Scope Mounting Advice

[Wacenturion]

I just set up a DNZ on my Winchester Model 70 7MAG.  It works well for the long action.  The one piece mount is offset to the left.  No need for lapping.  Bought from SWFA.  http://swfa.com/Winchester-C2623.aspx

All I use.  Great mounts.

[addicted]

One thing that is never covered in many articles about mounting a scope, is centering the reticle on the scope. You need to use a box (shoe box works) with a V cut into each side. Set the box on a table and set the scope in the V notch. Look though the scope and adjust your box so the cross hairs are on a single point (door knob works well). Rotate the scope in the V while watching the cross hairs. If you see the cross hairs make a circle off of the point your looking at, you need to adjust the elevation and windage settings so that when you rotate the scope, the aim point of the cross hairs does not move, but rotates on a single point. Then you know your scope settings are zeroed out and then you can mount the scope on the rifle.

Question for you.
Is this step really necessary?
Once you mount your scope and sight the gun in, isn't the reticle going to end up where it needs to be no matter if you zeroed the reticle or not?

Yes.  If you mount a scope that has the windage and elevation knobs cranked one way or the other, you may not have enough adjustment one way. Doing this ensures that the scope is zero'd out and can be adjusted any direction. A lot of scope rigs offer windage adjustment at the base. If you install a zeroed scope, and bore sight the rifle using the adjustment on the rings, you will have full adjustment available.

This process is important because it helps you make sure your scope to bore alinement is correct. There are a number of things that can mess up proper alignment like receiver issues, base misalignment caused from improperly drilled holes, crooked bases or rings, etc. knowing the proper starting point is important to making sure you are setup correctly in the end.

Give you full adjustment? not really.  Keep you from grounding out the internal tube in the first few clicks(possibly damaging the scope)?? Yup yup.

You can also re center the internal tube by placing the front of the scope against a mirror. when you look through the scope there will be 2 reticles. line them up and centered.

That is another reason schmidt & Benders rock. They have an indicator built into the turrets that show you how far your internal tube is from grounding out.

[Carl]

My rifle is a .308.  So now I'm thinking about Leupold rings.  I haven't shopped for those yet - are they all created equal or do you have a suggestion?

I really appreciate all the input,
Carl

[bobcat]

I think I would go with the Talley lightweight mounts for that rifle.

[JimmyHoffa]

My rifle is a .308.  So now I'm thinking about Leupold rings.  I haven't shopped for those yet - are they all created equal or do you have a suggestion?

I really appreciate all the input,
Carl

I like the dual dovetails by leupold.  Also like the quick release. 

[MadHatter]

I actually went a step further and bedded all of my scope mounting hardware, including the picatinny base, and rings.  Everything is rock solid on my rifle, and using release agent its all removable as well. 

This has to be about the best videos I have seen, I used similar techniques, but I actually used Marine-Tex as the bedding compound instead of regular epoxy.  The post on longrangehunting has all the videos for the entire process.  He uses a Weatherby Vanguard, but would be the same process for a Rem 700.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f94/videos-bedding-bases-rings-new-method-scope-leveling-75543/

As for rings and base, I am a big fan of weaver personally.  I have a weaver 20MOA Tactical extended picatinny base and weaver quad lock rings. 

http://swfa.com/Product4.aspx?ProductId=46497 - Base
http://swfa.com/Product4.aspx?ProductId=10444 - Rings

[Deep Forks]

My rifle is a .308.  So now I'm thinking about Leupold rings.  I haven't shopped for those yet - are they all created equal or do you have a suggestion?

I really appreciate all the input,
Carl

I like the dual dovetails by leupold.  Also like the quick release.

   The leupy dual dovetails rock.  

[high country]

I think the dual dovetails are garbage. Here is why...

 

That is after a break on the lapping bar. I suggest lapping and breaking the edge with a stone to reduce ring bite.

This is how I level a reticle.....it is beyond simple and very effective. I use a precision ground bar and a starrett level. I like the starrett because i can see through it. Level the action, look through the scope at a plumb line....lone up the vert wire....easy as pie.

 

[Bofire]

I own several Tikkas, including 300wsm, I know many who own them. ALL of us use stock Tikka rings, have for many years and have NO, ZERO, troubles. Mount the scope in the Tikka rings and go kill things. Enjoy out shooting your friends with rifles that cost much more and they screw around with and reload expermenting for months, you can use cheap blue box federals and blow them all away. Be nice and do not gloat, too much. The best thing is carry around a tikka for a few days, they are sweet, easy to keep in your hands, light and handy.
Carl

[Carl]

Thanks Carl.

Carl