As many have read, during our Sniper's Hide Training Courses, we perform a tall target test on many of the student's scopes. Originally we did only in our PR 2 Class, which usually only runs about 2 a year. This year we expanded that to our PR 1 Classes because of the results and the benefits.
Methods,
We use our Sniper's Hide Tracking fixture and it's set up exactly at 100 yards, or in our case, we use 300ft to fine-tune it. We also use a 4ft level and ruler to look at the reticles and measure the variation if we see it. The fixture weighs 30LBS so as not to influence the results and any negative is double-checked.
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We consider 2% within spec of most scopes, and the minor variations we see can and should be used to insert into ballistic software to correct the solvers. Scopes are our weakest link in the system, if something will break usually it's a scope first. If you dope your rifle out by shooting it, the variations are minor, but if you are software to predict the computer must know there is a deviation. Not all software let's you do this, Turret Correction, but they should.
Software like Coldbore 2.0, FFS, and Now Genesis Ballistics have the Scope Tracking Utility built into the program. Here is an example:
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The added value we found of doing this in every class is, we can find scopes that have the reticles canted as well as demonstrate parallax in their optic by adding and removing it while it is on the fixture. Then, once the scope has been tested we have an instructor guiding the student in rifle set up so the scope is placed in the optimal point of the rail for their body type. About 1/3 of the scopes per class were found to be canted in the rings to varying degrees. We also see reticles not properly aligned to external Levels. It's here too we can fix the reticle and level relationship if the level is off. Sometimes it's an error in initial mounting, sometimes it's happening with installation and tightening. Rifle set up is an important part of our class, fitting the rifle to the shooter solves a lot of problems down the road.
So as of now, we have 150 scopes on our list that have been tested and recorded. The results are here for all to see:
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Moving forward expect to find more data, more scopes tested more classes incorporating this process.