Leupold MK IV LRT 8.5-25 x 50 turret issue.

[OldieBuddyGoodie]

Hey fellas and gals, this is my first real post although I did the new member intro thread. I've run into an issue with the scope in my thread title. It is a mid 90's abomination of mil reticle and MOA adjustments. What can I say, I didn't know much about LR shooting and was in the process of learning it from TFTT/DAG, as well as, nothing otherwise that myself or my "armorer" knew of, was really available back then.

It's a good scope and has gotten me to 900-1000 but after coming back from the range where I was shooting in and zeroing my AI chassis, I went to slip the elevation turret to the zero mark but it won't slip. It won't turn without clicking, whereas the windage turret slips smooth as silk like it is supposed to. The rifle did take a short slow, sliding drop onto the tile, maybe a foot or so. It landed on the side focus knob but could have hit the elevation turret as well. This occurred since the last time I shot the rifle. It seemed fine with no apparent issues, not even a mark on the scope. I know these things are known to be pretty tough but maybe it knocked the turret housing out of whack so that it is binding, I don't know. I was thinking about giving a couple taps with a dead blow hammer and try to get it slipping freely. Anyone had this issue or got any smithing scoop? Send it back to Leupy for repair? Not that it probably matters but the rifle is a early 90's Remington 700 PSS .308. Thanks for any input.

 

[CelestialRipper]

Sounds like the drop might have caused some internal damage or misalignment in the elevation turret. I wouldn’t recommend tapping it with a hammer cus it could make things worse. Since it’s a Leupold, your best bet is to send it back to them for repair. Their warranty service is known to be solid, and they’ll get it sorted out. Better safe than sorry!

 

[B y r o n]

Instead of simply loosening the set screw(s) and trying to turn; how about removing them and lifting the knob off and then putting it where it needs to be. My thinking is the set screw(s) may have caused the shaft to bulge if tightened to tight. Removing the screw(s) ensures they are not causing interference. Hopefully, lifting off the knob will not cause it to rotate and pushing back on should keep things where they need to be. I think worth a try before sending it in for repair that may not be needed.

UPDATE: Just looked at one of my Leupold M1 scopes and there is only one tension screw on the elevation turret. So remove it, pull the turret off and then set to zero and replace the tension screw.

 

[OldieBuddyGoodie]

Yeah that's what I figured. I'd love to get a more modern scope but it's just not in the budget right now. I'm calling Leupold on Monday thanks for the reply

 

[OldieBuddyGoodie]

The above reply was for celestial Ripper that answered my query. I don't know why it didn't post the first time.

To Byron's reply I definitely didn't over tighten the screw it's only been slipped once before and I'm pretty careful about over tightening stuff. Also I did completely remove the screw and the turret just won't come off, it won't slip up like it's supposed to, like the windage knob still does. There is only one screw which I thought also might be the problem if there was a second one that I wasn't seeing because the scope has been painted but not the case. Plus there's only one on the windage side. I even tried spinning it all the way down and all the way up again trying to find a range where maybe it would slip free but no go. I appreciate your reply

 

[OldieBuddyGoodie]

I totally feel the same way Byron, believe me, I hate sending it in because I don't have a spare and the rifle's basically unusable without a scope. I do have my M4 though.

 

[OldieBuddyGoodie]

I also used a caliper on both the turret and the recessed area that it sits in to see if the drop caused any discernible out of roundness and it all seemed fairly consistent to me but I'm no gunsmith.

I talked to my armorer that I mentioned in the original post and he said there is a spring and a ball bearing inside the turret that may have come loose and that may be jamming the turret so that it won't rise up.

One good thing about sending it back is I can have them replace the turrets with Mil scale