Comments on: Stupid Scope Tricks — How to Mess Up Your Zero Big-Time

By: Eric Kennard

Eric Kennard — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:37:18 +0000

Let me offer this advice. I have five rifles and only one really nice scope. Each of the rifles has a picatinney rail. The Leupold MK 4 scope is mounted in A.R.M.S. throw lever rings (a hold over from my tactical days). I keep a small spiral note book for each rifle. In it I log the scope settings that that rifle. I can take the scope off one rifle and put it on another with and only dial in the logged zero. I too tend to have some difficulty at times and need to move the scope forward or back. With the picatinney rail and the throw lever rings, this is easily accomplished.

The arguement that the zero changes, does not hold with the A.R.M.S. throw lever rings. They go back on with their zero with no problem. They are seldom more than 1 click elevation off.

I need to stop buying rifles and get another scope! Eric

By: Art

Art — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:56:17 +0000

Quote: The plastic inserts take a different “set” each time you tension the rings, even if you do your best to maintain the inserts’ orientation in the rings. No matter how careful you are, those plastic inserts aren’t going to hold the scope in exactly the same place.

Replacing the plastic ring inserts with a fresh set might not be a bad idea when rezeroing your scope.

EDITOR: Art, that’s not a bad idea. FYI, this ring set is 5 years old. It has held zero perfectly since the original installation until I decided to move the scope back last week. It could be that, after 5 years, the ring inserts are getting “tired”.

By: paul

paul — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:59:03 +0000

if you use a wever one peace mount and rings to match you can undo the bolt on the side of rings to move back wards if needed it will not be far of i bet.

By: Ze

Ze — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:05:48 +0000

Why is this problem such a surprise to qualify to be posted in this website? This is common knowledge. Com’on people.

Editor: Ze, your point is well-taken. Most folks would not be surprised that sliding a scope back an inch would cause a POI shift. However, it is the MAGNITUDE of the change which I found remarkable, and apparently so did many others at my club. With high-quality conventional all-metal rings, I’ve seen scopes moved slightly to square the reticle and there was a small change in POI–a couple MOA at most. With the Burris Signatures you can see very large changes just as a function of unclamping and reclamping. That’s why I felt the story was worth running.

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:21:25 +0000

David Stoenner submitted this comment:

“For me you don’t win the Dunce of the year award but the HONESTY of the year award and my admiration for being enough of a man to share what he learned.

David”

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:22:41 +0000

I had the same thing happen recently with the Burris rings. Tried to put everything exactly how it was. When everything was done I went to re-zero. I couldn’t find my first shot! Second and third, same thing. Then I noticed a hole, 4 targets to the right (2-3 feet). Figured I would test this theory and fire one shot 1 inch below the center, and there it was. I had a great group going 4 targets to the right. I finished my group and re-adjusted the scope. All is good now. I love the Burris rings but they will move a lot if you just loosen and then re-tighten. Once tight, they are solid.

By: george

george — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:16:19 +0000

LOL…well duuuu

now heres what happened to me
shooting a match at the BBB.
got to the 300 yard line shot a group in the .3’s .heck i was going to win !
looking at the group through the scope i clicked over to the bull !
well duuu !

i know to go from point of aim to the group when clicking over…..but sometime’s i forget.