Rifle Scopes Short Action Customs: Final Scope Level

Mgordon

Gunny Sergeant
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 29, 2007
1,792
324
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Wellington, Ohio
www.shortactioncustoms.com
Shooters,

Just wanted to share a product that we have had on the market for a while now. It is the Final Scope Level (FLS). We developed this tool because we were mounting optics on precision rifles for a service. I just didn't feel comfortable charging the customer for simply mounting an optic. I wanted the ability to perform tracking tests and ensure the reticle and elevation travel were co-linear and square to gravity. The only way to do this is an adjustable rail system with fine adjustments that can lock up rock solid. In addition, I designed it to be a stand alone unit that can be easily secured to a surface, or work as part of a larger assembly.

So myself and my employees designed our Final Scope Level. We have used other products on the market and my biggest complaints were as followed.

1). Other products were not able to be adjustable and have the ability to lock up to allow turning of the turrets mounting levels.
2). Other products did not have a one piece construction that gave us a surface to level the rail to. Our Final Scope Level has all the top detail machined in one set up so all leveling surfaces are made at the exact same time as the picatinny rail.
3). If used indoors or with out a plumb object to level the reticle, other products were difficult to mechanically level low mounted scopes, especially with the Spuhr Leveling Wedge system. Our Final Scope Level has a recessed area for using the Spuhr Leveling kit and a 10 degree ramp to just use their 10 degree leveling wedge. This allows you to square up scopes that have the flat bottom housing extremely close to the rail top.

Here is how we use it at Short Action Customs.

We have a Horus CATS target at 100 yards that has been leveled and we also have a hanging plumb system. We have a steel beam bolted to concrete outside the shop, pointing at our 100 yard berm. We simply take any level, we like the Starret #135 pocket level and level the back of the FSL by adjusting the 3 fine thread wheel nuts. While leveling, the FSL locks up super tight. We then mount our scope rings, then scope in the rings. We rotate the scope tube in the scope rings to get the reticle co-linear with the 100 yard plumb and tighten it up. Simple as that.

7117648
7117649
7117650




Next we dial the scope turrets up and down, ensuring that the reticle is mechanically tracking inline with the reticle. We have found a few $3000+ scopes that did not!! If your reticle is in line with the plumb (gravity), and your scope dials/mechanically tracks the same, then we mount a scope mounted bubble level like the Accuracy First level found HERE. Now your reticle, mechanical tracking and bubble level are all leveled to gravity. What could be any better????

7117651
7117652
7117653


Next we move over to the Horus CATS target and perform a tracking test. This is mainly to determine if your scope has any tracking error. If it does, no sweat, most ballistic programs allow for an input on your tracking error, but at least now you know.

So what does the Final Scope Level do for the precision long range shooter? It gives you the confidence to ensure your gear is properly set up, leveled, tracking and ready for long range work. Other products we have used for years are more difficult to use, do not lock up solid and this prevents the end user from being able to crank on their scope and turrets during the tracking tests.

In addition, we have ARCA rails on the top and bottom assembly of Final Scope Level. This allows the end user to easily mount it to just about any surface and on Tripods. You can use a tripod as a mounting station, or to mount other optics for spotting and observation.

Price is $259 for the hard anodized kit. It can be bolted directly to any surface or clamped any ARCA/Swiss clamp. It can also be mounted to our Multi-Base found HERE if you want to mount multiple Final Scope Levels or want 360 degrees of rotation. We have them in stock and ready to go!

Thank you for your attention!

Mark Gordon
 

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Looking to dig this one up for more input on folks who’ve used it. Considering this or another similar product. Really appreciate any input!

If there are any questions we can help you out with, let us know. E-mail at [email protected] is best. Obviously this is our product, but I really think it is the best system out there. To my knowledge, it is the only system that can be easily adjusted to ensure your Final Scope Level is perfectly level and it locks down super tight.

The problem we had with other products was 1). We found that the Picatinny rail was not level with the base or with the manufactures supplied level. 2). Once the system was leveled, it was still free to move, so doing any type of scope tracking was out of the question.

The only real compromise with our system in my opinion is that it works best with the "Multi-Base" or with an additional ARCA Mounting Base. Yes you can clamp the Final Scope Level in a vise, or bolt it to a surface, but I like the Multi-Base the best because it allows super fast lock down and it can rotate 360 degrees.

Mark.
 
Shooters,

Just wanted to share a product that we have had on the market for a while now. It is the Final Scope Level (FLS). We developed this tool because we were mounting optics on precision rifles for a service. I just didn't feel comfortable charging the customer for simply mounting an optic. I wanted the ability to perform tracking tests and ensure the reticle and elevation travel were co-linear and square to gravity. The only way to do this is an adjustable rail system with fine adjustments that can lock up rock solid. In addition, I designed it to be a stand alone unit that can be easily secured to a surface, or work as part of a larger assembly.

So myself and my employees designed our Final Scope Level. We have used other products on the market and my biggest complaints were as followed.

1). Other products were not able to be adjustable and have the ability to lock up to allow turning of the turrets mounting levels.
2). Other products did not have a one piece construction that gave us a surface to level the rail to. Our Final Scope Level has all the top detail machined in one set up so all leveling surfaces are made at the exact same time as the picatinny rail.
3). If used indoors or with out a plumb object to level the reticle, other products were difficult to mechanically level low mounted scopes, especially with the Spuhr Leveling Wedge system. Our Final Scope Level has a recessed area for using the Spuhr Leveling kit and a 10 degree ramp to just use their 10 degree leveling wedge. This allows you to square up scopes that have the flat bottom housing extremely close to the rail top.

Here is how we use it at Short Action Customs.

We have a Horus CATS target at 100 yards that has been leveled and we also have a hanging plumb system. We have a steel beam bolted to concrete outside the shop, pointing at our 100 yard berm. We simply take any level, we like the Starret #135 pocket level and level the back of the FSL by adjusting the 3 fine thread wheel nuts. While leveling, the FSL locks up super tight. We then mount our scope rings, then scope in the rings. We rotate the scope tube in the scope rings to get the reticle co-linear with the 100 yard plumb and tighten it up. Simple as that.

View attachment 7117648View attachment 7117649View attachment 7117650



Next we dial the scope turrets up and down, ensuring that the reticle is mechanically tracking inline with the reticle. We have found a few $3000+ scopes that did not!! If your reticle is in line with the plumb (gravity), and your scope dials/mechanically tracks the same, then we mount a scope mounted bubble level like the Accuracy First level found HERE. Now your reticle, mechanical tracking and bubble level are all leveled to gravity. What could be any better????

View attachment 7117651View attachment 7117652View attachment 7117653

Next we move over to the Horus CATS target and perform a tracking test. This is mainly to determine if your scope has any tracking error. If it does, no sweat, most ballistic programs allow for an input on your tracking error, but at least now you know.

So what does the Final Scope Level do for the precision long range shooter? It gives you the confidence to ensure your gear is properly set up, leveled, tracking and ready for long range work. Other products we have used for years are more difficult to use, do not lock up solid and this prevents the end user from being able to crank on their scope and turrets during the tracking tests.

In addition, we have ARCA rails on the top and bottom assembly of Final Scope Level. This allows the end user to easily mount it to just about any surface and on Tripods. You can use a tripod as a mounting station, or to mount other optics for spotting and observation.

Price is $259 for the hard anodized kit. It can be bolted directly to any surface or clamped any ARCA/Swiss clamp. It can also be mounted to our Multi-Base found HERE if you want to mount multiple Final Scope Levels or want 360 degrees of rotation. We have them in stock and ready to go!

Thank you for your attention!

Mark Gordon
Just ordered one last night. Shipping notification came first thing this morning. Looking forward to running some tracking tests on my scopes.

Also live in an urban area and there are many times I want to take my scope outside to adjust or mess with it without the rifle. This is just the ticket!
 
Just ordered one last night. Shipping notification came first thing this morning. Looking forward to running some tracking tests on my scopes.

Also live in an urban area and there are many times I want to take my scope outside to adjust or mess with it without the rifle. This is just the ticket!
Where at the pics?
 
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Where at the pics?

I haven’t done anything too serious with it yet. We have had a bout of cold weather and snow here, plus the holidays. I did play with it on the table, checking a couple scopes for plumb reticles. One was quite a bit off from the turret cap. Don’t trust turrets caps (I never have).

I decided to order the Arca Clamp base from SAC. I then took a piece of 3/4 steel plate and tapped in some 1/4-20 leveler-feet for uneven surfaces. It’s still in the rough. I’ll dress and paint later. The Arca clamp is attached to the plate so the Final Level can come off and on at will to be used elsewhere. The final level can be mounted without the Arca plate but it won’t come off and on, so easily.

This thing weighs 28+ lbs and will stay put. Can also lay some sand bags on and around it if needed. I plan to get some tall targets and set up on the solid concrete benches to do some tall target tracking testing this Spring.


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Last edited:
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Thanks for the pics, looks sharp. Snow sucks… looking forward to summer again already.
Thanks! Well here in Wyoming we need every inch of moisture we can get.

Yea, I am very happy with this tool. I was looking for the Badger tool but could not find one. That was a lucky break because in my opinion this is so much more versatile. Now to order some SH tall targets…..
 
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Thanks! Well here in Wyoming we need every inch of moisture we can get.

Yea, I am very happy with this tool. I was looking for the Badger tool but could not find one. That was a lucky break because in my opinion this is so much more versatile. Now to order some SH tall targets…..


Where at in Wyoming are you?
 
Thanks! Well here in Wyoming we need every inch of moisture we can get.

Yea, I am very happy with this tool. I was looking for the Badger tool but could not find one. That was a lucky break because in my opinion this is so much more versatile. Now to order some SH tall targets…..
I’ve got the badger and has the Snipers Hide version of the scope tracking tool you have now.

The tall targets are nice. I ended up ordering more than I’ll ever need just with shipping costs and all.
 
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Shooters,

Just wanted to share a product that we have had on the market for a while now. It is the Final Scope Level (FLS). We developed this tool because we were mounting optics on precision rifles for a service. I just didn't feel comfortable charging the customer for simply mounting an optic. I wanted the ability to perform tracking tests and ensure the reticle and elevation travel were co-linear and square to gravity. The only way to do this is an adjustable rail system with fine adjustments that can lock up rock solid. In addition, I designed it to be a stand alone unit that can be easily secured to a surface, or work as part of a larger assembly.

So myself and my employees designed our Final Scope Level. We have used other products on the market and my biggest complaints were as followed.

1). Other products were not able to be adjustable and have the ability to lock up to allow turning of the turrets mounting levels.
2). Other products did not have a one piece construction that gave us a surface to level the rail to. Our Final Scope Level has all the top detail machined in one set up so all leveling surfaces are made at the exact same time as the picatinny rail.
3). If used indoors or with out a plumb object to level the reticle, other products were difficult to mechanically level low mounted scopes, especially with the Spuhr Leveling Wedge system. Our Final Scope Level has a recessed area for using the Spuhr Leveling kit and a 10 degree ramp to just use their 10 degree leveling wedge. This allows you to square up scopes that have the flat bottom housing extremely close to the rail top.

Here is how we use it at Short Action Customs.

We have a Horus CATS target at 100 yards that has been leveled and we also have a hanging plumb system. We have a steel beam bolted to concrete outside the shop, pointing at our 100 yard berm. We simply take any level, we like the Starret #135 pocket level and level the back of the FSL by adjusting the 3 fine thread wheel nuts. While leveling, the FSL locks up super tight. We then mount our scope rings, then scope in the rings. We rotate the scope tube in the scope rings to get the reticle co-linear with the 100 yard plumb and tighten it up. Simple as that.

View attachment 7117648View attachment 7117649View attachment 7117650



Next we dial the scope turrets up and down, ensuring that the reticle is mechanically tracking inline with the reticle. We have found a few $3000+ scopes that did not!! If your reticle is in line with the plumb (gravity), and your scope dials/mechanically tracks the same, then we mount a scope mounted bubble level like the Accuracy First level found HERE. Now your reticle, mechanical tracking and bubble level are all leveled to gravity. What could be any better????

View attachment 7117651View attachment 7117652View attachment 7117653

Next we move over to the Horus CATS target and perform a tracking test. This is mainly to determine if your scope has any tracking error. If it does, no sweat, most ballistic programs allow for an input on your tracking error, but at least now you know.

So what does the Final Scope Level do for the precision long range shooter? It gives you the confidence to ensure your gear is properly set up, leveled, tracking and ready for long range work. Other products we have used for years are more difficult to use, do not lock up solid and this prevents the end user from being able to crank on their scope and turrets during the tracking tests.

In addition, we have ARCA rails on the top and bottom assembly of Final Scope Level. This allows the end user to easily mount it to just about any surface and on Tripods. You can use a tripod as a mounting station, or to mount other optics for spotting and observation.

Price is $259 for the hard anodized kit. It can be bolted directly to any surface or clamped any ARCA/Swiss clamp. It can also be mounted to our Multi-Base found HERE if you want to mount multiple Final Scope Levels or want 360 degrees of rotation. We have them in stock and ready to go!

Thank you for your attention!

Mark Gordon
Just saw it Mark. Even if you ignore the price...... all this does, it helps you make sure that your scope mount is leveled so you can put your scope and use the plumb line to make sure its leveled TO THE SCOPE MOUNT. All nice and dandy but who can guarantee that your picatinny on the rifle is leveled that well. One should level the reticle to the rifle barreled action no?
 
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I’ve had one almost 2 years & haven’t messed with it due to some medical challenges. It’s fall, beautiful weather, and trying to decide how to use it. I use the same Horus Vision CATS targets Mark has. I’m old & have been leveling scopes to the action all my life. I use actions with intergal pic rails. I level the pic rail, place a clamp level on the barrel. Then outside where I have a boat anchor rope plumbed by a 25# kettle ball & level to plumb with action level. Then I check tracking the same way Mark does with the Horus target. Later after load development I shoot the tall target test. I never change load & learn rifle.

I like Mark’s products & found this again looking to see how other people are using it.