Scope Mounting -- Any Secrets?

[Geo.OR]

We won't get into a discussion about the staff at the shop who cranked the elevation knob on "my" Leupold Mark 4 and twisted it off the scope. Leupold assures me they'll take care of me, and I have the option through VISA credit to cancel the sale and buy elsewhere . . .

I have a Leupold Zero Point Boresighter collimator. I realize that's for aiming, not mounting.

Let's discuss mounting the scope, rings, bases. It seems pretty straightforward, and Leupold manuals suggest it's pretty much a matter of securing the base/rings on the action, securing the scope in the rings, setting eye relief, and collimate (That's a verb, eh?)

I have the collimator figured out. Anything I'm missing? Anything I should know?

C'mon . . . spill ! ! ! I'm not competing!

 

[Larry Elliott]

I assume that you have Leupold bases on your rifle, and although they make some very nice rings I'd suggest Burris Signature rings with the plastic inserts that allow the scope to be mounted with no twisting or misalignment that's possible with "normal" rings. The rings come with "zero" inserts with no offset, but offset inserts are available that can take care of misaligned scope base holes or in place of sloped scope bases for long range. These inserts make it virtually impossible for the scope to be marred by the rings, but they hold onto the scope tube like glue once the rings are snugged down.

Using blue Loctite on the base screws is a good idea too if your rifle has significant recoil.

That's about it. I'm sure that there are much more time intensive and sophisticated methods, but this has worked for me.

Oh, collimators, if the rifle is a bolt action it's easier to set the rifle up in bags so that it can't move, remove the bolt, align the bore with an easily visible (bullseye) target at 100 yards, then adjust the scope to center the
reticle on the bullseye. Check to make sure that everything is aligned, and fire a couple rounds. There should be holes on the paper, and pretty close to the center of the bull if you do it right.

 

[Geo.OR]

Leupold Mark 4 rings, bases. I'm pretty brand loyal.

"Recoil" -- It's a 308 Win., which I don't view as "heavy recoil." My idea of "heavy recoil" is 45/70 Govt. or .458 Lott. But then I've been wrong before.

. . . waiting for this scope to come back from service at Leupold (which is just down the road). I'm agitated about having to have it "repaired" before I even take possession, but Leupold assures me it will be 100% and full warranty or they'll replace it.

Yeah, the shop is managing the service/return.

Still, I'm not pleased. I should be out on the bench, all this past week . . .

 

[Larry Elliott]

Leupold has the BEST service I know of on any product I've ever used. Sent them a 29 year old M-8 12X that had quit adjusting for elevation and windage a little while back and they sent it back as good as new or better. No arguments, discussion, or anything, but they were quick about it too.

Whoever the idiot was who cranked the elevation knob out of the scope needs a sharp slap upside the head with a nice pick handle IMHO. Did he use a pipe wrench?

 

[Boyd Allen]

Get a Kokopelli ring lapping kit. I have lapped some pretty fancy rings, on a lot of one piece bases, and I have never seen a perfect set of rings, as installed. If you want to make life a little easier, on rings that are obviously going to take a lot of lapping, you can lap part way, and bed the rest. Also, bedding scope bases is a good idea. Kokopelli also makes the only real alignment bars, but since I have never seen perfect alignment, Iusually evaluate by taking a light lapping cut.

 

[Geo.OR]

Whoever the idiot was who cranked the elevation knob out of the scope needs a sharp slap upside the head with a nice pick handle IMHO. Did he use a pipe wrench?

Just about a pipe wrench -- When it didn't "finger adjust" he tight fisted it and cranked from the shoulder. Then he thought it could just be "screwed back together."

Comment on another forum was something to the effect, "I'd have purchased a $20 Tasco and beat him to death with it."

I've been in contact with a Rep. at Leupold who assures me he'll see that the scope leaves the shop in new condition -- because it's a NEW scope.

Instructions for the shop are "Don't even open the box when it arrives. Just call me, and let me come get it." They have a young woman there, target shooter since she was about six. We call her "Annie Oakley." She put this rifle together, and knows what she's doing. She's more upset about all this then I am. She actually had to go outside and "walk around the block" a couple times.

(She's probably reading this now . . . Hey Belinda! )

The ring seating surfaces on Leupold Mark 4 rings have a corrugated surface. I'm not lapping them. They should be fine.

I should be out on the bench . . .