Leveling Scope Reticle?

SDCoyoteCaller

SDCoyoteCaller

Active member
How do you fellas level your scope reticle? I have always just put the gun in a rest and then lined up the vertical bar with a perpendicular object such as the corner of a wall or a door frame that I knew was level. This has always got me pretty close, but probably isn't perfect. I was wondering if you guys have a better system that is more accurate than this that won't cost me an arm and leg to purchase all the fancy equipment that is out there to help with this. Thanks for the help.

Mark
 
I use the same method but not on a close object. I also am very particular about leveling across the mounts when I clamp it into the vise. I also constantly recheck as I tighten the mounts (in a cross pattern).

With a flat top (AR, carbine, etc.) just lay something flat across the receiver. When it and the scope reticle are both lined up on the same straight line of something a ways off (doesn't have to be level) your scope is level.

One of these days I might buy a level/level or something, but I've managed fine without anything but a regular 6" level for years.
 
I lock the rifle in a cleaning rack and use a small bubble level that will fit under the scope so I can level the scope bases and then use the same level to check the scope at the elevation turret.
 
I was going to use a fiends level-level-level scope leveler that he got from midway but it wont work with my AR-15 due to the fact that you have to set it across the action to get a level to start from. I just used a pendelum and a beam level that I layed across a set of saw horses. Worked well for me.
 
Here is my take on the subject. Getting the crosshairs perfectly level when rifle is held absolutely level is fine for long range shooting and you have a level mounted on your scope. What most folks don't realize is that very few people hold their rifle level when shooting in hunting conditions. Some cant to the left, some cant to the right, but very few even realize that. I mount my scope so that the crosshairs are real close to level when I shoulder the rifle. Make sense?
 
Makes sense to David Tubb too, Rich, so it can't be wrong.

For most of us mere mortal folk though, particularly shooting long range off of a platform (sticks, tripod, etc) it's easier to level the reticle to the horizon than to try to consistently hold the same cant.
 
I have been using the same method as "RagnCajn" for over 20 years now and it has always work out well for me. I just keep checking as I tighten the screws to make sure nothing moves.
 
It makes sense to level a scope for sighting in purposes too. They can be zeroed without it of course. But if you are trying to adjust 4 inches to the left, a small cant might actually put you 4 inches to the 10 o'clock on paper rather than the 9 o'clock. Causing you to have to play with elevation again. Ive seen some scopes that have a pretty raunchy cant to em, starting with my own. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 
I have been using Rich Cronk's method for years, but lately I've been noticing that I don't cant exactly the same every time I shoulder my rifles /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif...so, I will be using a level from now on.
 
I read a great article on another forum about using feeler gauges to align your riflescope exactly with the receiver. You need a one piece base or a flattop to do it though...

here is the read: link

Alot easier than messing around with bubble levels and plumbobs, although I still do when needed.
 
yep I use a level on the base, then line the vert. wire up with a plumb verticle line. you start with level crosshairs and you'll instinctively level them when your shooting offhand, close range. My LR rifles all have levels on them, it is a very big factor when your shooting long range.
RR
 
Quote:
I mount my scope so that the crosshairs are real close to level when I shoulder the rifle. Make sense?



Works for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Regards,
hm
 
I think some worry way too much about scope cant.If the cant is so imperceptible that it takes measuring instruments to know, then in a hunting situation it is absolutely irrelevant. Shoulder contour is different for different people and therefore the rifle cants one way or another. It does not matter if the scope is canted on the rifle as long as you square it up when shooting. Mainly scope can is just annoying.
 
I too, have been using the Segway leveler for years, along with some other more complicated devices.
If your verticle crosshair is mechanically centered over the bore of the rifle, then any error introduced by canting the rifle is totally dependant on human error. I have enough troubles of my own without the possible introduction of mechanical error compounding my own!!
A tiny amount of cant can mean inches at long groundhog ranges /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
F1
 
Here's what I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=529349

For as long as I can remember I've mounted my scopes by just using my eyeballs as a guide. I'd sight in a rifle 1 1/2" high at 100 yards then take the target out to 200 yards and see that the bullet struck either right or left of the bull. Not really enough to cause you to miss a coyote at that range but enough to be annoying and certainly enough to miss a groundsquirrel size target. The miss gets bigger at 300 yards, etc.

The great majority of the coyotes I shoot are well under 100 yards and I often ask myself why I go through so much trouble to get everything as perfect as I can for hunting. The answer? It doesn't hurt. Using the scope leveler makes it so when you sight a rifle in at 100 yards then take it out to 200 yards you only have to adjust the the crosshairs up or down. The product is cheap enough so why not use it? You spend several hundred dollars on a rifle and hundreds more on scope then burn up a lot of ammo sighting it in and working up a round spending lots more on reloading gear, etc. Why not make sure the gun is set up properly?
 
pk1,
Your method likely does achieve fairly level scope mounting. Do you have a level clamped to your scope so that you are certain that you ain't canting your rifle when you shoot? If not, the chances are good that you are canting your rifle either left or right while actually shooting.
 
http://www.scopelevel.com/

For 600 yard shoots, why not? As I stated. It doesn't hurt. My point is that I'd rather be as precise as I can when putting a rifle together. I also stated that the great majority of the coyotes I've killed have been well under 100 yards so most of this is unnecessary but I'm more of a perfectionist than most. Most of my hunting buddies are just happy to hit paper at 100 yards and they've killed their share of coyotes and big game using their methods.

An opinion was called for. You gave yours and I gave mine. Let's call it good.

BTW......I'll turn a rifle sideways or even upside down to kill a coyote. lol
 
I put the barrel on my toe then lift the butt of the gun up until you can see a light circle in the center of the scope. At this point most crosshairs change color, Center the circle then align the vertical crosshair with the center of the bore. Tighten equally side to side. Very fast and accurate.
 
Back
Top