pics. I also know you measure groups from center to center of the bullet holes.
 
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