Scope mounting a why question

mbowerma

mbowerma

New member
I know that it has been conventional wisdom to mount the scope as close to the barrel as possible.
Does anyone have any information or links as to why?

I have been shooting for over a half a century. I find it more comfortable to mount the scope as to align with my eye with out wrapping and contorting my old body parts around the wepon. I also find that mounting it higher gives me a further distance for PBR (point blank range).

As long as you hold the same each time you mount I see no advantage to mounting very low to the barrel.

Comments?
 
"Two trails split in the woods, I choose the least traveled. WHERE THE H3LL AM I?"

Dammn far from the next McDonald's /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It doesn't make any difference - if you like it higher, mount it so it's comfortable.
 
Mounting a scope higher will cause lower point of impact at close range, but probably not enough to worry about. Just remember to hold high on the back of a ten yard coyote.
 
Most of the time it has to do with pulling your face off of the stock. It is especially problematic if you have a rifle where the comb was set up for open sight shooting, like the Remington 700 ADL's and BDL's. Those rifles the comb is lower than a rifle set up for scope use only. Other than that, not a big deal.

Aaron
 
Scope mounting has a lot to do with stock design. Conventoinal bolt action stocks are designed to keep the sight line close to the bore line, other stock designs such as some shot gun types, lever actions and ARs put the line of sight higher, because the placement of the cheek on the stock places the eye naturally higher than the more conventional Bolt action. Another problem is not all faces are the same some people with high cheekbones or broad faces may have some issues getting proper sight alignment.
 
OK. I agree with all the thoughts so far. I know when I hunt squirll that I sight in at 25 yards and have to hold a little high if they are at 10 to 15 yards with a 22. I originally ran into problems with scope height when I got a varmint rifle with a raised cheek piece. I have researched as to where the idea that closer to the barrel was the best and could find nothing as to why it would be the best.

I think it is just one of those things like breaking in a rifle that has been passed down from person to person for no real reason. Just personal choice and comfort. Thanks for the replies so far.
 
Three reasons for scope mounting height.
1. Scope does not contact barrel.
2. Bolt does not contact scope.
3. Scope aligns with your eye when naturally mounted. In your case you prefer the higher mount and that is the correct mount for you.
 
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