Others How do you mount your Scopes and keep things level while shooting!?

[Danman]

Hello fellow Hamsters....lol still doesn't sound right. I have finally PROPERLY mounted my Helix scope to my Ghost. I recently bought a bubble level that slides onto a Dovetail rail and ran it on my Ghost today. It was crooked and I realized a quick grind was needed to fit. Incorporating 2 levels, feeler gauges, and my downrange target I fussed till it was perfect....And I mean PERFECT. Realized I really love the Element mounts with their flat top (easy to slide a level on top), and light weight. Price is good and I really recommend them! Till now it was slap em on, go by eye, and shoot away... but the Ghost/Helix was never right. It is also amazing how often you will cant your gun while shooting and how helpful that little bubble level is! Got the feeler gauge idea from a fellow Hammer and it doesn't work on all setups, but when it does it is really helpful! When done I torqued it down to specs. Who does that?! Some pics of my struggles...

 

[Danman]

You can see out in the lawn the target/trap at 50Y. First pic you will notice the 2 levels do not jive! I forgot to mention as well, if you are running a bipod on you setup I would think that a bubble level is a must! No jokes... terrain is never flat, even my horrid plywood table is lumpy. Get the gun level and adjust your cant lever and then your guessing again how level it is, all over again. Lastly when testing pellets I want to eliminate some human error out as well if I'm gonna record/share my results.

 

[Luis Leon]

I set up a plumb line and use a level on the gun and align crosshairs to the “line”… Just put an Aztec Emerald atop my Ghost this past Saturday…

 

[PasadenaMike]

My eyes tell me if my crosshairs are off even a hair when installing a scope. While shooting as long as it’s good nuff level to my eyes I send it

 

[Farmplinker2]

Like PasadenaMike, I just eyeball it. The "trick" is to make sure you're shouldering the gun just like you would in the field.

 

[BeemanHW100]

I set up a plumb line and use a level on the gun and align crosshairs to the “line”… Just put an Aztec Emerald atop my Ghost this past Saturday…

I do mine the same way, all my field target guns have BKL-600 levels. They are the best I have found.

 

[JungleShooter]

(Double post)

 

[JungleShooter]

Wasn't there something about first aligning the vertical crosshair with the center of the barrel (aiming at a mirror)...?

And then aligning the vertical crosshair with a plumb line... — at which point the scope-mounted level can be tightened down....


Because... — the elevation turret doesn't care if my rail is cut perfectly straight in relation to the crosshair (it might not).
Or if my turret cap is perfectly perpendicular with the vertical crosshair (it might not)....

The elevation turret moves the vertical crosshair to change the point of aim — and the point of aim/ the crosshair has to align with the pellet path, nothing else.
And that path is defined by the barrel, not the rail or the scope cap....



For 40 yard shots this won't make much of a difference (unless your gun's assembly worker pulled a triple shift)— but at 100y tiny errors magnify and start to show an effect in the gun's accuracy (not its precision when shooting groups)

Cheers,
Matthias

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I mount my scope in the mount / rings off the gun .. level is level is level.

 

[Florida_Man]

I usually do the plumb bob method. I’ve been known to use the bubble level from Wheeler for my short range stuff. I really want to try the mirror method again.

 

[BeemanHW100]

Wasn't there something about first aligning the vertical crosshair with the center of the barrel (aiming at a mirror)...?

And then aligning the vertical crosshair with a plumb line... — at which point the scope-mounted level can be tightened down....


Because... — the elevation turret doesn't care if my rail is cut perfectly straight in relation to the crosshair (it might not).
Or if my turret cap is perfectly perpendicular with the vertical crosshair (it might not)....

The elevation turret moves the vertical crosshair to change the point of aim — and the point of aim/ the crosshair has to align with the pellet path, nothing else.
And that path is defined by the barrel, not the rail or the scope cap....



For 40 yard shots this won't make much of a difference (unless your gun's assembly worker pulled a triple shift)— but at 100y tiny errors magnify and start to show an effect in the gun's accuracy (not its precision when shooting groups)

Cheers,
Matthias

I have not tried that, will have to read up on it. As you say might not make much difference out to field target max of 55 yards but benchrest at 100 yards, yes. What I also do is optically center the scope reticle, (both turrets are in the center of their adjustment range). I use sportsmatch adjustable rings and adjust the rings for a 40 yard zero and then fine tune with turret knobs. Have also used shims on non adjustable rings. Has worked well with all my field target guns.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Only mirror method I've used is to center the recital.

 

[Danman]

This is not a double post, I just wanted it in its proper spot. The Ghost is my long bomber and that's why it mattered more to get it right. The TX and S510 I rarely shoot past 50 and when I aim I hit usually (I set them both up level by eye) I had originally thought the Helix reticle was printed off vertical but I was wrong, phew! Lastly the barrel and scope spacing is HUGE vs my other 2 guns, so it mattered even more to get level. Whatever method you use, verification should be easy enough, just shoot 3 different yardage and see if poi stays centered! I have yet to try the mirror trick...

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I guess the big thing is is how well aligned is your guns receiver and barrel is to each other. If there not kinda straight and square with each other then your just whistling Dixie and twisting turrets.lol

 

[Luis Leon]

I guess the big thing is is how well aligned is your guns receiver and barrel is to each other. If there not kinda straight and square with each other then your just whistling Dixie and twisting turrets.lol

Whistling Dixie and twisting turrets? Sounds like fun…

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Whistling Dixie and twisting turrets? Sounds like fun…

Till the cost of pellets mount up over nonsense shooting ..lol.

 

[Luis Leon]

Till the cost of pellets mount up over nonsense shooting ..lol.

Nonesense shooting? That’s what its all about, helping to escape the daily absurdities, briefly… At a cost much cheaoer than “mental therapy”…

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Nonesense shooting? That’s what its all about, helping to escape the daily absurdities, briefly… At a cost much cheaoer than “mental therapy”…

Well ... There's times I just feel my shooting is nothing but a waste of good pellets ,lol

 

[Luis Leon]

Well ... There's times I just feel my shooting is nothing but a waste of good pellets ,lol

Then go do something else… Sending 500 CPHPs is be inconsequential price wise compared to sending 500 JSB Exact Jumbo 18.13s. I know its your handle, but stop being so “hateful”

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Then go do something else… Sending 500 CPHPs is be inconsequential price wise compared to sending 500 JSB Exact Jumbo 18.13s. I know its your handle, but stop being so “hateful”

I ain't stupid enuf to spend on then jbs pellets ..lol. Fool and there money are soon parted .. all my test on cphp vs.... were all inconclusive and no real gains vs cost or count ..