Rifle Scopes Keep rings on scope - remove and remount

[45cal4life]

Have a day scope in a set of non QD rings. Wanting to use the rifle with a thermal (on a QD mount) but still have the option for the day scope without re-zeroing. Can you simply remove the rings/scope from the rail then remount in the same slots and call it good?

 

[oldrifleman]

It will be off a bit depending on type of rings and rail.

 

[Krazy_jim]

I swapped from 1 piece mounts to rings on my 2 main rifles, and they weren't off more than a few tenths in elevation.

Pulling my scopes off in the past with the mounts they were consistently close enough to where any adjustment would put it on the other side of zero.

 

[45cal4life]

I forget the manufacturer of the rail, but the rings are Seekins, 4 screw. To me it's the equivalent of a slow version of a QD mount or rings. Use the same slots and screw torque that I'm using now and verify once or twice for my sanity

 

[Kamerad]

Completely dependent on quality or tolerances of rings and rail. Also, are the tightened and torqued exactly the same.

Case by case, maybe. As a general rule, no.

 

[Rob01]

It will be close but I would verify zero after swapping back. I would do that with any mount/rings. None are 100% on all the time.

 

[Thorbeast]

I'm usually off by a tenth or two (max). Most quality mounts are quite repeatable.

 

[Glassaholic]

As others have mentioned, as long as you use a quality torque wrench and use the same torque value (and even same torque sequence) you'll find removing and attaching your scope in the same location on the picatinny rail is a viable option. However, as Rob01 mentions, it is not 100% so similar to obtaining your DOPE you want to make sure you document what differences you do encounter and if you're going on a hunt or shooting where it matters, always verify zero.

 

[Shifty6BR]

I do this all the time...season after season in my rifles and saved zero profiles on my hunting buddies setups no issues.
Bolt guns, gas guns, centerfire, rimfire, over the zeroing profiles of two different thermals. One is an Ir hunter that uses the oem Larue qd, that guy goes on the flat top rail gas guns, the other is a Pulsar Thermion with it's rifle scope type body set in rings for the bolt guns.

For the rings, the best route I have found for me is the rings that use a 1/2" socket drive like NF, Hawkins etc. (partial to Hawkins).so all my day optic non qd run the same type of rings. Torx are fine but I just find it easier on/off with just one 1/2" drive rather than tinkering with 4 or 6 torx bolts.

When your zeroing take off/put back on and shoot a few more while you're there to check and take notes if you do experience any reall poi shift...9/10 if there is it will be repeatible to your setup. Keep track of your slot location, use a good torque wrench for repeatability and use QUALITY rings.

Honestly I have not experienced any poi shift worth tinkering with over the years...on occasion my first shot or two after mounting day optic back may shift a few tenths but settles right back in after a few more.

 

[chevy_man]

I've had them move, other times I've moved optics gun to gun and not had to re-zero.

Just have to verify for yourself.